Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

a. Assess, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate treatment plans that promote health and well-being across the practice population and for specific patient groups

b. Proactively identify, diagnose, and manage treatment plans for patients at risk developing and or having a long-term condition, including participating in prescribing/deprescribing for that condition (medical and or social) within your scope of practice and in-line with national and local guidance.

c. For all areas of clinical practice understand the implications, needs of the patient and signpost appropriately.

d. Contribute to practice targets both local and national, e.g. QOF.

e. Provide adult and childhood immunisation service. Follow PSD/PGD guidelines, UK immunisation schedule.

f. Plan and support leadership team with annual Flu campaign and mass population vaccination programmes.

g. Administer prescribed therapies such as contraception injections/vitamin B12/GNHR/Aranesp/Denosumab and other patient specific injections, recognising side effects and contraindications.

h. Perform wound management using appropriate (aseptic/clean) technique.

i. Have good understanding of the process of wound healing, knowledge of wound management, potential complications, local and national guidance.

j. Be proficient at Doppler assessment, knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology of venous, arterial, and diabetic foot ulcers.

k. Recognise signs of wound infection, manage appropriately and interprets results from microbiology sampling.

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

m. To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation

n. To ensure clinical codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing team

o. To ensure the appropriate use of chronic disease registers

p. Work with the Lead Nurse and Practice Management team to improve the management of disease within the practice population. Implement clear management plans with patients including appropriate prescribing and referral.

q. Work to support compliance and adherence to prescribed treatments by detecting and managing side effects and or adverse reactions.

r. Emphasise the importance of prevention and self care.

s. Refer patients to other services or agencies as appropriate. Promoting communication between all involved in the patient care.

t. To request pathology services and process pathology results as required.

u. To implement vaccination programmes for adults and children.

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

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

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

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

a. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

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

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

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

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

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• Experience of managing diabetes

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Post graduate diploma/degree(Chronic Disease Management)
• Nurse prescriber
• Family planning qualification

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

Honiton Surgery

Address

Marlpits Lane

Honiton

Devon

EX14 2NY

Employer's website

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