The Role:

1. CARE COORDINATION

PRE-ADMISSION SERVICE

• Act as primary contact person for the relevant waiting list for both patients and clinicians. Attend Outpatients Specialist Clinics to assess patients referred for elective surgery waiting list.
• Prioritise and focus on patients identified as complex or significant (category one) providing clinical preoperative assessment to meet the expectation of planning and preparation of treatment in 30 days.
• Ensure the ‘Patient Health Questionnaire’ is completed and recently reviewed to determine the current need for Anaesthetic consultation or other interdisciplinary referral and coordinate relevant appointments.
• Ensure relevant pre-admission investigations and referrals are executed and triaged to the appropriate person, ensuring the results of investigations and referrals are available to the multidisciplinary team and readily accessible on the day of admission.

CARE CONTINUUM

• In conjunction with the patient and family initiate discharge planning process.
• Liaise with other agencies for the provision of services and ambulatory supports required by the patient.
• Identify patients with potential ongoing health care needs and facilitate appropriate referrals as required.

REQUEST FOR ADMISSION (RFA)

• Ensure all information is completed on the RFA form to assist in the coordination and planning of the patient care pathway.
• Assess all RFAs for appropriateness of booking – Day Only and Day of Surgery Admission and identify appropriate admission point suitability and equipment for inpatient management.
• Ensure the coordination and management of the patient is recorded on the relevant electronic database/s.
• Ensure bed requirements are identified at the time of booking or following an aesthetic assessment.

WAITING LIST, PROCEDURAL, INVESTIGATION AND THEATRE BOOKINGS

• Coordinate the patient’s admission schedule, ensure patients are placed on the Waiting List, and monitor patient progress and ensure relevant timelines are met in accordance with Tasmania’s Elective Surgery Access Policy.
• Review lists for the following week to confirm order of list and ensure communication of changes to patients and relevant departments.
• Monitor postponements and ensure postponed patients are re-booked in accordance with Perioperative Services guidelines.
• Liaise with the relevant stakeholders in overseeing appropriate management of patients wishing to cancel or alter bookings in accordance with Tasmania’s Elective Surgery Access Policy.
• Ensure an appropriate and accurate “Ready for Admission” pool of patients for each specialty unit is maintained.
• Review documentation/medical history for patients who have been deferred/postponed ensuring status is unchanged and pre-admission details remain current.
• Liaise with treating clinician regarding patients who are well outside of their desired waiting time for their clinical priority category.    

2.       PATIENT AND FAMILY EDUCATION

• Facilitate and/or provide patient and family education about admission, hospital episode and discharge.
• Maintain communication with patients to provide accurate and timely information about their planned admission, their rights and responsibilities re their transport and escort arrangements, and any changes to their contact details.
• Assist in the development of literature to educate and inform patients in the understanding of their hospital, procedure and post discharge care.
• Participate in relevant projects for the education of patients.
• Monitor and evaluate patient satisfaction with the liaison process.

3.       NETWORK, PARTNERSHIPS - TEAMWORK

• Collaborate and communicate effectively with multidisciplinary team regarding individual patient’s needs to achieve desired outcomes.
• Maintain appropriate communication with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure effective communication and information is maintained by attending and participating in Surgical Access team meetings and audits.
• Participate in project teams/committees as required.
• Act as a resource and role model for clinical excellence in the delivery of patient care.

4. LEARNING CULTURE

• Accepts responsibility for continuing own professional development by participating in the Performance Development Agreement and identifying needs or seeking direction in identifying needs to maintain expertise and currency with health care trends and nursing practices.
• Participates in the development and review of policies and procedures to reflect current evidence-based practice for the practice setting.
• Attend relevant external/internal education sessions to keep informed of current trends and developments.
• Participate in continuing education activities, committees and professional and special interest groups.
• Assume responsibility as a self-directed professional for continuing education and maintain documentation of evidence of professional development.
• Supports the development of others through participation in orientation and preceptoring nurses and other members of the health team.

5.       SAFETY AND QUALITY

• Support programs that ensure Safety and Quality Improvement objectives are met.
• Develop tools for use in quality and performance monitoring.
• Ensure that relevant and reliable data is collected, collated and utilised as the basis of decision making and quality improvement initiatives.

