Clinical Nurse Specialist - Cardiology Heart Efficiency

JOB DESCRIPTION

Clinical Nurse Specialist CNS / Candidate Clinical Nurse Specialist cCNS \- Cardiology

50/50 Hospital and Integrated Care

Full time \- Permanent Role

Ref Number: 06\.019 (2026\)

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The CNS/cCNS will deliver care in line with the 5 core concepts of the role set out in the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialist Posts, 4th edition, National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM) 2008\.

The 5 core concepts are:* Clinical Focus (Direct and Indirect Care)

• Service User/Client Advocacy


• Education and Training


• Audit and Research


• Consultancy (including Leadership in Clinical Practice)

Slaintecare 2025\+ aims to forge the way towards accessible, affordable, high\-quality healthcare for the people of Ireland when they need it. In order to enable this, the Integrated Care Programme for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease (ICPCD) is supporting the national implementation of a model of integrated care for the prevention and management of chronic disease. The Model of Care for the Integrated Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease has a particular focus on preventive healthcare, early intervention and the provision of supports to live well with chronic disease.

The focus is on providing an end\-to\-end pathway that will reduce admissions to acute hospitals by providing access to diagnostics and specialist services in the ambulatory care hubs in a timely manner. For patients who require hospital admission, the emphasis is on minimising the hospital length of stay, with the provision of post\-discharge follow up and support for people in the community and in their own homes, where required. A shared local governance structure across the local acute hospitals and the associated CHO will ensure the development of a fully integrated service and end\-to\-end pathway for individuals living with chronic disease.

The successful candidate will work across the acute hospital and integrated services providing support to the integrated cardiology consultant and the ambulatory hubs and specialist teams to manage cardiovascular disease, and associated co\-morbidities, within the acute and community setting, where appropriate.

Ambulatory care hubs are sites identified outside of the hospital setting that will provide access to specialist services within the community. Each hub will be affiliated with a local hospital and will serve a population of approximately 150,000 and will focus primarily on the prevention and management of chronic disease. These hubs will be established to support the provision of care closer to home and to facilitate ready access to diagnostics, specialist services and specialist opinions in order to enhance the delivery of patient\-centred care, support early intervention and avoid hospital admission, where possible.

A suite of alternative outpatient pathways, support from multidisciplinary Chronic Disease Specialist Teams and access to diagnostics including ECHO and NTproBNP, radiology and laboratory testing will support the work within each hub and the provision of the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

The Integrated Cardiology Service will support:* A holistic, multidisciplinary approach to the care of individuals with cardiovascular disease;

• Provision of a reformed outpatient service that utilises telehealth and other ICT measures to facilitate more effective and efficient delivery of care;


• Reduced waiting times for patients for hospital\-based outpatient services;


• Timely access to specialist services and specialist opinion for patients with cardiovascular disease;


• Early intervention pathways/ rapid access clinics for acute, chronic or newly presenting cardiovascular conditions;


• Development of pathways for the management of cardiovascular conditions. The early assessment and implementation of pathways that will support GP\-led primary care, efficient discharge back to the community where appropriate and reduce the need for repeated hospital\-based outpatient reviews;


• Provision of oversight and implementation of self\-management support services for cardiovascular disease, including cardiac rehabilitation, in the ambulatory care hubs;


• Facilitating access and reporting of non\-invasive cardiology testing e.g. ECHO and NTproBNP for GPs; and,


• Providing improved integration of early discharge, outreach and potentially admission avoidance programmes


• Overseeing acute rapid access clinics for chronic cardiovascular disease

The role of the CNSp. CVD was developed to provide expertise and specialist nursing services to patients with a cardiovascular conditions both in the ward, hospital outpatient settings and in primary care. The role of the CNSp CVD will differ according to the needs and configuration of established cardiovascular services at each site.

The post holder will act as a liaison between acute cardiology services and integrated cardiology services in the community and other agencies, to deliver effective evidenced based care, using resources efficiently to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease in keeping with agreed models of care and HIQA standards.

The post holder will work with colleagues across the acute cardiology services and integrated care services to develop and implement ambulatory care pathways for cardiovascular disease and associated co\-morbidities, to improve the transition of patients between primary and secondary care. The post holder will work as part of a MDT and in close liaison with their associated Consultant Cardiologist to deliver coordinated evidence based care for patients.

The CNSp CVD will support the implementation of a model of integrated care which is focused on enhancing the management of care for patients between Primary (General Practice) and Secondary (Hospital) Care, thus optimising the patient’s quality of life and contributing to an integrated health service. The role supports the implementation of Sláintecare through the provision of community diagnostics and shifting treatment from the acute sector to the community.

The primary focus of the post holder will be to ensure that patients with cardiovascular disease receive timely and appropriate care through assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care delivery.

The person appointed to this post will work in the overall integrated cardiology service. This post is 50% acute based and 50% community based to work with the Integrated Care Consultant Cardiologist to develop integrated care services. Please note a portion of the appointees work will be carried out “offsite”. This means that the appointee will travel to the hubs to perform duties related to the role.

The CNS duties will include but are not limited to;* Triage of hospital outpatient referrals from GP’s

• Co\-ordination of Heart Failure Virtual Clinics


• Co\-ordination of Q \& A Clinical Queries service


• Co\-ordination of Urgent Outpatient Clinics


• Coordinate hospital cardiology discharges to ensure appropriate follow up and services are coordinated


• Inpatient Care


• The CNSp. CVD plays a vital role in ensuring patients are empowered with skills and knowledge necessary for them to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

QUALIFICATIONS

Each candidate must on the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office \-:

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)* Be registered in the General Division of the active register held by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or in exceptional circumstances which will be assessed on a case by case basis be registered in another division of the register of Nurses and Midwives.

• Have a minimum of 1 year post registration full time experience or an aggregate of 1 year full time experience in the division of the register in which the application is being made.


• Have a minimum of 1 year experience or aggregate of 1 year full time experience in the specialist area of care to which they are applying.


• Have a third level qualification at not less than level 9 or higher award that is relevant to the specialist area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Candidate (cCNS)* Be registered in the General Division of the active register held by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland or be entitled to be so registered.

OR* Have a minimum of 1 year post registration full time experience or an aggregate of 1 year full time experience in the division of the register in which the application is being made.

• Have a minimum of 1 year experience or aggregate of 1 year full time experience in the specialist area of care to which they are applying.

OR* If the applicant does not have the relevant specialist experience, they will be supported to attain one years’ clinical specialist experience.

• Have a third level qualification at not less than level 9 or higher award that is relevant to the specialist area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery.

OR* If the applicant does not have the relevant specialist experience, the applicant will be supported to undertake the required post graduate education as relevant to the specialist area.

• All of the above must be achieved within two years from start of employment for this pathway.

Applicable to both pathways* Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.

• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.


• Demonstrate evidence of c

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