Job Description
Job Title ;Clinical Nurse Specialist - Endocrinology
Department ; Endocrinology
Reports to ;Assistant Director of Nursing - Endocrinology Services
Date ; 2026
Overall Purpose of Job
To provide exceptional patient care in an environment where quality, respect, caring and compassion are at the centre of all we do. The Endocrine Clinical Nurse Specialist works within a team which includes Endocrinology Department Lead consultant, Endocrinologists and under the direction of the ADON to ensure that objectives, outcomes and goals are achieved. The Endocrine CNS takes part to ensure that evidence based standards of care for Endocrine patients are met as required by the Joint Commission International. The Endocrine CNS will be a key stake holder and driver in the development, planning, organising, assesment, patient flow and performance improvement of the Endocrine service. They will take on other responsibilities as determined by the Assistant Director of Nursing and/or the Endocrine team. The Endocrine CNS will work alongside the Diabetic ANP and Diabetic CNS Team to form part of the wider Endocrine Service Group.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
The Endocrine CNS is responsible for providing expert nursing care and specialist support to patients with endocrine
disorders. The CNS will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring the delivery of evidence
based practice.
To undertake the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care required for Endocrine patients.
Manage patients with complex endocrine presentations with the support of consultant.
Gather knowledge to help support Endocrine conditions included with not limited to Thyroid disorders, Pituitary disorders, Adrenal disorders, Parathyroid disorders, Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease, PCOS and neuroendocrine conditions.
Coordinate care for patients undergoing endocrine investigations and diagnostic procedures called Endocrine Dynamic Testing within Beacon Hospital.
Monitor patients receiving hormone replacement therapies and endocrine medications under direction of Endocrinologists.
Be involved and learn to attend to endocrine emergencies, including adrenal crisis and severe electrolyte disturbances.
Assist in the development and implementation of endocrinology pathways, protocols, and clinical guidelines.
Provide specialist advice and consultation to nursing, medical, and allied health colleagues or willingness to learn the skills from a dedicated learning program.
Conduct nurse-led clinics within agreed protocols and scope of practice under direction of lead endocrinologist.
Form part of the Out Patient Endocrine Nurse Clinic and independently review patients in conjunction with their endocrinologists.
Coordinate patient follow-up and ongoing monitoring under direction.
Review laboratory results and diagnostic investigations in collaboration with the consultant endocrinologist.
Ensure timely communication of treatment plans and follow-up recommendations.
Deliver individual and group education programs for patients and families.
Support the expansion of specialist endocrinology services in line with patient needs and organisational priorities.
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Support patients with self management plans through telephone, clinic and inpatient contacts.
Ensuring care is provided in accordance with required clinical and quality standards and protocols.
To act as and apply specialist knowledge and experience to identify and manage patients with diabetes.
To work closely with Multi Disciplinary members to meet the needs of the patient and their families.
To participate in team discussions regarding treatment needs as appropriate.
To flexibly manage responsibility for own clinical caseload and to seek support from clinical colleagues in the management of complex cases and where necessary seek support from medical colleagues.
To promote seamless service of care through liaison with all relevant health care professionals including facilitating timely and safe transition of patients from outpatients, admission assessment to discharge from the hospital.
Demonstrate vision, innovation and flexibility in nursing practice and service development.
To demonstrate a high level of clinical decision making and an ability to monitor and improve standards of care.
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Identify areas for professional development and agree with the Assistant Director of Nursing courses, conferences and personal study to achieve these.
To work within his/her own scope of professional practice.
To assess, plan, deliver and evaluate outcomes and adjust nursing care practice in collaboration with the Endocrine team to ensure optimum coordination of and delivery of care.
Perform advanced nursing skills, working within the guidelines of the Code of Professional Conduct and protocols written and agreed with the multi-disciplinary teams.
Be a preceptor/mentor/supervisor to students/newly appointed staff as required.
Identify the need for and undertake a lead role in research and clinical audit in order to improve effectiveness of patient care
Disseminate research and audit findings as appropriate
At all times display exemplary standards of behavior and ensure own work practices and attitudes provide an example of professionalism for all staff
Facilitate early discharge from the ward area, availing of the patient lounge, supporting clinical teams in the effective handover and transfer of care
Actively and positively participates in the ongoing preparations to ensure readiness for JCI and the sustainability of same in alignment with Beacon Hospital Strategic Plan.
