Stroke Nurse Specialist

Job overview

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Brighton is looking for enthusiastic, motivated and committed Registered General Nurses to join its expanding team of Stroke Nurse Specialist (SNS) to support the stroke provision Sussex wide reconfiguration of services.

We are looking to employ qualified nurses with knowledge of stroke care and health policies relating to stroke, with experience as a Band 5 nurse.

Based on the hyper‑acute stroke ward you would be part of a team of SNS who are responsible 24/7 for managing a cohort of patients referred for specialist intervention.

This involves attending stroke emergencies, assessing and assisting with direct care for patients requiring thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy treatment. You will be participating in the pre‑alert system trial of video triaging patients in Sussex prior to transfer to hospital, running TIA screening and supporting stroke consultants in clinics. Assist with data collection for audit and evaluating effectiveness of the service.

A successful candidate for this job should be an RGN with a current NMC registration, have experience as a Band 5 nurse and experience/knowledge of stroke care, and be able to work shifts that include weekends and nights.

Applicants must already hold a right to work in the UK. The role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules.

• Respond immediately to acute stroke emergencies within ED and across all inpatient ward areas.
• Assist the medical team to access acute stroke emergency cases as to suitability for thrombolysis or thrombectomy.
• Cannulate patients, perform venepuncture, ECGs and neurological observations with NIHSS assessments.
• Closely monitor the GCS and vital signs of acute stroke emergencies and rapidly communicate concerns.
• Navigate acute stroke emergencies through the agreed pathway in a timely manner, ensuring all necessary investigations are processed and reviewed.
• Accompany acute emergencies to CT scanning departments.
• Commence agreed treatment with thrombolysis agents and closely monitor the effects. Provide care, information and psychological support to the patient and next of kin.
• Transfer patients from the emergency care centre to the neuroradiology department for the thrombectomy pathway or the hyper‑acute stroke ward.
• Provide direct nursing care to patients undergoing thrombolysis.
• Be competent in coordinating the TIA screening service according to agreed protocols.
• Provide reports and summaries on individual patients as required.
• Attend and participate in team meetings, stroke, thrombolysis and thrombectomy governance.
• Promptly answer video triage on iPad whilst maintaining confidentiality, completing appropriate documentation and post‑call actions.

• Registered General Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Experience in stroke.
• Degree or diploma in a health‑related subject.
• Evidence of appropriate postgraduate education/CPD advanced clinical practice.
• A substantial amount of post‑registration experience.
• Stroke module.
• Cannulation and venepuncture.
• Attended stroke calls in ED.
• Stroke ward experience.
• Further studies in stroke care.
• Physical assessment module.
• Sustained experience at being in charge of the hyper‑acute stroke ward.
• Experience of clinical audit and data.

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).