Staff Nurse : Cardiothoracic Intensive Care

Role Title : Staff Nurse : Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Job Reference Number : Closing Date : Sunday, 12th October 2025 Purpose of the Role : The purpose of the Staff Nurse role in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is to provide specialist, high quality, evidenced based nursing care to critically ill patients recovering from complex cardiothoracic surgeries and conditions.

The post holder is responsible for managing the care of patients and the needs of their families, ensuring quality is maintained.

The post holder is required to develop additional clinical skills specific to the area of critical care cardiothoracic nursing and to work as part of the multidisciplinary team to deliver a high standard of care to patients within St Jamess Hospital.

Key Duties and Responsibilities A Staff Nurse is a Registered Nurse who is involved in direct patient care with the responsibility of providing the highest standard of evidence based nursing care in partnership with other health care professionals.

The role of the Staff Nurse involves : Responsibilities include assessing, planning, delivering, and evaluating nursing care, using a holistic approach.

Caring for patients in the immediate and postoperative phase following cardiothoracic surgery.

Operate and troubleshoot advanced equipment such as ventilators, intra-aortic balloon pumps, continuous renal replacement therapy, epicardial pacemakers, chest drains, and nitric therapy.

Recognise and respond promptly to changes in patient conditions including cardiac arrythmias and postoperative complications.

When providing patient care, they observe, assess, and record symptoms, responses to treatment, and progress of the cardiothoracic patient.

The Staff Nurse will work closely with the cardiothoracic surgical team, cardiac anaesthetic team, and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Supervise and assess Student Nurses and other junior staff in the clinical area.

The Registered Nurse must adhere to Code of Professional Practice and Behaviours.

Is aware and understands the need to adhere to Hospital and / or professional standards, policies, and procedures, relevant to their area of practice.

Communicates effectively in English language, written and spoken, as appropriate to job requirements.

Participate and cooperate with legislative and regulatory requirements in relation to Health and Safety as outlined in the Safety, Health and Welfare Act 2005 and the Hospital Safety Statement.

Ensure own mandatory learning and training is kept up to date.

For Staff Nurses who have none or less than 18 months experience in critical care, they may be eligible for the Cardiothoracic ICU Foundation Course.

While on the course, the Staff Nurse is part of the Cardiothoracic ICU nursing team.

The Staff Nurse is continuously supervised and supported by the educational team during this course.

• The above Role Profile is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Required : Be registered in the General Division of the Register of Nurses & Midwives maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

AND Cardiothoracic ICU Minimum of 18 months experience in a Critical Care environment in an acute hospital within the last 2 years.

The most recent 12 months of this must be in an acute setting.

Cardiothoracic ICU (Foundation Course) Minimum of 1 years experience in acute medical / surgical nursing within the last 2 years.

The most recent experience must be in an acute hospital.

Demonstrate I.

T.

skills including excellent keyboard skills.

Desired : Postgraduate Qualification in Cardiovascular Nursing.

Advanced cardiac life support course.

Working knowledge of healthcare patient record systems.

Basic life support.