Advanced Critical Care Practitioner

Job responsibilities

The ACCP Clinical Role:

Undertakes comprehensive clinical assessment of a patients condition.

Requests, performs and interprets data from diagnostic tests eg blood gases, pathology and medical imaging investigations.

Initiates and manages clinical treatment plans.

Provides accurate and effective handovers.

Undertakes invasive interventions within scope of practice including the insertion of arterial catheters, central venous catheters, Vascaths, PICCs, midlines, peripheral venous catheters, nasogastric tubes and urinary catheters.

Undertake advanced airway management, including drug assisted endotracheal intubation in accordance with and following successful completion of FICMs Advanced airway management for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners skills framework.

Initiates and adjusts mechanical ventilation and other forms of respiratory support.

If trained and competent to do so undertakes point of care ultrasound examinations to assist with clinical assessment and decision making.

Provides professional leadership and support within a multidisciplinary team.

Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge across a range of subject areas relevant to the field of critical care.

Critically analyses, evaluates and synthesises different sources of information for the purpose of assessing and managing the care of a critically ill patient.

Applies the principles of diagnosis and clinical reasoning that underlie clinical judgement and decision making.

Applies theory to practice through a clinical decision-making model.

Initiates emergency treatment plans for unanticipated clinical conditions.

Undertakes inter and intra-hospital transfers of level 2 and 3 patients.

Understands the professional accountability and legal frameworks for advanced practice, fulfils the requirement of the FICM ACCP Curriculum.

Applies the principles of evidence-based practice to the management of the critically ill patient.

As an Independent Non-Medical Prescriber, prescribe in accordance with HSCs policy.

If appropriately qualified as in accordance with HSCs non-medical authorisation blood components policy, authorise the administration of blood products (Policy not yet approved).

Understands and performs clinical audit.

Communication and Relationship Skills:

Actively supports patients and their families through communicating difficult and highly complex information using a variety of methods to ensure effective understanding in a timely manner. Including test results and treatment options.

Communicates complex information to patients/carers during the consent process prior to commencement of treatment plans and invasive procedures including explaining treatment options.

Proactively supports patients and carers in coming to terms with their illness/condition.

Ensures effective communication is maintained between members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure appropriate individuals are informed of changes to the patients conditions or treatment plan.

Provides empathy and reassurance through understanding the quality of life issues associated with their illness/condition.

Supports the Consultant Intensivist and other medical staff, in providing patients with treatment plans on critical care.

Exchanges information with patients and staff regarding appointments, admissions, discharges and follow up care in verbal and written form.

Makes direct referrals to other members of the Health Care Team.

Provide professional leadership and support within a multi-professional team.

Maintains accurate and up to date paper and electronic patient records ensuring security of such information.

Core member of the Critical Care multidisciplinary team providing specialist ACCP knowledge working closely with the Clinical Site Co-Ordinator team.

Knowledge, Training and Experience:

Uses specialist knowledge, leadership and expertise to assess, plan and implement care Interventions for patients requiring critical care for monitoring and organ support.

Uses expertise to recommend adjustments/amendments to treatment plans, in consultation with patients, to members of the multi professional team.

Maintains up to date knowledge in the specialist field, using information to affect change in practice and ensuring the effective dissemination of new knowledge.

Will interpret new knowledge to ensure that practice is up to date and in line with current thinking.

The Advanced Critical Care Practitioner is accountable for their own professional actions.

Has obtained the theoretical and practical knowledge to a level that allows the job responsibilities to be delivered to a high standard.

Maintains a professional portfolio providing evidence of clinical practice to be discussed at annual appraisal.

Develop, organise and contribute to teaching on study days and training sessions.

Attends / completes additional training required to fulfil the role eg FICM optional skills frameworks.

Maintain compliance with Mandatory training.

Participates in the supervision and mentorships of students and other trainees.

Undertakes and participates in clinical supervision.

Will be in possession of UK Resuscitation Council Advanced Life Support Provider qualification.

Professional and Service Development Responsibilities:

Responsible for managing and prioritising own workload against the needs of patients and service requirements.

With the support of the Critical Care Manager and Consultants, makes representation as appropriate at various meetings providing feedback to the organisation on clinical and professional issues which have an impact on care and standards of practice within the sphere of responsibility.

Participates in service development. Writes protocols, guidelines and procedures for own remit which impacts on members of the multidisciplinary team. Develops and evaluates these protocols, guidelines and procedures using current literature and research.

Implement policies informing members of the multidisciplinary team of any changes.

Liaise with the Consultant Intensivist, and Senior Leaders in the development of Critical Care services, contributes ideas and makes recommendations for service improvements.

Complies with hospital policies and guidelines including infection control procedures.

Reports and removes from service faulty equipment.

Actively participates and contributes to the clinical governance agenda, e.g. by ensuring that training programmes are regularly updated, by providing annual reports and undertaking regular benchmarking of clinical practices.

If required to participates in the recruitment and selection criteria.

Freedom to Act:

The Advanced Critical Care Practitioner will have a high degree of autonomy ...