Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder is responsible for the delivery of practice nursing services care to the practice population. Supported by the Lead Prescribing Nurse and General Practitioners within the practice, they will deliver care within the boundaries of their scope of practice, focusing upon supporting patients to be healthy, monitoring and management of long-term conditions, health prevention, wound care and screening activities that may include cervical screening, baby immunisations and travel health. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice:

Assess, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programmes to promote health and well-being, and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being.

Implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition.

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

Assist in the development of programmes to improve health and well-being and meet the specific needs of communities, groups and individuals.

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

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that encourage patients to live healthily and apply principles of self-care.

Deliver opportunistic health promotion using opportunities such as new-patient medicals.

Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication in relation to long term conditions.

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote patients to live healthily and encourage principles of self-care.

Assess and care for patients presenting with leg ulcerations and general wound care, advising prescribing clinicians regarding wound care products based on clinical assessment and local formularies.

Support and advise women requesting information relating to Contraception and Sexual Health issues.

Support and manage health needs of women presenting for cervical cytology consultations.

Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children.

Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting with aural conditions.

To assist in the supervision and support NHS Health checks.

Communication:

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.

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

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.

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.

Delivery Quality Service:

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2008).

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 National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines, local guidelines and evidence-based care.

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation.

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.

Participate in the management, review, and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events utilising a structured framework.

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

Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance.

Work within policies relating to domestic violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour, 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 and ensure that this is up to date.

Apply infection control measures within the practice according to practice, 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.

Utilising Information:

Use technology as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring, presenting and communicating information.

Review and process data using accurate Read codes about patients in order to ensure easy and accurate retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.

Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases, for example, the retrieval of relevant information for patients on their condition.

Understand own and others responsibility to the individual organisation regarding the Freedom of Information Act.

Learning and Development:

Act as mentor to students, assessing competence against set standards as requested and if appropriately qualified.

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

Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate.

Make effective use of learning opportunities within and outside the workplace, evaluating their effectiveness and feeding back relevant information.

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

Equality and Diversity:

Identify patterns of discrimination, take action to overcome this, and promote diversity and quality of opportunity.

Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture.

Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights.

Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies.

Act as a role model in good practice relating to equality and diversity.

Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care. Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care.

Professional:

It is essential that you are registered with the NMC.

Adhere to the Code of Professional Practice.

To be a member of a professional body.

Ensure regular attendance to clinical and nurse meetings.

Maintain record of professional development.

To attend yearly appraisals and ensure job description is up to date.

Qualifications

Essential

• - Registered first level nurse
• - Membership of a professional body
• - Evidence of CPD and training

Desirable

• - Evidence of continuous academic development

Experience

Essential

• - Experience working in primary care (minimum one year)
• - Experience of working to protocols
• - Experience of working with clinical pathways
• - Ability to work independently within boundaries

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• - Awareness of QOF
• - Knowledge of needs of patients with long term conditions
• - Aware of accountability of own role and other roles
• - Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• - Knowledge of patient group directions and associated policy

Desirable

• - Competence in diabetes and respiratory management
• - Ability to identify determinants on health in the local area
• - Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• - Evidence of recent training

Other requirements

Essential

• - Driving license holder with sole use of vehicle for business usage.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• - Flexibility
• - Enthusiasm
• - Team player
• - Good communication skills
• - Personable
• - Caring

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).