Thoracic Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Thoracic Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) plays a crucial role within the multi professional team, serving as an expert practitioner who delivers high quality, patient centred care to patients undergoing thoracic surgery at UHNM.

This role involves providing clinical care in line with national standards and the post holder will play an active part in service development, quality and safety initiatives, audit and research. The post holder will manage a patient case load, providing specialist support across the pre and post-operative patient pathways. The CNS will work to enhance the experiences of the patient, their family, or carers by offering expert support and coordinating care throughout the patients' journey. This role includes participating in the organisation and running of clinics within the Thoracic Surgery Service post op follow up clinic and lung volume reduction service working collaboratively with Cancer and Respiratory services as an experienced member of the thoracic team.

UHNM has adopted a Lean based improvement methodology. Building capability in our "Improving Together" approach is a key organisational priority. Delivery of Thoracic services will provide an opportunity apply this approach in practice. As a Clinical Nurse Specialist - Thoracic Surgery, you will be expected to actively support the application of the "Improving Together" approach in delivering the outputs of your role.

Main duties of the job

o In collaboration with the clinical team and other key stakeholders, using physical/health assessment skills, undertake responsibility for the co-ordination and management of thoracic surgery patients, providing specialist pre-operative, peri-operative and post-operative care for patients with complex thoracic conditions, including lung cancer, and other lung pathologies.

o Act as a key worker for patients undergoing thoracic surgery, offering continuity of care throughout the diagnostic, treatment, and follow up pathway. Providing clear, compassionate education and support to patients and relatives, addressing treatment options, risks, recovery expectations, and long term outcomes. Facilitating informed decision making by ensuring patients understand their diagnosis, surgical plan, and available supportive services.

o Act as a core member of the Thoracic Surgery MDT, contributing specialist nursing input to case discussions, treatment planning, and service development. Coordinating care across specialties, ensuring effective communication between surgeons, oncologists, anesthetists, radiology, physiotherapy, and community services. Advocate for patients within MDT meetings, ensuring their clinical, psychological, and social needs are represented.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.