CNM2 Breast

Position Summary

The Breast Care Nurse Specialist will be expected to provide a holistic Nursing service for patients with benign and malignant breast conditions and those with family risk of breast cancer. Beaumont Hospital is one of the eight designated Cancer centres and a centre for breast cancer surgery. The post holder will be part of the Breast Care Nursing team already comprising of three CNS in breast care and ward staff.

He/she will be an integral part of the Beaumont Breast Care multidisciplinary team and will have a central role in co-ordinating the breast care service. He / she will liaise closely with the surgical cancer service manager other nursing staff the surgical teams surgical wards medical oncology radiation oncology radiology department general practitioners public health nurses and palliative care units and will provide a service which meets national and international quality guidelines. He / she will be expected to participate in audits of the service and ensure the service is meeting national quality guidelines eg HIQA and NCCP.

Clinical Focus

Direct and indirect care

• Ensure a seamless service for patients diagnosed with Breast cancer.
• Educate counsel and support newly diagnosed patients or those who fear they may have a breast cancer and their families and explain the implications of this diagnosis.
• Educate counsel and support women/men who attend for assessment of family risk of breast cancer as required.
• Provide up to date information on breast disease to patients and their families.
• Provide a telephone service for patients following discharge.
• Act as a resource for patients families and community services following discharge.
• Refer to patients to other health care professionals e.g. social worker dietician and physiotherapist as appropriate.
• Liase with relevant support groups and participate in meetings as appropriate. o Attend Breast clinics as necessary.
• Provide practical information on all aspects of altered body image which may be caused by the illness and treatment e.g. surgery radiotherapy chemotherapy.
• Provide a prosthesis and bra fitting service as required.
• Prepare patients for treatment and operative procedures by providing appropriate information / advice guidance and support thus enabling patients to understand and adjust to their condition and participate in their own treatment plans.
• In conjunction with the multidisciplinary team develop a pathway of care for breast patients.
• Communicate with Community services as required.

• Maintain accurate records ensuring confidentiality and safe keeping of these records. o Ensure that patients have clear instructions regarding their follow-up appointments and named person to contact in the event of problems post discharge from the hospital.

Patient/Client Advocate

• Ensure that patients comfort and needs are given priority at all times.
• Provide an efficient effective and high quality service respecting the needs of each patient.
• With expert clinical knowledge and experience act as a patient advocate by participating in discussions on patient management issues on behalf of the patient in MDT meetings with ward staff and other healthcare professionals.
• Review and assess referred patients taking into account the patients opinions and guide in their decision making. Communicate negotiate and represent the plan of care for the patient with clinical medical and nursing staff.
• Be aware of existing resources/services which help patients and their families e.g. community services support groups entitlements.
• Develop review and distribute information leaflets to patients.

Education and training

• Provide education sessions for patients families medical and nursing staff students and allied health professions.
• Deliver lectures to post-graduate and higher diploma nursing students and student nurses on General nursing course.
• Promote patients/carer independence through relevant teaching and support.
• Identify the needs of staff patients and carers in relation to breast care. o Play an active role in providing clinical based teaching.
• Provide support to student nurses and registered staff who do not have prior experience of Breast care nursing

Professional Development

• In conjunction with the Directorate nurse management and/or the surgical cancer service manager agree learning objectives designated to meet professional development goals.
• Maintain professionalism at all times and work within the Professional Code of Conduct and scope of Practice framework from Nurse and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
• Accept responsibility for own professional development and be aware of current trends and strategies in nursing particularly in relation to breast care nursing.
• Attend relevant conferences workshops and seminars and disseminate changes in breast care practice with implications for nursing practice.
• Develop and maintain nursing practice skills in relation to breast care nursing.
• Discuss present performance with line manager using job performance review.
• Maintain a personal record of professional development using a portfolio.
• Maintaining membership of relevant specialist associations in relation to all aspects of breast care nursing.

Audit and research

• Participate in the audit of clinical care.
• Critically evaluate research findings and apply findings to clinical practice and disseminate information to staff via education and informal teaching sessions.
• Identify and highlight gaps in the service to improve quality of care. o Evaluate education sessions given and amend programme in line with the result.
• Participate in relevant collaborative research with the breast team.
• Ensure that statistical and management information is provided to the Directorate Nurse manger as required.
• Produce an annual report for the breast care nursing ream.
• Assist the breast database manager with the validation of relevant data.

Consultant

• Play a leading and participating role with the design and evaluation of the breast care service in Beaumont Hospital as a designated cancer centre.
• Promote and provide holistic care and patients with breast conditions.
• Recognise the importance of health promotion.
• Develop and promote positive attitudes towards breast conditions.
• Respect culture and diversity. o Work as an innovator and change agent within the speciality.
• Act as an expert role model for health care professionals.
• Work in a complementary role to medical colleagues and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

The job description indicates the main functions 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 manager 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: Clinical Nurse Manager II Candidates must have at the latest date of application:

1. Statutory Registration Professional Qualifications Experience etc
(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:
(i) Are registered in the relevant division of the Register of Nurses & Midwives
maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland NMBI (Bord
Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) or entitled to be so registered.

(ii) Have at least 5 years post registration experience (or an aggregrate of 5 years
fulltime post registration experience) of which 2 years must be in the speciality
or related area.

(iii) Have the clinical managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge
the functions of the role.

(iv) Candidates must demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development.

(b) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability including a high standard of
suitability and clinical managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the
functions of the role.

2. Annual registration
(i) On appointment practitioners must maintain live annual registration on the relevant
division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and
Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann).

(ii) Confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the annual Patient
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.

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