Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Clinical practice

Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate individual plans of care to promote health and well-being, and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being

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

Identify and manage as appropriate, treatment plans for patients with a current acute health concern, such as a wound care

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

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that encourage patients to live healthily, and apply principles of self-care, including taking opportunities to promote health and wellbeing wherever they arise

Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side effects and interactions were appropriate

Support and advise women requesting information relating to family planning needs and those presenting for cervical cytology consultations

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

Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children- including vaccinations for those travelling abroad

Communication

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment- recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.

Communicate with and effectively support patients and their carers who are receiving potentially distressing information

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

Estimate and maintain effective communication with individuals and groups within the practice environment 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 all appropriate guidelines including the NSF and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines and evidence-based care

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation, including NMC revalidation

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

Evaluate the patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care

Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation by participating in the management, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events

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

Understand principles of safeguarding children and apply local guidance in relation to safeguarding children

Understand principles of adult safeguarding and apply local guidance in relation to working with vulnerable adults, domestic abuse and refer as 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 measures 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.

Where appropriate, oversee the monitoring, stock control and documentation of controlled drug usage according to legal requirements

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

Personal/Professional development:

participate in any training programme implemented as part of this employment, such training to include:

o participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

o taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

o Take responsibility for ones own learning, and identify all appropriate opportunities for professional development

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

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

o When appropriate, undertake learning and development to enable to the effective teaching and assessment in practice of the next generation of healthcare professionals

Please see out website www.honitonsurgery.nhs.net for our up to date privacy notice.

Please note that should this vacancy attract sufficient interest it may be necessary to close the vacancy at an earlier date. We therefore suggest that you apply at an early stage to avoid disappointment.

Experience

Essential

• Working inter-professionally
• Using electronic healthcare records systems
• Awareness and adherence to infection control standards
• Understanding of the principles of Safeguarding Proven experience as a Registered Nurse (with a current NMC PIN or one pending)
• Hold (or about to be awarded) a first level degree in nursing
• Wellbeing and Health Promotion
• Awareness of the role of community nursing overall
• Knowledge of quality assurance processes

Desirable

• Having worked with other members of the Primary Care Team (Community Pharmacists, Dieticians etc.)
• Minor illness management
• Triage in healthcare
• Knowledge and understanding of
• Current national developments and trends in health care
• Experience of multi-skilled approach to Chronic Disease Management

Skills & Competencies

Essential

• Able to work alone without direct supervision when appropriate
• Able to undertake and report on autonomous decisions taken in practice
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills
• IT skills
• Time Management
• Problem solving
• Demonstrable ability to show
• kindness and compassion
• Demonstrate ability to reflect and learn from situations
• Identifies difficulties as challenges and works with others to identify solutions
• Demonstrates co-operative team working and awareness of the roles of other professionals
• Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines
• Ability to adapt and change approach as circumstance dictates
• Persistence and ability to keep going in difficult situations and with complex and uncertain pieces of work
• Understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
• An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust
• Can do attitude, able to maintain positivity in the face of adversity
• Good time keeping
• Flexible approach to work
• Ability to work flexibly across days of the week
• Enthusiasm for primary care
• Commitment to lifelong learning and willingness to learn from others
• Willingness to adapt ways of working in response to feedback
• Excellent team player
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Self-motivated
• Adheres to professional behaviours expected of a registered health professional.

Desirable

• Additional skills in areas key to General Practice, e.g. Phlebotomy,
• immunisation and vaccination, wound management, health screening, travel health advice
• Use of primary care clinical systems including TPP and EMIS including audit and report writing
• Accurate and thorough approach
• Strong appreciation of customer service skills
• Strong work ethic
• Positive role model

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications / Knowledge
• Essential
• Registered Nurse (with a current NMC PIN or one pending)
• Hold (or about to be awarded) a first level degree in nursing
• Wellbeing and Health Promotion
• Awareness of the role of community nursing overall
• Knowledge of quality assurance processes

Desirable

• Desirable
• Understanding of the General Practice Environment
• Knowledge of the audit process in healthcare
• Awareness of issues across the wider health economy

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).