Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Phlebotomy

Taking blood samples from patients and sending to the laboratory for testing.

Following the appropriate protocols for the labelling and packaging of samples sent to the lab.

Adhering to practice procedures for the safe disposal of clinical waste and infection control.

Wound Management

Perform wound care

Undertake dressings (to include leg ulcers subject to training)

Suture and clip removal

Complex Wound Management

Provide the diagnosis, management plan and treatment of leg ulcers using Doppler assessment.

Screening

Undertake screening of patients health, to include: blood pressure checks, height, weight, BMI, urinalysis, smoking history, alcohol consumption, etc.

Carry out New Patient checks.

Undertake ECGs.

Conduct spirometry tests, with reversibility where appropriate.

Health Promotion

Provide healthy eating advice to individuals.

Provide smoking cessation advice individually in opportunistic consultations, referring to the Smoking Cessation Service where appropriate.

Provide individual advice to patients about increasing their activity or exercise, referring where necessary.

Offer advice on recommended safe limits for alcohol consumption, referring where necessary.

Vaccinations and Immunisations

Administer injections under prescription or Patient Group Direction (PGD).

Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.

Ear Care

Undertake ear syringing after assessing the patient and following relevant training.

Advise patients about safe ear care.

Infection Control

Support patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.

Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines. To include:

Universal hygiene precautions

The collection and handling of laboratory specimens

Segregation and disposal of waste materials

Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment

Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries

Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages

Educate colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

Maintain and clean equipment used by nurses and GPs.

Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of consulting rooms.

Emergency Management

Competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques

Attending regular update sessions as required by the Practice

Child Health/Child Protection

Recognise the signs and symptoms of child abuse

Understand the importance of recognition, observation, documentation and communication.

To attend Child Protection training as required by the Practice.

Travel Health Advice

Offer a holistic approach to travel health including comprehensive advice for patients prior to travel including:

Vaccinations and medications, giving relevant immunisations

Malaria prophylaxis and bite avoidance

Safe sex

Food hygiene

Sun protection

First aid and emergency medication

Health insurance

Other Possible Roles Subject to Completion of Training:

Undertake smears and swabs following guidelines and protocols, upon successful completion of training and obtaining a smear takers PIN.

Other Clinical Responsibilities

Chaperoning and assisting patients who are being examined by another clinician.

Requesting pathology tests.

Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate.

Ordering of vaccinations to maintain stock levels, following practice purchase systems.

Computer data entry/data allocation and collation, processing and recording information in accordance with practice procedures.

Complete appropriate referrals with the support of the patient services team.

Identify any training needs and bring to the attention of the clinical team or line manager.

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with and allow us to gather sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practices business affairs. All such information is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice at all times and will:

Alert other team members and the Practice Manager to issues of quality and risk.

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practices Health & Safety Policy, to include:

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines.

Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.

Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.

Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.

Reporting potential risks identified to the Practice Manager.

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of all patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies and current legislation.

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to all, non-judgmental, and is respectful of circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.

Please note that this job description outlines the requirements of the current role. Whilst it sets out the duties this role normally entails, it should not be regarded as exhaustive.

To reflect changing needs and priorities, some elements of this post may be subject to change and employees may be called upon to carry out additional or other duties required by the employer and within levels of competence.

It is the practice of the employer to periodically examine and review job descriptions and to update those job descriptions to ensure that they continue to relate to the job which is being performed.

Whilst there will be consultation on such issues, employees should understand that, if agreement cannot be reached, then the employer reserves the right to make changes to job descriptions where it considers it necessary.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse
• Current NMC registration
• Demonstrable commitment to professional development

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Rosemead Surgery

Address

Ray Park Avenue

Maidenhead

Berkshire

SL6 8DS

Employer's website

http://www.rosemeadsurgery.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)