Nurse Associate

Job responsibilities

We are looking for an experienced Nurse Associate, who acts within their professional boundaries, supporting and working alongside a team of healthcare professionals, GPs, and a non-clinical team in general practice. In this role they will be supported by GPs, Lead Practice Nurse and a Nurse Team Manager who will develop, manage, and mentor them.

The post holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient facing role. The post holder will take responsibility for areas of screening, immunisation and wound care management.

The post holder will provide primary support to general practice staff and carry out immunisations, injections, cervical smears (training available), BPs, ECGs and Chronic Disease Management reviews delegated by a supervising clinician or senior colleague.

The post holder will provide leadership on areas of quality improvement and manage some aspects of the quality and outcomes framework and enhanced services.

The post holder will ensure that the practice integrates within the community to help utilise skill mix, improve patient outcomes, ensure better access to healthcare and help manage workload. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care and operational efficiencies so requires motivation and passion to deliver excellent service within general practice.

The post holder will be required to monitor and support the lead nurse with the management of patients with long-term conditions/chronic diseases, using a holistic patient centred approach.

You will also be required to take vital signs and observations and identify signs of improvement, report any deteriorations or concerns, e.g. pulse, blood pressure, respirations, oxygen saturations, peak flow, blood tests, ECG, assessing nutrition and hydration and undertake pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs and undertake wound care.

The post holder will be required to administer medications as prescribed by the GP e.g. immunisations, etc in accordance with NMC standards under Patient Specific Directions.

The post holder will support the cervical screening programme taking HPV smear tests with further training and support available in this area.

You will be required to follow agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate and assist in the development and delivery of programmes to promote health and well-being and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being. Also participate and contribute towards any local incentive projects relevant to the role.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Self-Motivated
• Adaptable
• Good IT Skills
• Up to date safeguarding adult and children level three training
• Up to date Information Governance training
• Have immunisation status
• Up to date basic life support training

Desirable

• Experience using EMIS clinical systems
• Full Driving License

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nursing Associate on the NMC register
• Nursing Associate foundation degree qualification
• GCSE Grade A-C in Maths & English or skills level 2 Maths & English or equivalent
• Qualified in wound management

Desirable

• Vaccination and Immunisation training
• Cervical cytology screening training

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in teams under appropriate supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate.
• Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information.
• Understanding of the scope of the role of the Nursing Associate in context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development.
• Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within The Code.
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice.
• Understand requirements for NMC professional revalidation.
• Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans.
• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload
• Ability to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues.
• Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting

Desirable

• Experience of working in a GP practice / primary care
• Knowledge of primary care networks and collaborative ways of working

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).