We are recruiting nationwide for Night Nurses due to increased demand for Services.

TITLE: Night Nurse

REPORTS TO: Night Nursing Team Leaders

RELATIONSHIPS: The Community Palliative Care Team, GP out of hours, doctor on call, Hospice, or hospital based Palliative Care Team involved in the patient’s care.

HOURS: On a required and agreed basis.

LOCATION: Donegal Northeast Community Palliative Care Team catchment area

Donegal Northwest Community Palliative Care Team catchment area

Professional Responsibilities

Practice Nursing according to the Code of Professional
Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives as laid down by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland 2025 .
Work within their scope of practice and take measures to
Maintain a high standard of professional behaviour and be
accountable for their practice.
Adhere to Night Nursing policies and procedures ,other relevant ICS polices ,and any other Section 39 legislation or standards relevant to the area of practice
Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of service users and their families.
Develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice.

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Role Summary

The Irish Cancer Society offers a free Night Nursing Service to palliative patients in their homes, cared for by their families and friends. The service gives help and support to these carers especially at the advanced stage of the patient’s illness. The Irish Cancer Society Night Nursing Service is always complementary to and should follow instructions given by the community or hospital based Palliative Care Team, GP or doctor on call

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Participate in the planning, assessment, implementation and evaluation of nursing care to provide symptom relief and comfort to enable the patient to continue to be cared for at home.
Provide advice, support and education for the carers and family according to their needs.
Ensure continuity of patient care by communicating and liaising with medical and/or nursing colleagues, providing accurate and timely reports of any changes in the condition of the patient.
Keep main carer/family up to date as to the patients ongoing medical condition.
Maintain accurate records in order to reduce the risk of errors as per NMBI, Code of Professional Conduct & NMBI Recording Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Administer medicinal preparations in accordance with NMBI Guidance for Registered Nurses and Midwives on Medication Administration (NMBI, 2020)
Report any drug errors immediately to the patient’s GP, doctor on call or the doctor attached to the hospice and/or community Palliative Care Team.
Report any incident during or immediately following the shift, depending on the incident, to the on call doctor/Hospice or Community Palliative Care Team as relevant and follow with an incident form and link as required with Team Lead on next working day
Practice open disclosure in accordance with the professional requirement and ICS policy
Use evidence based practise to develop and maintain high quality patient care and ensure the continuous improvement of the Night Nursing Service.
To adhere to a ‘no smoking’ on duty policy which must be observed at all times.
At all times to observe the ‘no sleeping on duty’ policy.
Set up and maintain an active ICS email address

General

Adhere to NMBI, Code of Professional Conduct and be familiar and up to date with the Scope of Practise advisory documents.
Maintain a level of knowledge, skill and competence related to current drugs and/or therapies in the treatment of pain and other symptoms and administer medication according to the instructions given by the GP or doctor attached to the hospice and/or community Palliative Care Team.
Accept opportunities for continuing education in palliative care nursing provided by the Irish Cancer Society.
Exercise awareness of professional responsibilities by reading current, relevant literature and by taking up opportunities for personal and professional development.
To be aware of one’s own responsibilities towards health and safety and in particular relating to moving and handling patients and the use of universal precautions.
To be aware of personal safety issues as a lone worker . In the rare event that a nurse finds themselves in a threatening or intimidating situation they must make a judgement regarding their own safety in relation to remaining in the patient’s home.
Carry identification in the form of the Irish Cancer Society badge. A branded ICS uniform is mandatory, a tunic and fleece top will be provided by the society, and soft soled shoes can also be worn.
Act as an ambassador of the Irish Cancer Society (Night Nursing Service) at all times with patients, relatives, colleagues and members of the public.
Adhere to the Data Protection policy on all aspects of data safety and storage.

Confidentiality

There must be absolute confidentiality regarding the patient’s diagnosis, prognosis and other information that the nurse may be told or become aware of. This information must only be shared with the health care professionals directly involved in the patient’s management.

Hours of Work – Working Time Policy

The Organisation of Working Time Act (1997) limits the maximum working week to 48 hours. Weekly working time can be averaged out over a four month reference period. Staff who have completed a full shift, cannot report back to work until 11 consecutive hours have elapsed.
It is the responsibility of each employee to ensure that that have received adequate sleep during that rest time, prior to going on night duty. Time spent by an employee on ‘standby’ or ‘on call’ is not considered working time.
Each employee is required to have a period of 24 hours’ rest in each seven day period. This period can be averaged out over 14 days i.e. each employee should have a minimum of two days’ rest a fortnight.

Person Specification

Registered on the General division of Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
Must be a minimum of 7years post qualification
Consistent clinical environment experience in the last 3 years
Some Palliative Care experience essential
Qualification as a Registered Children’s Nurse is desirable but not essential
Shifts are primarily night shifts:23:00 to 07:00 with some optional twilight shifts between 17.00-23.00 available based on local service need
Working alone & providing palliative care in patient’s home
All nurses must be available for a minimum 4/6 nights per month.
As per the Working Time Act,1997, we cannot accept candidates currently working full time.
Hours: On a required and agreed basis.
Travel: We try our best to provide shifts for Nurses within their region. If there is work outside your region, travel to these locations is completely optional.
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills, caring and compassionate.
Ability to work on own initiative within scope of practice .
Ability to work under the direction of the Community or hospital based Palliative Care Team .
Full clean driving licence and car essential.
This job description applies to those providing nursing care on behalf of the Society and is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of this service.

Training, Education & Support will be provided.

Night Nurse Donegal

Benefits

Job Description