Job responsibilities
Clinical Nursing Practice
Wound Management Perform wound care using aseptic technique. Undertake uncomplicated dressings. Suture and clip removal. Assist with minor surgery.
Screening Undertake opportunistic screening BP checks, height, weight, BMI, urinalysis, smoking status. Carry our new patient checks. Undertake opportunistic venepuncture.
Health Promotion Recognise patients readiness and offer support with their attempts to implement change. Provide healthy eating advice to individuals or to groups, including the under weight. Provide smoking cessation advice individually and in opportunistic consultations. Provide individual advice to patients about increasing activity or exercise. Offer advice on recommended safe limits for alcohol consumption. Develop and maintain the Health Promotion material within the practice. Refer as appropriate.
Vaccinations and Immunisations Provide an adult and childhood immunisation service. Administer injections under an individual prescription or Patient Group Direction. Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.
Infection Control Support patients and colleagues in adopting sound control measures. Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines. This includes:
- Universal hygiene precautions
- The collection and handling of laboratory specimens
- Segregation and disposal of waste materials
- Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment
- Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries
- Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages
Educate colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.
Emergency Management Is competent and up to date in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques.
Child Health/Child Protection Recognise the signs, symptoms and categories of child abuse. Understand the importance of recognition, observation, documentation and communication. Is aware of child health procedures, statutory local procedures and points of referral. Has knowledge of other practitioners and agencies roles. Understands basic legal issues around child abuse.
Mental Health Recognise and is aware of appropriate referral mechanisms for family violence, vulnerable adults, substance misuse and addictive behaviours. Recognise psychological needs of patients presenting with depression or suicidal tendency.
Care & Programme Management
Diabetes Undertake opportunistic screening for the diagnosis of diabetes. Support and provide education for diabetic patients. Manages patients newly diagnosed with diabetes under protocols. Undertakes review of patients. Provides the management of patients converting to or commencing insulin within protocols. Make appropriate referrals. Contribute to the maintenance of the patient diabetic register. Audit outcome of care against standards and initiate changes as necessary.
Respiratory Disease Management Manages newly diagnosed patients with asthma and COPD, reviewing inhaler techniques and advising on treatment changes. Contribute to the maintenance of the practice respiratory register. Understands asthma its diagnosis, asthma treatments and the principles of self-management. Use a spirometer to aid the diagnosis and management of COPD. Know about the factors which contribute to the development of COPD. Contribute to the management of patients within the framework of national and local guidelines for asthma and COPD. Teach and advise patients how to use various inhalers and peak flow meters. Make appropriate referrals.
Male Health Initiates opportunistic consultation with patients to cover issues of mens health. Raise awareness and give basic advice on issues covering testicular self-examination, incontinence and prostatic disease, family planning, sexual health and make appropriate referrals.
Family Planning Advise patients on available methods of contraception and refer patients as appropriate. Support patients attending for emergency contraceptive and refer patients as appropriate. Perform interval health check for patients using hormonal contraception. Advise patients on reducing risk of sexually transmitted disease and refer patients appropriately.
Womens Health Advise patients on the national and local Cervical Cytology and mammography screening programmes. Undertake a programme if cervical cytology sampling under supervision until competent. Audit a minimum of twenty consecutive smears each year to demonstrate adequate sampling rates. Promote breast self-awareness, demonstrate breast self-examination and provide supporting literature. Advise patients about reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and make appropriate referrals. Take swabs for microscopy as directed. Give patients basic advice about peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms and make appropriate referrals. Advise on the increased per-menopausal and post-menopausal risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Offer health promotion/lifestyle advice to patients. Advise on basic incontinence management and make appropriate referrals.
Cardiovascular Disease Contribute to the implementation of the National Service Framework. Contribute to the maintenance of the practice CHD register. Works with patients to set action plans for changes of lifestyle and drug compliance for reducing the risk factors of:
Hypertension
Angina
Myocardial Infarction
Cerebrovascular accident
Provide psychological support by discussing interventions and treatments.
Clinical Practice Leadership
Monitor and maintain the consistency of professional standards set. Take appropriate action if standards are not being met. Assist in clinical audit and the setting and monitoring of standards of care. Teach and direct others in clinical setting, including unqualified staff. Act as an assessor/mentor and teacher to other staff. Work effectively in the team.
Clinical Practice Development
Be aware of current evidence-based approaches to patient care and demonstrate this in practice. Demonstrate clinical expertise in practice. Ensures clinical supervision is in place for nursing staff.
