CNS Rheumatology

Position Summary
The Rheumatology Department in Beaumont Hospital provides specialist services from Monday to Friday to patients with Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs). These are patients with chronic rheumatology conditions who require expert medical management and expert/specialist nursing and multidisciplinary team (MDT) collaboration. The MDT provides outpatient and inpatient services in the diagnosis treatment and management of acute and chronic rheumatology conditions.

Key Duties

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
The five core concepts are:
1. Clinical Focus
2. Patient/Client Advocate
3. Education and Training
4. Audit and Research
5. Consultant

Clinical Focus
The Rheumatology Nurse Specialist Nurse Specialist will -
Help meet the psychological emotional and informational needs of patients at the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment. The support should be provided for patients in the following areas-
1) Outpatient Clinics
2) Throughout the hospital
3) Telephone Service

Provide support to the family/ significant other though listening problem solving and education.
Provide outreach support and monitoring for the patient at home
Attend Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic and co-ordinate visits for each patient.
Assess patients for suitability to participate in home therapy programmes
Liaise with external services to support the expansion of homecare programme or treatments as near to the patients home as possible.
Assess patients regarding their need for referral to specialist services.
Report such patients promptly to the consultant/ clinical leader and discuss referral.
Co-ordinate relevant services in preparation for treatment
Attend multidisciplinary team meeting
Educate patients re: diagnoses and treatments
Foster good working relationships with all members of the clinical team which are both professional and supportive
Maintain accurate clinical records complying with legislation and best practice.
Demonstrate specialist knowledge of and clinical expertise in the delivery of patient care.
Be aware of all hospital policies and procedures and collaborate with other health care professionals to ensure that these are observed
Be actively involved in the preparation and implementation of policies and nursing guidelines in relation to the management of care to Rheumatology patients.
Demonstrate leadership ability and good communication skills.

Patient Advocate
The Rheumatology Nurse Specialist will
Provide and efficient effective and high quality service respecting the needs of each patient.
Act as a resource/ contact person for Rheumatology patients attending other departments within the hospital or outside the hospital for treatment.
Provide patients and family/ significant others with contact details for Rheumatology nurse specialist and advise for out of hours contact.
Be aware of existing resources/ services which help patients and their family/ significant others eg social services support groups entitlements.
Acts as an advocate for patients undergoing clinical trials providing information as appropriate and communicating with research staff.
Participate in team discussions regarding treatment for Rheumatology patients.
Facilitate development of information leaflets for patients and families.

Education and training
The Rheumatology Nurse Specialist will
Provide support to nursing staff by means of regular group meetings to discuss particular patient cases which have been found to be stressful
Assist in the development and delivery of training programmes for nursing staff
Play an active role in teaching all grades of nursing staff and other disciplines as required.
Use relevant educational opportunities to maintain the highest standards and up to date care offered to the patients.

Audit and Research
The Rheumatology Nurse Specialist will
Ensure that his/her own practice is compliant and up to date with best practice which is reflected in research and development.
Participates in the regular audit of his/her own clinical practice
Ensure the development and maintenance of a quality assurance programme which is patient centered utilising up to date research findings
Use such research findings to influence care within the specialty.
Set objectives and develop policies procedures and standards for the Rheumatology nursing services based on current nursing research and relevant research from other disciplines.
Identify areas within the specialty relevant to nursing practice which would benefit from research.
Promote an awareness of research-based practice amongst staff.
Participate in departmental research related to the specialty.

Consultancy
Provide leadership in clinical practice and act as a resource and role model for Rheumatology practice
Generate and contribute to the development of clinical standards and guidelines having regard to national and international advancements in Rheumatology nursing.
Establish collegial partnerships and in the context of Rheumatology contribute to the professional development of students peers colleagues and others through consultation education leadership mentorship and coaching
Work with support advise and help build up knowledge of expertise of the primary care team in providing an appropriate system of care to meet the needs of the patient and their family/carers
Develop and maintain good collaborative working relationships and communication with all members of the specialitys MDT and other health care professionals within and outside the service.
Participate in the implementation of the national clinical care programmes and their agreed models of care for patients and their families as they relate to the role
Use specialist knowledge to support and enhance general nursing practice

The job description indicates the main function and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment. Other specific work not covered in this job description may also be assigned by the Director of Nursing or Consultant Rheumatologists from time to time.

Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications skills knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

1. Statutory Registration Professional Qualifications Experience etc
(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
(i) Be a registered nurse/midwife on the active Register of Nurses and Midwives
held by An Bord Altranais and Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and
Midwifery Board of Ireland) or be eligible to be so registered.

(ii) Be registered in the division(s) of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
(Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) Register for which the
application is being made or be entitled to be so registered.

(iii) In exceptional circumstances which will be assessed on a case by case basis
be registered in another Division of the register of Nurses and Midwives.

(iv) Have a minimum of 1 years post registration full time experience or an
aggregate of 1 years full time experience in the division of the register in which
the application is being made (taking into account (ii) (iii) if relevant)

(v) Have a minimum of 1 years experience or an aggregate of 1 years full time
experience in specialist area of Rheumatology.

(vi) Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study as
certified by the education provider which verifies that the applicant has achieved
a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) National Framework of Qualifications
(NFQ) major academic Level 9 or higher award that is relevant to the specialist
area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above) and in line with the requirements
for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and
Midwifery 4th ed (2008).

Alternatively provide written evidence from the Higher Education Institute that
they have achieved the number of ECTS credits equivalent to a Level 9 or higher
standard relevant to the specialist area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or
above) and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the
National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed (2008). Rheumatology of
care prior to application* (See **Note 1 below).

(vii) Be required to demonstrate that they have continuing professional development
(CPD) relevant to the specialist area.

(viii) Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional
responsibility within his/her scope of practice

**Note 1: For Nurses/Midwives who express an interest in CNS/CMS roles and who
currently hold a level 8 educational qualification in the specialist area
(equivalent to 60 ECTS or above) this qualification will be recognised up to
September 2026.

(b) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability including a high standard of
suitability and clinical leadership managerial and administrative capacity for the proper
discharge of the duties of the office.

2. Annual registration
(i) Practitioners must maintain live annual registration on the appropriate/relevant Division
of the register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board
of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) for the role.

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the
annual Service user Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. Health
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of
undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a
reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Character
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Desirable

To have a minimum of five years post registration experience
A management course

If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/ Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointees re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012.

Please note: In applying for this position you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions where relevant will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/ Office/ Body will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position