Staff Nurse - Critical Care/Intensive Care Unit

Job overview

Previous Applicants Need Not To Apply

Join the team that sets the standard in excellence — King’s Critical Care is where passion meets purpose. From complex trauma to cutting-edge therapies, no two days are the same.

Be part of a supportive, world-class team that champions innovation, compassion, and your professional growth. Ready to level up your nursing career? We welcome you to King’s.

We are committed to providing a supportive and collaborative work environment that fosters professional growth and development. You will have access to the latest technologies, equipment, and training programs to enhance your skills and knowledge.

What do we offer our nurses?

Opportunities to develop knowledge & skills from world leading experts in critical care;
- Bedside level educational support on shift
- Completion of nationally accredited competency documents
- Career progression including education and specialist roles

But what if I haven’t worked in critical care before!?!

We are happy to accept everyone with a passion to develop in this exciting field of clinical practice.

For more information about nursing careers in King’s Critical Care, please email [email protected]

Please note that these positions require successful applicants to work a variety of day, nights, & weekend shifts.

Main duties of the job

Critical Care Nursing is a highly skilled and compassionate healthcare profession responsible for providing specialised nursing care to critically ill patients. Critical Care Nurses play a crucial role in monitoring, assessing, and managing patients with life-threatening conditions.

You must be a safe and effective practitioner able to provide high quality nursing care to patients and support to their loved ones within a multi-disciplinary team.

You will supervise and develop other members of staff and learners as appropriate and expected to maintain your own personal development with the same support.

Particular emphasis is put at Kings on the need to ensure that all staff recognise their responsibility to deliver services in a high quality, courteous, & patient focused manner.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimizing their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible

Mandatory vaccination from 1st April 2022, there is a legal requirement for staff who have contact with patients and other service users in England to be fully vaccinated (received both doses of an MHRA approved vaccine) against COVID-19. If your role is covered by the regulations, you will be required to provide proof of your full vaccination status as part of your pre-employment checks prior to your start date.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive assessments of critically ill patients, including physical, psychological, and emotional evaluations

Monitor vital signs, administer medications, and assess the response to treatment

Utilise advanced monitoring equipment to observe and interpret patient data

Perform complex medical procedures, such as administering medications, ventilator management, and providing life support interventions

Collaborate with patients, their loved ones, and multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualised care plans for patients

Respond promptly to changes in patient conditions and initiate appropriate interventions

To practice within the NMC the Code: Professional Standards (2015) and adhere to this at all times

To support and assist in the health education of patients and their families

To ensure care is delivered in accordance with latest evidence based practice guidelines

Advocate for patients' needs and preferences, ensuring their rights and dignity are respected

Provide emotional support to patients and their families, addressing concerns and facilitating communication between healthcare providers and family members

To maintain up to date and comprehensive records of care in accordance with NMC and legal requirements

To support junior colleagues, students, and visitors to the department

To demonstrate effective communication and customer care skills with patients and their relatives/carers, thereby acting as a positive role model for nurses and other staff

To act in a professional manner at all times

Manage an agreed workload with support from colleagues and senior staff, as appropriate

To ensure that all Trust and local policies, protocols and procedures are adhered to by colleagues as appropriate

To work within and support the multi-disciplinary team

To maintain effective communication and professional relationships with all areas in the care group and with associated clinical areas within the Trust

To participate with the monitoring of standards of hygiene and cleanliness in the clinical environment and associated areas in the department, and report as appropriate

To share knowledge and skills developed with other members of the multidisciplinary Team

To participate in reflection &/or Clinical Supervision sessions

To take personal responsibility for resource management in line with the sustainability goals for the King’s Green Plan

Education & Training
Stay updated on advancements in critical care nursing through continuous education and professional development

Participate in the orientation and training of new staff members, as well as contribute to ongoing staff education

To assist in the teaching and development of colleagues and students

Participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and contribute to the overall excellence of critical care services

To support the use of Trust and local protocols and guidelines to enhance best practice

To participate in Trust and Divisional initiatives to develop nursing practice

To achieve a range of clinical competencies as required within the Trust, and local to Critical Care

To maintain your own personal and professional development in accordance with CPD requirements, attending training sessions as required

To undergo, and actively participate in, your own yearly performance appraisal.

General
The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post

To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations

We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued

At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:
Kind . We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work
Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed
Team . We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.

All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse (RN1) with active NMC registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Degree or equivalent in relevant field of study

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Proven experience in managing acutely ill patients, and gain appropriate first line and second line support
• Interest & enthusiasm in the development of own knowledge in critical care practice
• Reflective & evaluative practitioner
• Proven ability to administer oral and IV medications
• Demonstrate emotional resilience and empathy in dealing with patients and their families.

Desirable criteria

• Experience caring for level 2/3 patients in a critical care setting

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.