You will need:

• High level of knowledge and skills combined with significant experience in acute surgical nursing.  Knowledge and understanding of pre-admission, admission, discharge and waiting list management principles.
• Advanced level of communication skills: Individuals will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, negotiate and collaborate with members of multidisciplinary teams, diverse stakeholders, patients and their families: including the ability to address conflict and resolve disputes.
• Patient Focus: Individuals will consistently and enthusiastically deliver high levels of patient service demonstrated by the provision of prompt, efficient and personalised service, responding to patient needs and a commitment to delivering high quality outputs.
• Possess sound analytical, judgment and problem-solving skills: Individuals will demonstrate the capability to seek all relevant information, analyse issues from different perspectives and draw sound inferences from information available.
• Knowledge of and a demonstrated commitment to apply principles of quality improvement and evidence-based practices to the practice setting.

Note: - Please refer to the Statement of Duties for all the selection criteria of this position to address in your application.

The Team:

Sick of working shift work on the ward. Keen to try something different and utilise you nursing knowledge in a different format? Come and join our Surgical and Endoscopy Access team and help our patients obtain the surgery they require as well as contribute to a statewide reduction in the elective surgery waiting list.

Details of appointment:

Fixed term, part time, day worker position, working 64 hours per fortnight, commencing as soon as possible for a period of approximately twelve (12) months.

*notwithstanding hours to be negotiated with the successful applicant.

Applicants should note that, for a period of twelve months from the date of publication, this selection process may be used to fill subsequent or similar full time, part time, and casual vacancies.

Salary: $75,902 - 102,908 per annum (Pro rata). Our Employer 11.5% superannuation contribution is on top of this amount.

• Salary range is in accordance with Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Agreement 2023

Allowances: 

You’ll have access to salary package a range of benefits including living expenses up to $9,010 + $2,650 in meal entertainment each FBT year + other benefits if eligible.

In addition, the following allowances calculated on the salaried incremental point may be available:

• Professional Development Allowance of up to $500 per annum
• Access to the Grade 4 salary range $96,558 - $102,908 is subject to successful application for progression to Grade 4
• Post Graduate Allowance of up to 10 % based on qualification type

Benefits available to eligible candidates:

• Professional development and accelerated pathways.
• Excellent leave benefits: 20 days annual leave (pro rata), 20 days personal leave (pro rata), and study assistance leave if eligible.
• Fitness Passport – You, and your family can access 40+ fitness facilities across Tasmania for just $13.95 per week per person, or $25.95 for a family.

Eligibility:

Successful applicants will be required to meet the essential criteria.

• Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as a Registered Nurse

Note: - Please refer to the Application Guide for more information of Essential requirements, Desirable requirements and pre-employment check.

Download the Statement of Duties and any Associated Documents

We encourage you to review the Statement of Duties, Applicant Guide, prior to applying for an overview of the duties, program, selection process and application guidance.

Statement of Duties: 

• Elective Surgery Access Nurse G3-4.docx

Application Guide:  

• Department of Health - Applicant Guide Sep 2024.pdf
• Department of Health - Applicant Guide Sep 2024.docx

How to apply:

Apply Online. Please click the "Apply" button on this screen to ensure that important questions about you are answered.

You will be prompted to complete a 1-2 page application detailing your experience, skills and knowledge as they relate to the attached Statement of Duties. A separate statement addressing the selection criteria in the Statement of Duties is not required.

For more information:

Applicants who require further information are encouraged to contact the Contact person for detailed information about the vacancy.

Angela Banks
Nurse Manager - Surgical and Endoscopy Access
0409 004 857
rhh.numseaunit@ths.tas.gov.au

What it is like working at the Department of Health? 

Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellent are the key values to work in Department of Health. Listen to some of the lived experiences from within the department through some of our wonderful staff and hear about their journey in relocating to Tasmania!

Make It Tasmania | Move for a great lifestyle

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Tasmanian Health Careers | Tasmanian 

Respecting diversity is the foundation of everything that Department of Health do. This allows us to instil trust and collaborate through honest and fair communication and helps cultivate an environment of growth and innovation. We strongly encourage applicants from key communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTIQA+ people, and people living with disabilities.