Lead Specialist Nurse in Lung Cancer

Working Hours

Full time: 37.5 hours per week

Role Overview

As a lead specialist nurse in Lung Cancer, the post holder will be an identified key worker for a patient caseload, accepting referrals to agreed criteria, coordinating treatment and care, practicing autonomously as a core member of the Lung Cancer team.

Key Responsibilities

• Clinical Expertise: The senior CNS possesses expertise in clinical risk evaluation, change management, and the provision of educational support to patients, carers, and colleagues across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Patient Care: The post holder will be expected to demonstrate a higher level of practice in both direct care of patients and in the ability to plan and develop services to support patient care. Utilising the skills of leadership, clinical expertise, evidence-based practice, and innovation the post holder will facilitate and deliver care, which is patient-centred, safe, and effective.
• Flexibility: The post holder may be required to work on other wards/ departments within the Trust at short notice in the event of hospital pressures/major civilian disaster.

Main Duties

• Manage an allocated patient caseload as an autonomous Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, using advanced clinical assessment, decision-making, and specialist nursing skill.
• Deliver nurse-led clinics, consultations, and treatments in line with clinical guidelines, policies, and evidence-based practice.
• Work closely with the multidisciplinary team (MDT), consultants, GPs, community services, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient-centred care.
• Provide specialist advice, information, and emotional support to patients, relatives, and carers, including discussions around diagnosis, treatment, recurrence, progression, and prognosis.
• Support patients and families to make informed decisions about their care and manage complex, sensitive, and emotive situations professionally.
• Coordinate early and safe discharge planning, referrals, and liaison with community services.
• Direct nursing care, including palliative and end-of-life care, and facilitate appropriate referrals.
• Participate in MDT meetings and contribute specialist expertise to lung cancer decision-making.
• Promote evidence-based best practice, service development, education, and research, evaluating effectiveness and outcomes.
• Maintain accurate patient records and uphold privacy, dignity, safety, and confidentiality.
• Maintain continuing professional development and up-to-date knowledge of advances in lung cancer care.
• Promote patient involvement, feedback, professional collaboration, and the sharing of best practice.