Candidate CNS Acute Stroke and Early Supported Discharge

The Candidate CNS / CNS Acute Stroke and Early Supported Discharge will:

• Act as patient advocate, involving communication, negotiation and representation of stroke patients values and decisions in collaboration with other members of the MDT

• Liaise with other health service providers in the development and ongoing delivery of this service by co-ordinating weekly MDT meetings

• Develop and support the concept of advocacy particularly in relation to patients' participation in decision mak-ing thereby enabling informed choice of treatment options through education and information

• Establish, maintain and improve procedures for collaboration and co-operation between acute hospital services

• Take appropriate action on any matter identified as being detrimental to staff and / or service user care or well-being which may be inhibiting the efficient provision of care

• Maintain clinical, nursing and managerial competence, in current developments, in the field of stroke care to include keeping up to date with relevant research to ensure evidence-based practice and research utilisation

• Keep abreast of current trends in nursing through reading, attending seminars and having thorough knowledge of nursing policy and standards

• Identify the educational needs of patients, their carers, other professionals and students and participate in train-ing programmes as required

• Work with and supervise the care given by student nurses and provide for their personal and professional de-velopment

• Co-operate with colleagues in providing learning opportunities for all staff and students

• Assist in the educational programme of all staff who may care for patients affected by stroke, including student nurses

• Use every opportunity for discussion, demonstrations and teaching for both patients and staff

• Liaise and foster good communications with the Nurse Education Centre

• Participate in the orientation programmes of all new staff within the department and in-service programmes

• Educate and provide supportive care to the patient and their family through all stages of stroke disease trajectory.

The Candidate CNS/ CNS Acute Stroke and Early Supported Discharge will:

• Act as resource in providing specialist knowledge, expertise and care in liaison with the multidisciplinary team

• Promote the role of the Stroke Care Nursing Services among health care staff

• Work with, support, advise and help build up the knowledge and expertise of the other healthcare professionals involved in providing care for stroke patients, through regular formal and informal education.

• Act as a resource to hospitals who have received care of patients post thrombectomy procedure with regard to education and advice

• Ensure Guidelines are developed, agreed and circulated with regards to the National Emergency Thrombectomy Service (in collaboration with the MDT Stroke Team)

The Candidate CNS/ CNS Acute Stroke and Early Supported Discharge will:

• Manage the information required for the Stroke Register, keeping an up-to date monthly account of stroke ser-vice statistics that will include data on referrals, total number of stroke patients, tPA figures, age LOS, discharge destinations, mortality and OPD numbers to audit and plan services

• National Thrombectomy Data collection for ongoing detailed service audit and thrombectomy component of HIPE portal / stroke Register – inclusive to include phone call follow up to record outcome measures at agreed intervals

• Promote individual best practice interventions in accordance with the identified needs of patients

• Undertake and lead in clinical and organisational audit to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the service provided against established research / evidence

• Participate and promote nursing research and associated research in this specialist area, identifying nursing top-ics and issues, involving the MDT through presentations

• Ensure the views of all consumers are effectively sought, channelled and acted upon

• Implement and manage changes identified by audit and research and required within stroke services

• Contribute to the development of key performance indicators and monitoring of same within stroke services

The Candidate CNS/ CNS Acute Stroke and Early Supported Discharge will:

• Comply with the policies, procedures and safe professional practice of the Irish Healthcare System by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards

• Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of relevant / designated individual(s) in line with best practice

• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others

• Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action

• Comply with department procedures with regard to assessment, recommendation and / or manufacturing of all assistive devices

• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect

• Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.

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.

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

AND

(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 enti-tled to be so registered.OR

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.

AND

(iii) 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 AND(iv) Have a minimum of 1 years’ experience or an aggregate of 1 years’ full time experience in specialist area of Stoke Care ORIf the applicant does not possess the relevant specialist experience, they will be supported to attain one year’s clinical specialist experience

AND

(v) 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 (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above) that is relevant to the specialist area of care 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 (60 ECTS or above), relevant to the specialist area of care and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed (2008). * (See **Note below). ORIf the applicant does not possess the relevant QQI NFQ Level 9 qualification, the applicant will be supported to undertake the required postgraduate education, at QQI NFQ level 9 qualification (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above) relevant to the specialist area. AND(vi) Be required to demonstrate that they have continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area or will be supported to obtain the required CPD. AND(vii) Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional responsibility within his/her scope of practice.

**Note: 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. The clinical experience requirements for this cohort of nurses/midwives remain consistent with the DoH (2019) policy, i.e. a minimum of 1 years’ experience in practice and a minimum of 1 years’ experience in the specialist area and they could be supported to progress on a candidate CNS/CMS Pathway.

All of the above must be achieved within 2 years for this pathway.

And

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

Name: Yvonne Whelan Title: Directorate Nurse Manager Medical 1 DirectorateEmail address: yvonnewhelan@beaumont.ieTelephone: 01 852 8197