Cns

Description:

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 HIQ”A and NCCP.

Responsibilities:

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 professional’s 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.