POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Respiratory Nurse Specialist & Educator

Full Time Equivalent: 1.0 FTE

Date: December 2013

Location: Te Tai Tokerau PHO, 182 Commerce Street, Kaitaia

Reports To: Associate Director of Nursing, Primary Health Care

Clinical Oversight by: Clinical Director

Direct Reports: None

Budget: No direct responsibilities

Approved by : Chief Executive Officer

1. Values

The underpinning values of Te Tai Tokerau PHO are:

 Working in Partnership

 Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga

 Maintaining respectful and open communication

 Acknowledging and respecting different values

2. PHO Strategic Priorities

Te Tai Tokerau PHOs Strategic Priorities are aligned to Triple Aim Outcomes of the Northland District

 Improving the health of Northlanders and reducing health inequities and inequalities

 Patients and Whanau experiencing culturally and clinically safe, good quality, effective, efficient and timely care

 Maintaining Value for investment and Sustainability

3. Purpose of the Position

Respiratory illness continues to be the leading cause of hospitalisations of New Zealand children under five years and people over 65 years. Maori are over represented in these admissions, with the severity of asthma for Maori resulting in twice the hospital admission rate than for non-Maori.

Addressing the health and social determinants that result in inequity of health outcomes for Maori is a key purpose of the Respiratory Support Service.

The two Respiratory Nurse Specialist / Educators, one sited in each Northland PHO, Manaia Health and Te Tai Tokerau PHO, are key to implementing changes to improve health outcomes for the Northland population by providing clinical leadership and expert level advice to primary health care providers, and supporting the development and provision of the Northland DHB approved respiratory clinical pathways

The first seventeen months of the service will primarily be to raise the level of knowledge and clinical skills of the primary health care nursing workforce through education, training and the development of key Respiratory Resource Nurse roles within general practice teams.

4. Key Areas of Accountability and Work Parameters

4.1. Provide evidence-based education training programmes to the Te Tai Tokerau PHO Health PHO primary health care teams to raise the level of expertise for the management of patients with respiratory conditions.

 Provide Clinical Leadership through education/training programmes for the practice nurse and GP workforce. Education/training programmes will be evidence-based ensuring accurate diagnosis, treatment and management of respiratory conditions

 Co-facilitate and deliver the Asthma and COPD Fundamental two day training to groups of practice nurses to achieve the level of proficient on the NZ Respiratory Nursing & Knowledge Skills Framework (2010).

 Ascertain the increased level of knowledge of practice nurses by implementing a pre-training knowledge and skills questionnaire and evaluating the gains following the training

 Identify key practice nurses to become Respiratory Resource Nurses within each general practice and support their on-going development

 Organise and co-facilitate CME/CNE sessions on best-practice respiratory management and prescribing to primary care teams in appropriate venues across Northland

 Provide planning and coordination of spirometry training for the primary health care workforce enabling ease of access to spirometry services within the Te Tai Tokerau PHO geographical area.

4.2. Provide support to general practice and the multi-disciplinary teams for the management of patients with respiratory conditions

 Offer expert level advice and support on respiratory conditions to primary health care providers in

general practices within the Te Tai Tokerau PHO geographical area

 Work alongside general practice teams to establish ‘Respiratory Care Improvement Packages’ to

patients with the highest health need (NB: these patients will continue to be funded and managed by the GP/PN teams through the existing CarePlus programme).

 Provide management and case review for a small caseload of patients with complex needs with a

focus on preventing hospital admissions and re-admissions. Priority patients will be identified through case-finding and review processes.

 Act as an expert ‘subject matter’ resource person to primary health care staff, at the same time

identify and support ‘Respiratory Resource Nurses’ in each general practice to build a sustainable, confident and competent workforce.

4.3. Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach

 Work collaboratively and as part of a multi-disciplinary team approach with Primary Care Dieticians, NPHOs Clinical Director(s), General Practice Facilitators, GPs and nurses, Maori health providers, and specialist respiratory services

 Act as a link to teams to enable implementation of the NDHB approved respiratory clinical pathways.

 Alongside the NPHO Clinical Director and Associate Director of Nursing support the development and provision of NDHB approved respiratory clinical pathways to be implemented through a multi-disciplinary team approach

4.4. Service Development and Quality

 Demonstrate a commitment to excellence and quality improvement in all aspects of work

 Participate in local, regional and national initiatives and activities as appropriate

 Utilise accurate and relevant data, information, and evidenced based criteria to inform service planning, delivery and evaluation

 Ensure that the service meets contractual requirements and professional standards

 Work positively and collaboratively with all members of the PHO team and the wider health system. Develop and maintain effective networks and relationships relevant to the requirements of the position

5. Responsibilities of Employees

 Participate in the Health and Safety Programme within Te Tai Tokerau PHO and other working

environments reporting incidents and accidents promptly. Identify workplace hazards and take personal responsibility for monitoring own behaviour in relation to hazards

 Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, legislation, professional and evidence/best practice standards and guidelines

 Participate in Te Tai Tokerau PHO activities, contribute to the Te Tai Tokerau PHO whanau and clinical team, and behave in a manner that promotes the organisation’s mana, good standing and reputation

6. Working Relationships  All Te Tai Tokerau PHO staff

 Manaia PHO Respiratory Specialist Nurse Educator

 General Practice Facilitators, Dieticians, Clinical Director(s), Associate Director of Nursing

 General practitioners, practice nurses and other primary health staff

 Maori health providers

 Northland DHB staff in particular the Medical Outreach / Respiratory teams

 The Asthma Foundation and other related groups and organisations

7. Person Specification

7.1. Formal Education and Training Essential:

 Registered Nurse with current practising certificate and scope of practice aligned to the position

 Evidence of advanced learning/qualifications in respiratory management

Preferred:

 Relevant post-graduate qualification or progress towards this

 Recent training in Asthma / COPD Fundamentals and Spirometry

7.2. Experience, Skills and Competencies: Essential:

 Minimum three years post graduate experience as a Registered Nurse

 Minimum two years or equivalent working in the practice area of respiratory

 Skills and experience in adult teaching, coaching and/or mentoring

 Capacity to work independently and autonomously, and effectively with others and as part of a team

 Excellent interpersonal skills, proven ability to build and maintain positive and productive working relationships

 Demonstrated good time management and the ability to prioritise and manage multiple portfolios/tasks

 Proficient written communication ability – writing reports that are relevant, concise and are appropriate to the audience

 Computer literacy to proficient level – Word, Excel

 Self-awareness of own knowledge, skills and abilities and demonstrated action to address learning needs

Preferred:

 Previous experience of working in the PHO/primary health care setting

 Understanding of the socioeconomic determinants of health, and competencies in health improvement for Maori populations

 Service development and quality improvement skills

 Demonstrated confidence and competence in working in or with a Maori or bicultural organisation

 Current full and unrestricted driver’s licence

8. Variation of Duties

Duties and responsibilities described above should not be construed as a complete and exhaustive list as it is not the intention to limit in any way the scope or functions of the position. Duties and responsibilities may be amended from time to time either by addition, deletion or straight amendment by the Associate Director of Nursing or CEO to meet any changing conditions and to ensure best use of PHO resources to meet the needs of the population.