Practice Nurse

Long Bennington Medical Centre

Job summary

We are a growing, rural, GP led Practice looking to enhance our existing Nursing team.  We are looking for an experienced Nurse to join us in a new post working 24 hours per week over three consecutive days.  We currently have a hard-working, friendly team of 2 part-time Practice Nurses, HCA, junior HCA and Care Co-ordinator providing a full range of services to our patient population and we are looking to supplement this with the addition of a forward-thinking, highly motivated individual who strives to provide the highest levels of service to patients.  The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a collaborative and supportive manner with not only the Nursing/Clinical team but also the wider Practice as it is our firm belief that it takes everyone in the Practice to work together to provide a quality, patient focused service.   

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the implementation of processes for the effective management of patients with long-term conditions using evidence-based practice including care for elderly and housebound patients.

Working as a member of the practice multidisciplinary team, the post holder will ensure nursing services are delivered effectively to the entitled patient population.

The Practice Nurse will be responsible for a number of clinical areas such as infection prevention and control, health promotion, chronic disease management, routine health screening, scheduled immunisations and travel consultations as well as actively supporting the practice management team in the reviewing and delivery of clinical policy and procedure.

Long Bennington Medical Centre will ensure that the post holder has access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the organisation to provide general advice and support on a day-to-day basis.

About us

We are a GP led, Dispensing practice based in a rural location on the borders of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. We are friendly team comprising of 6 GPs, 2 Practice Nurses, Clinical Pharmacists, Dispensers, HCA's, MSK Practitioner, and Care Coordinator who are superbly supported by our Reception and Administration teams. We firmly believe that it takes the entire team to make the Practice what it is and our philosophy is very much that patient centered care is at the heart of everything we do. We strive to provide the best service we can for our patients and Community.

Our practice is located just off the A1 in between the market towns of Newark to the North and Grantham to the South, both offering excellent transport links and access to a variety of schools including grammar schools.   We provide services to approximately 6300 patients across a practice boundary covering around 23 villages. 

Job description

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

· To act as or support the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC Policy providing/or supporting the implementation of audits, training, support and evidence of compliance to the practice manager

· To produce/or support the production of the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the practice manager

· To assess the needs of patients ensuring the provision of healthcare is appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice

· To develop, implement and embed health promotion and wellbeing programmes

· To implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease patients that promote health and wellbeing

· To identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects to patients’ health

· As required, to provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

· As required, to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions

· To prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice

· To review patient medications to enhance compliance

· To provide guidance to patients in the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications regarding side effects and dosages

· To co-ordinate the provision of travel medicine services

· To request pathology services and process pathology results as required

· To oversee the provision of chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as necessary, referring patients to secondary/specialist care as required

· To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation

· To ensure read codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing team

· To ensure the appropriate maintenance and use of chronic disease registers

· To develop, implement, embed and participate in well woman clinics

· To develop, implement, embed and participate in well man clinics

· To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy

· To prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

· To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

· To recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

· To implement vaccination programmes for adults and children

· To support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the-counter medicines (within own scope of practice)

· To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

· To delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)

· To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

· To understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately

· To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Secondary responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Practice Nurse may be requested to:

· Develop and review audit protocols and process for the practice, effectively utilising the audit cycle

· Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the partners

· Support all members of the nursing team, providing guidance when necessary, conducting appraisals and training needs analyses as required

· Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

· Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to improve patient care

· Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate

· Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)

· Assist in the development and maintenance of the nursing team rota, ensuring sufficient staff are available to meet patient needs

· Assist in the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients

· Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation

Person Specification

Clinical knowledge and skills

Essential

• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• New patient medicals
• Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• Chaperone procedure
• Womens health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Chronic disease management in Diabetes, COPD/Asthma/CHD

Desirable

• Spirometry
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Strong IT skills
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Personal qualities

Essential

• Polite and confident
• Flexible and co-operative
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
• Motivated, forward thinker
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations
• Effectively utilise resources

Other requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for nurse revalidation
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) commensurate with the role of a Practice Nurse

Experience

Essential

• Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• Experience of chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)

Employer details

Employer name

Long Bennington Medical Centre

Address

10 Valley Lane

Long Bennington

Newark

Nottinghamshire

NG23 5FR

Employer's website

https://www.longbenningtonmedicalcentre.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)