Night Nurse [Donegal Northeast x1 post - Donegal Northwest x1 post]
TITLE: Night Nurse
ROLE TYPE: Part Time 18-month Fixed Term Contract
LOCATION: Donegal Northeast x1 post / Donegal Northwest x1 post
REPORTS TO: Night Nursing Team Leaders and Head of Night Nursing
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.
Role Summary
The Irish Cancer Society offers a free Night Nursing Service to palliative patients in their homes. The service provides evidence based end-of-life nursing care to patients with both cancer and other life-limiting conditions .The non cancer patients' care is funded by the Irish Hospice Foundation .The Night Nursing Service supports patients' preference to spend their final days at home .It is delivered in the evenings and overnight ,supporting their loved ones, and families, allowing them time to rest ,while providing general nursing care including symptom management in collaboration with, and under the medical instruction of Palliative Care Teams ,GPs and on call doctors .
Professional RESPONSIBILITES:
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 develop and maintain the competence necessary for
professional practice.
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.
HOURS:
24 hours per week spread across a 3 x 8 hour Night Duty shifts and rostered Monday to Friday per week.
Option to work some additional shifts on a required and agreed basis.
The standard Night duty shift is 23.00-07.00
Where no Night Duty shifts required, a nurse may be rostered for Twilight hours from 17.00 Monday to Friday
Occasional weekend/Bank Holiday Night Nurse on call work 09.00 to 17.00 required approximately 3-4 weekends per year
Occasional attendance at both educational and funding event to support Night Nurse awareness as required
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 patient’s ongoing medical condition.
Maintain accurate records 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/no vaping’ on duty policy which must be observed at all times.
At all times to observe the ‘no sleeping on duty’ policy.
Represent Night Nursing at prearranged and agreed dates to raise awareness of the service both at educational and fundraising events when required
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 as well as maintaining mandatory online and practical training.
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 ID. 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.
Always Act as an ambassador of the Irish Cancer Society (Night Nursing Service) 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.
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 7 years 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
Travel: Within the catchment area of Dublin North City and North County
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills, caring and compassionate.
Demonstrate clinical competency in delivering safe quality patient centred care
Ability to work on own initiative.
Ability to work under the direction of the Community or hospital based Palliative Care Team.
Full clean driving licence and own 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 as well as access to the Night Nursing online Learning platform