Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice

Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and well-being, and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being

Able to triage by telephone and refer appropriately

Implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition

Identify, and manage as appropriate, treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that encourage patients to live healthily, and apply principles of self-care

Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote patients to live healthily, and encourage principles of self-care

Support and advise women requesting information relating to family planning needs

Support and manage health needs of women presenting for cervical cytology consultations

Recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with the National Service Framework [NSF] for Mental Health

Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children

Advise, support and, where appropriate, administer vaccinations for patients travelling abroad

Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting with aural conditions

Communication

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment

Communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating

Utilise communication skills to support patients to adhere to prescribed treatment regimens

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication

Estimate and maintain effective communication with individuals and groups within the practice environment and with external stakeholders

Act as an advocate when representing the patients and colleagues viewpoints to others

Delivering a Quality Service

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC]

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality

Deliver care according to the NSF and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence [NICE] guidelines and evidence-based care

Participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities

Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required

In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care, responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate

Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation

Participate in the performance monitoring review of the team, providing feedback as appropriate

Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance

Work within policies relating to domestic violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour, and refer as appropriate

Personal and People Development

Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model

Support the development of others in order to maximise potential

Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice

Understand own responsibilities and accountability in the delivery of GPN services to patients, ensuring that the needs of the patient are the priority

Participate in planning and implementing changes within the area of care and responsibility

Contribute and participate in the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards

Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to own practice

Keep up-to-date with new developments locally and nationally identifying those that will enhance the teams work

Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance [e.g. patient advice and liaison service PALS] and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate

Team Working

Understand own role and scope in the organisation and identify how this may develop over time

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working

Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence of those taking on delegated duties

Ensure clear understanding and utilisation of referral mechanisms within the practice

Accept delegation from other nurses, prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded in own practice

Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery

Participate in team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care

Participate in and support local projects as agreed with the practice management team

Management of Risk

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measure are in place to protect staff and patients

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines

Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs is undertaken. Undertake mandatory and statutory training

Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines

Apply policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all

Participate in the local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice

Utilising Information

Use technology as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring, presenting and communicating information

Review and process data using accurate SNOMED codes about patients in order to ensure easy and accurate retrieval for monitoring and audit processes

Manage information searches using the internet and Mentor databases, for examples, the retrieval of relevant information for patients on their condition

Understand own and others responsibility to the individual organisation regarding the Freedom of Information Act

Learning and Development

Disseminate learning and information gains to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments

Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate

Make effective use of learning opportunities within and outside the workplace, evaluating their effectiveness and feeding back relevant information

Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

Equality and Diversity

Identify patterns of discrimination, take action to overcome this, and promote diversity and quality of opportunity

Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights

Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies

Act as a role model in good practice relating to equality and diversity

Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care. Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registration with the NMC.

Desirable

• Practice nurse qualification

Experience

Essential

• Previous general practice experience
• Long-term conditions and vaccinations / immunisations experience
• Evidence of good, reflective practice
• Ability to accurately maintain patients electronic records
• Ability to be self-directed and work on own initiative as well as working within a team.
• Ability to demonstrate and apply up-to-date clinical knowledge
• Competent and confident in the use of IT
• Ability to develop local and national guidelines and protocols
• Ability to conduct telephone triage/consultations

Desirable

• Health promotion
• Awareness of professional nursing issues within general practice
• Management of minor ailments
• Experience of using EMIS Web

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.

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

Phoenix Medical Practice

Address

33 Bell Lane

Burham

Rochester

Kent

ME1 3SX

Employer's website

https://www.phoenixsurgery-burham.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)