Job responsibilities
Job description
Job Summary: To be responsible for the delivery of a high standard of patient care as Nurse Practitioner in General Practice, using advanced, autonomous clinical skills and a broad in-depth theoretical knowledge base. To manage a clinical caseload, dealing with presenting patients needs in a primary care setting. The nurse practitioner will need to prioritise and triage the needs of patients accordingly making any necessary referrals to secondary services for diagnosis and treatment. Duties and Responsibilities: Clinical:- Provide the choice of direct access to a Nurse Practitioner for the general practice population Make professionally autonomous decisions for which he/she is accountable. Provide a first point of contact within the Practice for patients presenting with acute, minor ailments and illnesses Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings and reports. Prescribe safe, effective and appropriate medication as defined by current legislative framework. Provide safe, evidence based, cost-effective, individualised patient care. Refer patients directly to other services and agencies as appropriate. Provision of a holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan or care and support, with an emphasis on prevention and self-care. Work with the Practice team to ensure that National Service Frameworks are being delivered. Contribute to the practices achievement of its quality targets to maintain the high standards of patient care and service delivery. Contribute to the development and set up of new patient services and participate in initiatives to improve existing patient services. Be aware of and contribute to planning and delivery of unplanned admissions avoidance scheme. Team working: To encourage and develop teamwork within the practice. Contribute to the identification and management of nursing care risks on a continuing basis. Participate in clinical meetings and Protected Learning Time Afternoons, ensuring progress is reported on any actions as appropriate. Participate in audits as appropriate. Contribute to the setting up and improving practice systems for monitoring and measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets. Ensure practice policies are fully implemented. Administration and professional responsibilities: To contribute and participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary education and clinical supervision Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to ensure that up to date evidence based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role is maintained. Maintenance of professional registration To work within the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and Scope of professional Practice, and to provide a high standard of professional conduct and nursing care at all times in accordance with the NMC. Record accurate consultation data in patients records in accordance with the latest NMC guidance and other pertinent standards, ensuring the clinical computer system is kept up to date with accurate details recorded and amended Keep up to date with relevant health related policy and work with the practice team to consider the impact and strategies for implementation. Work collaboratively with colleagues within and external to the practice. Pro-actively promote the role of the Nurse Practitioner within the Practice and externally to stakeholders and agencies. Training and personal development Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal and will be in accordance with practice requirements. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the Practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments. Participate in the education and training of students of all disciplines and the introduction of all members of the practice staff where appropriate Maintain continued education by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development ensuring PREP requirements are met. Develop and maintain a Personal Development Plan Liaison As well as the nursing team there is a need to work closely with the General Practitioners, Practice Manager, reception team and Medical Secretaries to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant person and ensuring every one is aware of the different roles within the nursing team. There is also the need to establish and maintain good liaison with other surgeries and agencies including secondary care Confidentiality: In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or 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 will 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 practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source 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. Health & Safety: The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice 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. Equality and Diversity: The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognizes 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 and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Personal/Professional Development: The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include: Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work. Quality: The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will: Alert other team members 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 Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs Effectively manage own time, workload and resources. Communication: The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members Communicate effectively with patients and carers Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. Contribution to the Implementation of Services: The post-holder will: Apply practice policies, standards and guidance Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work Participate in audit where appropriate.