Nutrition Support Nurse

This role has been approved for advertising; however, it is also being assessed as a suitable alternative employment opportunity. As a result, the vacancy may be withdrawn or there may be a delay before shortlisting can begin.

This role is open to all applicants. However, in line with Cornwall First recruitment principles, initial shortlisting will prioritise applicants from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and the Integrated Care Board for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We specialise in the delivery of artificial parenteral and enteral nutrition and hydration, providing holistic care for patients with a variety of medical and surgical complex illnesses.

You will help ensure these patients receive prompt assessment for artificial nutrition, including parenteral and enteral nutrition and support patient care in feeding related devices.

The position will involve working closely with other specialties including Consultants, Nurses, Dietitians, Speech and language therapists, and the wider acute and community wide MDT., The post holder will be responsible for:

Assessing and managing patients requiring artificial nutrition i.e. enteral including Nasogastric, Nasojejunal feeding and parenteral nutrition.

Assessing patients requiring a gastrostomy feeding tube

Providing education and training on the subject of hospital nutrition

Promoting good nutritional practice throughout the hospital

The post holder will initially be based in the specialty of Therapies

The Specialist Practitioner/Nurse will be an experienced practitioner who uses specialist knowledge and skills to support the CNS for Nutrition and the Nutrition support team

They will work under the supervision of Clinical Nurse Specialist for Nutrition

You will be expected to have a good knowledge of artificial feeding and have good understanding of the many ethical and legal considerations we as a team often encounter.

A passion for delivering patient education is essential in preparing them for discharge with enteral feeding tubes and preventing readmissions through close working with community teams.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people - a figure that can increase significantly with

visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £580 million.

We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.

The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles.

Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is a research active organisation.

It's established South West Clinical School in Cornwall exists to promote clinical academic career opportunities for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals interested in research and evidence-based activities. Read their research paper to find out more.