Staff Nurse - Critical Care

The Band 5 Critical Care Nurse is responsible for delivering high-quality, patient-centred care to critically ill patients within a busy 24-bedded Critical Care Unit. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the post holder will assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients requiring Level 2 and Level 3 support, including those receiving advanced respiratory, cardiovascular and renal therapies. The role involves continuous patient monitoring, recognising and responding to deteriorating clinical conditions, administering medications and treatments safely, and supporting patients and their families throughout the critical care journey. The post holder will contribute to maintaining a safe clinical environment, participate in service improvement initiatives, and engage in ongoing professional development to develop specialist critical care knowledge and skills.

• Deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care to critically ill patients requiring Level 2 and Level 3 care.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualised patient care programmes.
• Monitor patients' physiological status and promptly recognise and elevate signs of deterioration.
• Administer medications, intravenous therapies, blood products, and treatments in accordance with Trust policies.
• Care for patients requiring advanced organ support, including ventilation, vasoactive infusions, and renal replacement therapies following appropriate training.
• Operate and maintain specialist critical care equipment safely and effectively.
• Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and the multidisciplinary team to ensure coordinated care.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and professional patient records and documentation.
• Adhere to infection prevention and control, safeguarding, and patient safety policies.
• Participate in audits, quality improvement activities, and service development initiatives.
• Maintain professional registration, mandatory training, and ongoing development of critical care knowledge and skills.
• Work flexibly across a 24-hour service, including days, nights, weekends, and bank holidays.
• Contribute to maintaining a safe, clean, and well‑organised clinical environment.
• Support the Matron, Team Leaders and Practice Educator in the delivery of flexible, integrated critical care services.
• Support a client centred approach that provides clinically effective and safe care to meet a wide range of critical care needs for patients and their significant others.
• Plan, implement and evaluate individual patient care for a span of duty, ensuring appropriate delivery and record keeping.
• Ensure all records and information used as part of their work are managed as per NMC guidelines and Trust's policies.
• Monitor changes in patient condition and prioritise emergency and urgent care appropriately. Instigate necessary treatments in accordance with medical instruction.
• Ensure effective communication and all aspects of care with the patient and their significant others in sensitive and difficult circumstances whilst maintaining confidentiality.
• Support communication between relatives and consultants and arrange meetings as required.
• Ensure effective communication with senior nurses and colleagues.
• Develop own practice to an exemplary level and be guided in practice by recommendations from Trusts, Network and National bodies.
• Access support and supervision to enhance continued development, attending and participating in unit development opportunities.
• Work with other MDT professionals to meet patient needs e.g Physiotherapy, Pharmacy and Dietetics.
• Maintain registration with the NMC and comply with statutory requirements.
• Arrange the admissions and discharges of patients in accordance with unit practice.
• Inter and intra hospital transfers of critically ill patients once appropriate training completed.
• Ensure appropriate use of all resources.
• Ensure prompt action to deal with any complaints as per Trust's policy. Aim to resolve any at local level where possible, participate in complaint investigation when required. Record and report complaints to senior nurses.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent communication, teamwork and organisational skills, delivering compassionate care whilst upholding professional standards and the Trust's values. Rotational shifts, including days, nights, weekends and bank holidays, are an integral part of the role.

Essential criteria

• 6 months experience in an acute area, e.g medical/surgical ward, A&E, theatres. Student nurses must have had a placement in a critical care area.
• registered nurse. Current NMC registration (pending for students)

Desirable criteria

• critical care course
• mentorship course, high standards of written accuracy
• ability to understand, absorb and comply with detailed procedures.
• able to manage more than one task at once.
• clear and accurate written and verbal communication
• effective listening skills, able to adapt and be flexible to the needs of the unit.
• ability in dealing sympathetically and sensitively with people.
• proven ability to work in a team and be supportive of team members
• learning ability and other skills
• able to take on new ideas, skills and knowledge
• able to use own initiative and prioritise care accordingly.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

At East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide multiple speciality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 7,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

The Trust has committed to key objectives for achievement to which all employees are expected to contribute. These are:

• Putting safety and quality at the heart of everything we do.
• Working together in partnership
• Investing in and developing the workforce.
• Improving patients and carers experience by delivering best practice.

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first‑class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.

We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under‑representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro‑rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay‑scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short‑listed.

Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost for an Enhanced DBS, is £45.90 and for a Basic & Standard, this is £24.90 this cost includes a £4.90 admin fee.

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