It is estimated that 1 in 2 people will be affected by a urology condition in their lifetime. Urology health is vital for quality of life, but diseases and cancers of the kidneys, bladder, prostate and the male reproductive system are becoming more prevalent and devastating the lives of millions of men, women and children in the UK[i].
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is currently recruiting Band 5 nurses to work full time and part time in two emergency assessment wards each specialising in Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary Surgical and Urological assessment units at Leicester General Hospital.
These areas receive all acute admissions either directly from the emergency department or referrals via bed bureau from GP’s. The unit also has a dedicated triage area which includes both ambulatory and a 4 bedded trolley area for assessment prior to decision to admit.
Conor Ward, Head of Recruitment Services at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust says, “With September being Urology Awareness Month we are keen to highlight that we are recruiting urology nurses who want to enhance their assessment, surgical and urological skills and who thrive on working in this fast paced area.
“We offer first-rate training and development programmes, plus we support nurses’ wellbeing through various programmes and encourage a healthy work/life balance. Nurses also have their own personal support through the ward team and practice development nurse to help them progress and develop. We encourage local nurses, as well as those interested in relocating to a new area in the heart of England to apply.”
Clair Riddell is the Urology Matron at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and says urological nursing is an exciting, interesting and diverse career choice. Clair says, “I have worked in urology for over 25 years and always said that I would move specialities when I had stopped learning – I am still in urology and I am still learning!
“Urological nursing is one of the few specialities which look after both emergency admissions and elective admissions. We care for patients undergoing day case surgery, clean room procedures, minor surgery, major surgery and palliative care. This makes nursing urology patients different every day and gives nurses the opportunities to learn the many skills required to manage such a wide range of conditions. The age range for urology patients is equally diverse as we treat young patients with conditions such as stones, strictures, infections, cancers and care for elderly patients with prostate, bladder and kidney issues.”
Clair highly recommends Leicester as a place to work in urology nursing. She says, “Urology in Leicester has expanded over the years and we are one of the few acute trusts offering robotic surgery for prostate cancer and have just commenced robotic surgery for bladder cancer. We are also the centre of the largest penile cancer network in the UK, plus we have the chairman of the British Association of Urological Surgeons as our lead surgeon.”
“Often urology patients will have ongoing urology needs for many years and this gives nurses the pleasure of having continuity of care for certain groups of patients - enhancing both the experience for the patient, but also giving the nursing team some degree of job satisfaction. If you want to learn many new skills, never be bored, enjoy a diverse working life and have opportunities for future development, then urology nursing is for you,” concludes Clair.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust LPT is part of a recruitment campaign, Y/Our Future that unites five major health and social care employers - Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, LOROS Hospice, Rutland County Council and Leicester City Council - to recruit doctors, nurses and health and social care workers to work in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Y/Our Future aims to promote Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland as a leading career destination for health and social care professionals, with great career and lifestyle opportunities.
For more information in the nursing vacancies in urology at Leicester General Hospital visit: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/19fb7ef25386fbd037a193567b41509a/?vac_ref=915722147
