Lead Nurse - Outpatient Department

Role Overview

Lead Nurse – Outpatient Department at King's College Hospital London Dubai. This position is available across multiple institutes: Musculo Skeletal & Sports Medicine Services, Women's Health Services, Children's Health Services, Neurosciences, Medical Services, Surgical Services, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Services, and Diabetes & Endocrinology Services.

Role Purpose

Provide expert clinical nursing leadership and operational oversight within a designated clinical institute's outpatient services. Report operationally to the Institute Clinical Director and professionally to the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, working collaboratively to deliver safe, high-quality, patient-centered care aligned with the hospital's strategic objectives and DHA regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Standards

• Provide visible, accessible clinical leadership within the institute's OPD, serving as a role model for professional nursing practice and standards.
• Deliver visible, expert nursing leadership during clinic sessions, supporting nurses in complex clinical assessments and decision-making.
• Ensure all nursing practice within the institute OPD reflects current evidence-based guidelines and King's College Hospital London Dubai clinical standards.
• Serve as a clinical resource and role model for nursing staff.
• Provide guidance on complex clinical cases and procedures.
• Lead the implementation of institute-specific protocols and guidelines.

Operations & Patient Flow

• Coordinate day-to-day nursing operations within the institute's outpatient clinics, ensuring efficient patient flow, clinic readiness, and optimal staff deployment.
• Coordinate and review daily nursing staff deployment within the institute, ensuring safe staffing levels and optimal skill mix across clinic sessions.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical records, nursing rosters, and operational data for the institute's OPD.
• Assist with scheduling and staffing as needed.
• Manage equipment and supplies.

Quality & Safety

• Lead on clinical risk identification within the institute's OPD, proactively implementing measures to mitigate patient safety risks.
• Collaborate with the Clinical Director and Practice Manager to implement and sustain the institute's service strategy, quality improvement initiatives, and patient experience goals.
• Ensure all equipment within the institute's OPD is maintained, calibrated, and fit for purpose, maintaining relevant registers.
• Participate in audits, quality-improvement activities and performance reviews to support continuous organisational improvement.
• Follow all relevant hospital policies, procedures and JCIA-related standards applicable to the role.

Staff Development & Performance

• Support the development, mentorship, and professional growth of nursing staff within the institute, fostering a culture of continuous learning and excellence.
• Lead, motivate, and support the nursing team within the institute's OPD to deliver high standards of care and maintain staff morale.
• Orient, mentor, and train nursing staff.
• Identify educational staff needs and develop training programs.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide feedback.
• Manage day-to-day staff performance concerns within scope, escalating operationally to the Institute Clinical Director and professionally to the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer as appropriate.

Patient Care Delivery

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for patients within the institute.
• Administer medications, wound care, and other treatments as prescribed.
• Educate patients and families on conditions, treatments, and post-operative care.

Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

• Facilitate staff engagement and communication within the institute's nursing team, ensuring all staff are informed of organizational and departmental developments.
• Collaborate with physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive patient care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Represent the institute's OPD nursing team in relevant hospital committees, clinical governance forums, and cross-directorate working groups.

Budget & Resource Management

• Support the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer in monitoring the institute's nursing budget, identifying and escalating any unplanned variances.

Compliance & Professional Development

• Maintain all required competencies, credentials and licences, and work strictly within the authorised scope of practice and privileging requirements.
• Maintain ethical behaviour, professionalism, integrity and respectful interactions with patients, families and colleagues.
• Participate in emergency drills including fire, Code Blue, major incidents, communicable diseases and pandemics, and understand assigned roles during emergencies.
• Participate in professional development activities.
• Perform any additional duties reasonably assigned by the organization or line manager to meet operational needs and support specific objectives of the department and organization.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) or equivalent.
• Postgraduate qualification in clinical nursing, nursing leadership, or healthcare management desirable.
• Current, valid DHA nursing license, or eligibility for DHA registration.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing or degree in nursing (minimum two years course duration) and registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, or Australia.
• Minimum 7 years post-registration clinical nursing experience, with at least 2 years in a senior nurse role within an outpatient, ambulatory, or clinical institute setting.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical leadership, team management, and quality improvement in a healthcare environment.
• Strong knowledge of JCI accreditation standards, DHA regulatory requirements, and evidence-based clinical practice in the outpatient setting.
• Orthopedic Certificate Nurse (OCN) preferred.
• Has worked with an orthopedic service area in a senior role within the last 4 years.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficient in electronic medical records systems; experience with CERNER desirable.
• Proficient in basic computer applications, including MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), with the ability to manage digital documentation and communication effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, patients, and stakeholders.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities, ensuring goals are met in dynamic environments.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to manage unexpected issues and identify when to escalate.