We are committed to developing our staff, which is why we’ve developed a bespoke 18-month specialist rotation programme to which all Band 5 nurses can apply.
This involves six-month placements on three of our specialist units to develop your clinical skills and knowledge.
Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals make up the largest specialist heart and lung centre in Europe, renowned for its expertise, standard of care and research success.
On each new rotation, you will have a supernumerary period, an allocated supervisor, as well as an educational supervisor. You will attend eight study days, and you will be expected to complete the Trust competencies (for example communication skills and wound care), alongside three academic assessments.
Some ward areas may give you a workbook or quizzes to assist you during your rotation.
Each study day will include a session on wellbeing, led by the hospitals' team of experienced psychologists. The sessions are created to promote staff wellbeing, and are supplemented with one-to-one sessions if desired.
The rotation programme will be tailored to individual learning needs, with a guaranteed permanent role at the end of the 18-month programme. You may also be able to complete other modules in preparation for progressing to Band 6. You will also have further professional and personal development opportunities as you progress in your chosen speciality.
Royal Brompton Hospital rotation areas
Cardiology
Here you will care for patients who require:
- cardiac surgery and TAVIs
- percutaneous coronary intervention
- pacemakers and cardiac investigations.
You will also care for patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), heart failure and endocarditis. The ACHD service is one of the largest specialised centres in the world.
Critical care unit / high dependency unit
Here you will provide nursing care for those who require optimisation before surgery and post-procedure care. This may include:
- invasive and non-invasive ventilation
- intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy
- haemofiltration
- extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- management of ventricular assist devices (VAD).
Respiratory unit
Here you will care for patients with cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, asthma and chronic lung conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
You will gain experience in:
- high dependency care
- nasal ventilation
- neuromuscular lung disorders
- sleep studies
- complex respiratory diseases.
Surgical unit
Here you will care for patients before and after cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures.
This includes:
- coronary artery bypass grafts
- valve surgery
- aortic repair/replacement
- cancer treatment such as lobectomy and pneumonectomy
- chest wall reconstruction.
Placements in other areas, such as theatres or cath labs, can be discussed.
Harefield Hospital rotation areas
Critical care unit / high dependency unit
This includes the intensive therapy unit (ITU), recovery and high dependency unit (HDU).
You will provide nursing care for patients who require:
- ventilation
- intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) therapy
- extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- ventricular assist devices (VADs).
You will also care for patients after cardiothoracic surgery including transplantation.
Transplant unit
Here you will develop your nursing experience for patients before and after heart/lung transplants. You will also care for patients who require ventricular assist devices (VADs) or intra-aortic balloon pumps.
Surgical unit
Here you will care for patients before and after cardiac and thoracic surgical procedures. This includes:
- coronary artery bypass grafts
- valve surgery
- aortic repair/replacement
- cancer treatment such as lobectomy and pneumonectomy
- chest wall reconstruction.
Acute cardiac care unit
Here you will care for patients who require:
- cardiac surgery
- angioplasties
- pacemakers
- cardiac investigations.
Placements in other areas, such as theatres or cath labs, can be discussed.
Contact
For further information about the rotation programme contact:
Marie Symonds Dubska, Sister
Email: M.Symondsdubska@rbht.nhs.uk
Tel: 07977037840