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Take on other responsibilities as determined by the Assistant Director of Nursing
Personal & Professional Responsibilities
Attend in a timely manner all mandatory education sessions.
Ability to work independently and follow self-directed study to maintain independent learning in the field of Endocrinology.
Maintain a professional portfolio.
Ensure their professional and personal persona positively reflects the profession of nursing and Beacon Hospital.
Identify potential and beneficial topics for nursing research.
Utilise all practical opportunities to educate the patient and their families.
Be a preceptor and or supervisor to students & newly appointed staff.
Educational Responsibilities
Act as a resource for healthcare professionals.
Take a key educative role to increase the knowledge base of the MDT members in their learning
and knowledge.
Provide clinical support for medical and nursing staff within the specialty.
Participate in any teaching initiatives within the area of Endocrinology.
Provide teaching and education to patients and relatives.
To take an active role in health education and educating patients about their lifestyle.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
Act as a role model for the nursing team, setting standards and expectations of quality of patient care.
Clinical assessment of the patients with Endocrine conditions.
Where appropriate, make clinical decisions with regard to individual patients with Endocrine conditions or ability to escalate safely.
Use clinical time to develop and support the ward staff.
Promote a seamless service of care through liaison with all relevant health care professionals, setting up appropriate systems of communication.
Develop own clinical expertise, keeping up to date of development in practice.
To demonstrate critical thinking and reasoning skills in clinical decision-making.
To evaluate the results of interventions, revising plans of care when necessary and to consult/refer when needed.
Ensure that families and carers are involved in the planning and provision of care where this is appropriate.
Practice and Service Development
Develop protocols for role development and skill enhancement as agreed with the Endocrine consultants.
Devise systems for monitoring standards which are able to demonstrate continual improvements in the quality of patient care.
To establish a system of clinical audit/quality improvement plans (QIP) and review so that the effectiveness of the service is monitored and patient outcomes are maximized.
To establish, implement and evaluate audit programs for the service.
General Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Confidentiality
The Endocrine CNS will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular, the right of patients to confidentiality.
Policies & Procedures
The Endocrine CNS is required to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all policy and procedural documents relevant to the position.
Hygiene Standards
The highest standard of hygiene must be maintained in the Hospital at all times and all staff members are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Hospitals requirements and standards with regard to hygiene. It is the responsibility of all staff to have a fundamental understanding of their individual responsibility in maintaining departmental & site hygiene standards.
Health and Safety
Ensure that effective safety procedures are in place to comply not only with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 but also within the spirit of the Hospital's mission, vision and values, and they are known and followed by staff. The Endocrine CNS is required to familiarise themselves with the requirements of employees under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and to promote a work environment that is compliant with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Each staff member is individually responsible for ensuring that the Hospital remains a safe place to work.
Information Technology
Ensure the most effective and efficient use of developments in information technology for administrative support in a manner, which integrates well with systems throughout the organisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
An Board Altrainais Registered General Nurse in Good standing.
Formal recognised post registration education relevant to the area of specialist practice at level 9- desirable
Experience
Minimum Five years post registration experience in an acute medical setting
Minimum of 2 years' experience in endocrinology, diabetes/ endocrinology, medical nursing- desirable
Willingness to learn under the guidance of the Endocrinology Team skills required over a two year in house program.
Candidiates must possess teaching skills, leadership quailities , critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Must demonstrate multi-tasking ability.
Must speak read and write grammatically correct English.
Excellent time managment.
Job Specific Competencies and Knowledge
Must have the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Must be motivated and innovative.
Must have the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
Must have excellent communication skills.
Demonstrate ability to plan effectively, to organise and have an understanding of change managment.
Be flexiable.
Demonstrate knowledge of recent and relevant experience in the specialised area.
Take part in the auditing and data collection in the area and take part in any national strategies implimented.
Must be professional at all times and have the ability to liase and problem solve throughout the whole service.
Personal Competencies
All posts in Beacon Hospital require a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. Therefore, the post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager or hospital management.
This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility and deliverables at the time of its writing. As the Hospital and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the Hospital.
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