Department Manager, Outpatients, Care of the Elderly

Job/Role Summary

• Management of an outpatient department with a special remit for care of the elderly
• Management and responsibility for specialised clinics such as Falls/ Parkinson’s clinics
• Management of a transfusion service for care of the elderly
• One-stop assessment unit for care of the elderly
• Management of a day procedure unit and endoscopy nurse-led clinic.

Career Milestones

I have had a number of development opportunities in terms of academic learning which have provided me with the necessary knowledge and skills I require in order to do my job. These include diplomas in Parkinson’s disease, Health and Social Care management and Respiratory Disease. I have had the opportunity to be a part of the Clinical Nurse Leadership Programme which I have found beneficial to my personal and professional growth and development. Setting up two nurse-led clinics within my department provided me with the opportunity for development. The development of a one-stop clinic and subsequent audit helped me develop my skills in managing public awareness and increasing productivity within my department. During my career I have found my colleagues with whom I have worked to be an invaluable source of support and guidance. The help and support I have received from managers, medical colleagues and mentors has assisted with my personal and professional development.

What attracted you to this job?

• Suited work/ life balance
• Time was right for a move from ward based work where I felt little was achieved due to the pressures of the type of work
• Development of my management skills.

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

• Working within a small multidisciplinary team
• Variety of the role – every day is different
• Autonomy of the role and the time to complete projects to a high standard.

Important success factors

• I am committed to my chosen career and enjoy my role very much which means I am motivated to work hard and achieve
• Management within my organization have been supportive of me and my development and have given me good advice/ guidance when I have needed it
• My family have supported and believed in what I was trying to achieve.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

I would say that anyone taking up a similar post would need to be motivated and enjoy their role within nursing in every aspect. You would require a certain amount of experience in different aspects of nursing. You should use the pace within an outpatients department to develop yourself and the service which your team are delivering. You should seize every opportunity to update or plan ahead for your future. You should try to get involved with changes occurring within the wider service to influence both good and challenging aspects of nursing development. Allow your voice to be heard and use every opportunity to make that happen.

 

Key skills that can be gained within this job/role?

• Increase in my skills of diplomacy.
• Ability to think before speaking and negotiation skills.
• The skill to enjoy and get the best from learning both academically and within my environment.
• Expertise and skill in diseases that I work with on a daily basis.
• Completion of projects and tasks.
• A renewed enthusiasm for my work.
• Communication skills – particularly in a multidisciplinary sense.
• People management skills.

Career Profiles