Job Description

Acute Admissions Ward



EXPERIENCED BAND 5 NURSE



The Acute Admissions Ward is a 57 bedded, acute medical admissions ward which forms part of the emergency pathway on the emergency floor. We receive acutely unwell patients from the Emergency Department for a wide variety of medical issues including respiratory, cardiac, endocrine, toxicology, haematology problems. Patients arrive in the acute phase of their illness and require further assessment and treatment until they are well enough to be discharged home or transfer to another ward. length of stay is from between a few hours to 3 days.



Good assessment skills and experience in managing acutely unwell patients is preferable. We have a large MDT including Doctors, specialist nurses and teams such as the addictions care team, tissue viability, infection control, psychiatric liaison teams, pharmacy, allied health professionals and critical response teams.



We are proud of our culture of learning, development and succession planning. You should have a commitment to mentoring and professional development and be willing to develop and take part in the multitude of study opportunities that the directorate offers.



If you are interested in becoming a part of our hard working, skilled and friendly team please do apply.



shift patterns are a mixture of Long Days and nights, including weekends - we do offer 10 requested shifts per roster to help you manage your work life balance.

Closing date:

12th October 2025



PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY



The admission, assessment and stabilisation of patients arriving from ED and other areas.



implementing care plans for patients in your care including administering medications (including IV medications, infusions and blood products)



Taking patient observations including vital signs, cardiac monitoring, PEFR or spirometry monitoring, neurological observations, fluid balance monitoring etc.



Recognising and responding to the acutely unwell or deteriorating patient including liaising with the critical response team and the medical team to ensure the best outcome for your patient.



Liaising with the wider MDT including our ward based STAT team, Phamacists, medical and specialist teams including clinical nurse specialists such as tissue viability, addictions care team, diabetes nurse specialists etc to ensure that your patient receives the best possible outcome.



As a member of the one of the biggest teaching hospitals in London, you will be expected to supervise and help develop junior staff on the ward including student nurses, newly qualified nurses and nursing assistants.



You will be supported to be nurse in charge of a zone until you are competent in this area.



Working as part of a team. helping other team members and receiving support when required.



Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.



We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.



We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.



Duties and Responsibilities



Clinical Duties



Responsible for carrying out clinical practice within designated clinical areas, ensuring that high quality, current evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, implementation, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided from admission through to discharge.



Will be responsible for the application of knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge and practical experience.



To act as advocate for patients within the area, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.



To ensure that patients' receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.



Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.



Will advise on the promotion of health and the prevention of illness.



Recognise the significance of observations made, and use them to develop and initiate nursing assessments and devise a plan of care.



Carry out those activities necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of a person's nursing requirements.



Will ensure that all patients will have a discharge plan that is safe and appropriate for their needs.



Carry out nursing procedures and treatments, checking on and maintaining the highest possible standards.



Work alongside the multi-disciplinary team to ascertain treatments and advise on nursing priorities.



Take a clear and concise history from patients by assessing their health and well being and complete documentation ensuring that all entries are accurate and legible and that all information systems are maintained.

Undertake prescribed physical observations as follows:

blood pressure, temperature, respirations, blood sugars, urinalysis, weight and height, and report exceptions appropriates.



Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication including transfusion of blood and blood products



Professional Responsibilities



Is wholly accountable for his / her practice in line with the NMC code of professional conduct and takes every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve his / her knowledge and professional competence.



Will act in accordance with Local, Hospital and Statutory Guidelines & Policies including Health and Safety initiatives.



Will be familiar with the Health and Safety at Works Act, and be aware of its implications and ensure that local unit and departmental policies are followed.



Will work in accordance with Corporate Objectives



Will compile a personal & professional portfolio (in conjunction with the Performance management process and the compilation of a Personal Development Plan).



Will maintain a high standard of care and give courteous reception to all patients and visitors.



Will adopt a patient orientated approach to work



Will practice in a cost effective and cost aware manner



Will ensure that the Hospital's policy is understood and carried out with regard to the care and custody of drugs/medications, especially with regard to those covered by the Control of Drugs Act.



Will be familiar with the ward's fire, manual handling and C.O.S.H.H. policies and ensure that all nurses in the ward are aware of the policies.



Will be fully conversant with the trust major incident plan, and ensure that all nurses on the ward understand the procedure.



Will establish a relationship with a clinical supervisor



Take all possible precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of staff, service users, visitors and the public, by implementing all policies related to health, safety, security and risk.



Communication



Will be responsible for the provision and receipt of complex, sensitive or contentious information related to patients, patient care, relatives, staff and other multidisciplinary colleagues.



Provides highly specialised advice concerning the care or treatment of identified groups or categories of patients/clients



Communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patient care.



Will communicate with patients and relatives, making reports and liaising, as appropriate; with medical staff other members of the care team and management.



Will give and receive day/night reports. Acting as team leader/member/co-ordinator as necessary.



Report to the Doctor/Sister/Charge Nurse and members of the multidisciplinary team on patient's conditions, both verbally and in writing as necessary.



Liaise with inter-hospital departments/personnel



Attend and participate in ward meetings and help promote new ideas and methods and assist in their implementation.



Attend and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences to benefit patient care.



Education & Professional Development



Act as a role model, giving guidance, counselling and support to unqualified staff and students.



Actively contribute to the teaching programme within the ward.



Act as mentor and introduce new staff members to their role within the team.



Act as preceptor for newly qualified members of staff.



Act as mentor/assessor to unqualified staff.



Assist in producing written reports concerning the basic learner nurse in the clinical setting as required by the university.



Take every opportunity to maintain and improve knowledge and competence, and take steps to keep up to date with clinical and nursing developments.



Local Area Variation to Core



To complete competencies specific to the post



This job description forms the basis of the roles duties. You should be aware that there might be other specific assigned tasks relevant to a particular area of work



The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated including:



Confidentiality / Data Protection / Freedom of Information



Post holders must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 2018. Post holders must not, without prior permission, disclose any information regarding patients or staff. If any member of staff has communicated any such information to an unauthorised person, those staff will be liable to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 2018 also renders an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.



Following the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000, post holders must apply the Trust's FOI procedure if they receive a written request for information.



Information Governance



All staff must comply with information governance requirements. These includes statutory responsibilities (such as compliance with the Data Protection Act), following national guidance (such as the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice) and compliance with local policies and procedures (such as the Trust's Confidentiality policy). Staff are responsible for any personal information (belonging to staff or patients) that they access and must ensure it is stored, processed and forwarded in a secure and appropriate manner.



Equal Opportunities



Post holders must at all times fulfil their responsibilities with regard to the Trust's Equal Opportunities Policy and equality laws.



Health and Safety



All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trust's health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.



Risk Management



All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the Trust's use of risk assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses in order to improve services. Post holders must also attend training identified by their manager, or stated by the Trust to be mandatory.



Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults



Post holders have a general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.



Please see attached for full details.