Staff Nurse

Role overview

The Staff Nurse will assess patient needs, plan suitable care programmes, carry out those plans, and review outcomes for patients and their relatives. The role is based in a ward or department and focuses on delivering a consistently high standard of clinical nursing. The nurse will be responsible for managing an allocated group of patients, and when rostered and deemed competent, will take charge of the ward, including leadership and supervisory duties. The post holder will also serve as a professional example for students and Clinical Support Workers and will help maintain a positive, professional image of the organisation and nursing team.

Key duties

Care delivery must follow the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct as well as the Trust’s policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines. The post holder will support patient admission and discharge, working with other agencies to help ensure smooth continuity of care between hospital and community settings. The nurse is expected to provide holistic care that takes account of the individual needs of each patient and their relatives.

Communication is a major part of the post and must be handled with sensitivity, empathy, and professionalism. This includes speaking appropriately with patients and relatives, sharing relevant clinical information with the wider healthcare team, and discussing patient information with relatives only where consent has been given. The role also requires strong communication in challenging situations, clear patient handover to colleagues, and prompt escalation of any change or concern in a patient’s condition to senior nursing staff or medical staff. Referrals to other healthcare professionals should be initiated when needed, and patient concerns should be followed up through discussion with senior staff.

The nurse must maintain professional communication with all patients and visitors to the ward or department, while actively supporting equality and diversity and recognising the needs of patients and families as individuals.

About the employer

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is among the UK’s largest and most modern NHS trusts. Operating across Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, it serves a population of around three million people and is well known for its facilities, teaching, and research. It is also the specialist major trauma centre for the North Midlands and North Wales.

The Trust emphasises staff development and offers a range of learning and growth opportunities so employees can reach their potential. It also promotes an inclusive workplace culture with fair and transparent opportunities for career progression. The organisation values diversity, inclusion, and the contribution of every employee, and expects staff to uphold the Trust’s values, which were developed with input from staff, patients, and carers.

The Trust also states that investing in and supporting staff has a direct effect on the quality of care provided, and that employees are valued as highly as patients and the wider population served.

Contact for informal enquiries

For an informal discussion or further details, contact Courtney Lightfoot, Ward Manager, by email at courtney.lightfoot@uhnm.nhs.uk or by phone on 01782 675251.