Support Nurse

About the role

This role builds on the successful establishment of the Upper Gastrointestinal Patient Support Service and is responsible for both delivering the service and leading its ongoing growth and development. Approximately 0.5 FTE is dedicated to providing high-quality, nurse-led support to patients and whānau. The remaining up to 0.5 FTE focuses on growing the service through stakeholder engagement, referral pathway development, continuous quality improvement, implementation of new service initiatives, data analysis, identifying opportunities to improve the patient experience nationally and using data and evidence to highlight areas of growth for the service.

While this role is advertised at 1.0 FTE, it is available between 0.5 and 1.0 FTE. The agreed FTE will be determined with the successful candidate as part of the appointment process and confirmed in their employment agreement.

Key responsibilities

• Provide compassionate, evidence-based telephone and digital support to patients and whānau affected by upper GI cancers.
• Coordinate and deliver the day-to-day operation of the national Patient Support Service, maintaining accurate documentation and confidentiality.
• Use service activity, referral and outcome data to identify trends, evaluate impact and inform service planning and growth.
• Develop and strengthen referral pathways with hospitals, cancer centres, primary care, NGOs and other healthcare providers.
• Represent Gut Cancer Foundation at in-service meetings, multidisciplinary forums and other healthcare sector education opportunities to increase awareness and referrals.
• Work closely with Pancare Foundation to embed new intellectual property, resources, models of care and programme developments as they become available.
• Review patient feedback and service data to continuously improve the quality and reach of the service.
• Identify gaps experienced by patients across the health system and escalate these to inform organisational advocacy priorities.
• Identify resources, information or support programmes required to address unmet patient needs and contribute to the development of new resources.
• Maintain strong relationships with clinicians, allied health professionals and community organisations.

About you

• Registered Nurse with a current New Zealand Annual Practising Certificate.
• Significant experience caring for patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers in oncology, surgery, gastroenterology or a related specialty.
• Excellent understanding of upper GI cancer treatment pathways and survivorship needs.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams and across the health sector.
• Strong communication, relationship-building and presentation skills.
• Experience using clinical or service data to evaluate programmes and inform service improvement.
• Commitment to equitable outcomes and culturally safe practice, including understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Desirable: Experience developing referral networks or healthcare partnerships.
• Desirable: Experience designing or improving patient support programmes.
• Desirable: Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and service evaluation.

About us

Through research, awareness, education, advocacy and support, Gut Cancer Foundation works to improve outcomes for everyone affected by cancers of the digestive system. The Foundation delivers New Zealand's national Upper GI Patient Support Service while advocating for equitable access to information, care and treatment.