Patient Support Nurse (IHF Nurse Line)

About the Irish Heart Foundation

The Irish Heart Foundation is a dedicated community aiming to protect cardiovascular health across Ireland, striving to eliminate preventable deaths and disabilities caused by heart disease and stroke. With a team of around 120 staff and over 130 volunteers, the foundation focuses on care, health promotion, lifesaver training, and advocacy to support those affected by these conditions.

Role Overview

We are seeking two Patient Support Nurses for our Nurse Support Line. This part-time role (20 hours per week) involves remote work with occasional visits to our Rathmines, Dublin 6 office for training and meetings. The Nurse Support Line provides phone and email consultation, support for stroke survivors and carers on the Stroke Connect service, and assistance to individuals with heart conditions via the Heart Connect service.

Responsibilities

• Handle inbound and outbound calls in line with service guidelines.
• Respond empathetically to inquiries via phone and email while maintaining confidentiality and respect.
• Complete needs assessments for new Stroke Connect and Heart Connect members over the phone.
• Perform risk assessments as appropriate.
• Advise and guide individuals affected by stroke, heart disease, and thrombosis.
• Follow up with clients providing additional information and liaise with their medical teams occasionally, with consent.
• Utilize clinical judgment and the IHF knowledge base to direct clients to suitable resources and services.
• Ensure information provided is sourced from reliable evidence.
• Share relevant updates with the nurse support team.
• Stay current with developments in cardiovascular and stroke care.
• Participate in ongoing training and maintain a continuing professional development (CPD) log, including in-person sessions at head office thrice yearly.
• Attend weekly mandatory team meetings and other service meetings as needed.
• Keep informed on campaigns and events impacting call volumes.
• Provide callers with educational materials like leaflets and booklets.
• Engage in quality assurance activities such as call evaluations and monitoring.
• Assist in promotional activities to increase helpline awareness.

Health & Safety

Adhere to all health and safety procedures and risk management protocols to protect the well-being of oneself, staff, volunteers, and service users under the role's responsibility.

Administrative Duties

• Gain proficiency in IHF database/CRM and Microsoft Office tools necessary for the role.
• Maintain and update client records as part of service delivery.
• Prepare reports and complete required documentation.

Qualifications & Skills

• Registered General Nurse with at least two years of experience in cardiology or related fields.
• CNS I qualification is desirable but not mandatory.
• Strong computer literacy including MS Excel, Word, and database management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to process caller information quickly and respond empathetically and confidently.
• Able to work effectively with individuals who have physical and psychological challenges.
• Team-oriented with flexibility and strong interpersonal skills.

Work Location and Schedule

The position is primarily remote, requiring 20 hours weekly distributed as Monday 12-4 pm and Tuesday to Friday 1-5 pm. The nurse must have a suitable home workspace with reliable broadband and the ability to maintain caller confidentiality. Equipment such as a laptop and phone will be provided.

Benefits

• Hybrid working options with flexible home and office days (office located in Rathmines).
• Comprehensive benefits including pension with employer contributions, life assurance, income continuance and disability benefits, paid maternity leave, sick leave, generous annual leave, and employee assistance programs.
• Access to career development and training including CPR courses.
• Engaging workplace environment and events through Social Club and Health & Well-being Committee.

Additional Information

This is a fixed-term, 2-year contract. The 20-hour workweek includes one mandatory weekly team meeting and various training sessions. Attendance at in-person training sessions at head office, approximately three times a year, is required. Holiday leave is managed on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure continuous service coverage.

The Irish Heart Foundation maintains a strict no-smoking and no-vaping policy during work duties. Candidate personal data will be retained for 12 months post-application unless an earlier deletion request is made.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to inclusive recruitment. Accommodations for applicants throughout the recruitment process can be arranged upon request.