Cardiac Surgery Enhanced Practitioner

Job Summary
The post holder will work as an integral member of the Cardiac Surgery Nurse Practitioners within the Bristol Foundation Trust to deliver high quality care to elective and emergency patients before and after cardiac surgical procedure. The post holder will take over roles previously undertaken by junior medical staff.

Main Duties of the Job
Professional knowledge and expertise
Substantial experience of caring for patients with cardiac disease, and recent acute experience of caring for patients attending for cardiac surgery procedures. Continued evidence of developing relevant clinical expertise. Undertake physical assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills (or working towards) ECG interpretation. Familiar with NSF for CHD content and relevant NICE guidelines and have a relevant pharmaceutical knowledge

Problem-solving and decision-making
Highly knowledgeable regarding up-to-date care of patients having Cardiac Surgery that include requirements for autonomy and analytical skills to diagnose ongoing cardiac surgery or comobidity/ new onset illness and recommend/decide on the best course of action/treatment.

Planning and coordination
Work with colleagues to develop and implement nursing and medical guidelines, standards and documentation for the management of cardiac surgery patients.
Establish links and networks with other nursing professionals in similar roles with this patient group at Local, Regional and National level.
Use every opportunity, both formal and informal, to increase understanding of all staff groups regarding up-to-date surgical techniques, treatments and care of patients requiring cardiac surgery, acting as an educational resource for all.
Share expertise at local, national and international events

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of 2.6 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom.

Chaired by Ingrid Barker and led by Maria Kane as Chief Executive, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust aims to transform the way healthcare is delivered locally with a clear focus on making a difference for what we call our Four Ps:

• Better outcomes for our Patients
• More opportunities for our People
• Fairer more consistent care for our Population
• Best Value for Public Purse

Our vision for five years from now:
Patients will wait less time to be diagnosed and treated, and they will have the same high-quality experience and outcomes, regardless of who they are or where they live.
We will meet rising demand by maximising the use of our available resources.
More care will be delivered nearer to patients, in their homes or the community.
Digital technologies will have transformed the way we work and the way we deliver care.
Our people will feel engaged, energised and empowered by their work.
We will be known as a place where people enjoy working, training and building a career.
Our volume of globally renowned research and innovation will have grown significantly.
We will contribute to system financial balance

Details
Date posted: 24 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 3 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 387-SPS9685-HN
Job locations: Level 7, Bristol Heart Institute, BHI, Marlborough street, Bristol, BS2 2HW

Job Responsibilities
Patient care and support
Demonstrate specialist knowledge of a wide range of cardiac surgery procedures in order to provide excellent information to staff and patients, contributing to the informed consent process.

To review urgent patients referred for cardiothoracic surgery within the trust and coordinate the urgent referrals from the region that will undergo cardiothoracic surgery at UHBristol, including communicating the surgical teams management plan to optimise the patient in preparation for surgery

Provide skilled assessment of elective and emergency patients before and after operations

Both within a variety of clinical settings including history taking, physical assessment and requesting, interpreting and acting on appropriate tests and investigations in a timely manner.

Demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills relating to the impact of patient condition and co-morbidities in terms of outcomes and level of care required

Demonstrate skills in a wide range of practical procedures including arterial blood gas estimation and blood culture, insertion of peripheral lines with the insertion of further invasive monitoring following advanced training, management of fluid balance and cardiac monitoring

Prescribing of medication once qualified and registered as a non-medical prescriber with the NMC.

Leadership and team management
Relevant management, supervision, coordination, teaching, training and development of Ward team, students/ trainees, members, MDT, and patients and carers. Priortise work planning and allocation of duties/ patients to review; checking and evaluating well and deteriorating patients . Undertake clinical supervision; identifying training needs. Maintain continuing professional development (CPD). Excellent team, interpersonal, leadership and organisational skills. Advanced decision-making skillsand the ability to work independently or as part of a team as required. Be able to present and assess teaching skills/ session. Demonstrates knowledge of relevant research (medical and nursing)

Person Specification
Assessment & interview
Essential

• RN with current registration
• Degree qualification in relevant subject , or workign toward(A)
• Independent prescribing qualification ( E ). Desirable if willingness to work toward
• Substantial experience of caring for patients with cardiac disease
• Recent acute experience of caring for patients attending for cardiac surgery procedures
• Physical assessment and diagnostic reasoning skills (or working towards

Desirable

• Formal and informal teaching experience
• Awareness of Cardiac Surgery data entry requirements
• Advanced decision-making skills.
• Research experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Level 7, Bristol Heart Institute, BHI, Marlborough street, Bristol, BS2 2HW
Employer's website: https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Louise Bailes, louise.bailes@uhbw.nhs.uk, 01179230000