Job overview

The role involves managing a caseload of patients within Rheumatology Services, ensuring they receive high-quality care through close coordination and collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. As an expert practitioner in rheumatology nursing, the individual provides specialized advice, support, and education to both patients and healthcare professionals. They are responsible for overseeing all aspects of patient care, from pre-test assessments and diagnosis to addressing patients' social, emotional, and health needs, with referrals to appropriate services as necessary. Additionally, the role includes optimizing pharmaceutical care for patients with various rheumatological conditions, ensuring effective medication use. The individual is also expected to foster a culture of innovation and continual improvement in patient care by promoting research and evidence-based practices.

Main duties of the job

A Rheumatology CNS is responsible for managing a defined caseload of patients with rheumatological conditions, ensuring comprehensive, high-quality care through close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Their duties include assessing disease activity, leading on DMARD (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs) monitoring, and interpreting diagnostic tests. They are also responsible for educating patients on self-administering therapies, providing counseling for newly diagnosed patients, and offering advice on medication, pain management, and coping strategies. The nurse plays a crucial role in patient advocacy, ensuring that care plans are tailored to individual needs and that communication with patients, families, and healthcare teams is clear, empathetic, and effective. They also provide support and education to other healthcare professionals, promote effective inter-professional relationships, and maintain strict confidentiality and record-keeping standards.

In terms of leadership and staff management, the Rheumatology Nurse supports and guides staff, participates in clinical and management meetings, and contributes to policy and service development by organising and participating in the creation and implementation of clinical guidelines, audits, and research projects. They also have responsibilities related to financial and physical resources, ensuring equitable access to equipment and assisting patients in accessing financial support.

Working for our organisation

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

We run major acute services at:

• Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country’s top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
• St Mark’s Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
• Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
• Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.  

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.