Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Clinical practice

• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis
• Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly
• Assess, diagnosis, plan, implement and evaluate interventions/treatments for patients with complex needs proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition (as appropriate)
• Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan
• Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and practice protocols, and within scope of practice
• Work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments
• Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions
• 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 promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care
• Support and manage health needs of women presenting for family planning, cervical cytology or sexual health consultation
• Assess, identify and refer patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with the NSF for Mental Health
• Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children
• Meet the needs of patients presenting for opportunistic wound care
• Undertake minor surgery as appropriate to competence

Communication

• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
• Communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news
• 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
• Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication
• Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders
• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (eg PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate
• Liaise where appropriate with other members of the PCN team in order to provide expert care for patients and promote shared decision making

Delivering a quality service

• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the 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 NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care
• Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation
• Initiate and 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
• Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care
• Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation
• Use a structured framework (eg root-cause analysis) to manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events
• Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance
• Working with practice management to ensure the whole team have skills and knowledge regarding domestic violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour. Provide guidance and support to ensure appropriate referral if required
• Works/liaises across multi-professional and agency boundaries.
• Works at the forefront of practice innovation and determines how to deal with ambiguous or unique problems to develop and advance primary care services for the benefit of patients, carers and communities.
• Be a leader in the area of Respiratory and provide training and education where appropriate to other members of the practice/ PCN team and at local practice learning events

Leadership personal and people development

• Act as a clinical leader in the delivery of practice nursing services ensuring that the needs of the patient are a priority
• Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model
• Support staff development in order to maximise potential
• Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice
• Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards
• Maintain active involvement in the planning and processes of practice-based commissioning or similar initiatives
• Promotethe role of the advanced nurse practitioner in general practice
• Contributes to the strategic development of primary care and public health services to meet patient and population needs within the practice and across the wider organisation.

Team working

• Understand own role and scope 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
• Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
• Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care
• Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the practice management team
• Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success

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 appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs. Oversee the monitoring, stock control and documentation of controlled drug usage according to legal requirements where appropriate
• Apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines
• Advocate for policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all

Managing information

• Makes effective use of the clinical system by ensuring the consistent and accurate entering of data and use of Read Codes.
• Facilitates the use of up-to-date information technology in order to collate accurate and timely information as and when required by the practice.
• Ensures a satisfactory call and recall system of patients.
• Assist in the development of practice protocols for the surgery and clinical protocols for the clinical team.
• Identifies, monitors and reviews deficiencies in procedures and implements remedial action.

Learning & Development

• Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice
• Develops and leads on evidence based practice
• Promotes effective communication and relationships within the team.
• Partakes in monthly clinical supervision for own development.
• Actively participates in clinical and PCN meetings.
• Develops own knowledge and practice to meet objectives/changes in service, through attendance on study days, self-directed learning and reflection on practice.
• Offer supervision to more junior members of the PCN and wider practice team where appropriate and planned

Equality & Diversity

• Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality 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 the observance of equality and diversity good practice
• 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

Qualifications

Essential

• MSc and prescribing qualifications or equivalent
• Relevant nursing/health degree
• Extended/independent nurse

Desirable

• Community nursing specialist qualification
• Mentor/teaching qualification
• Clinical supervision training and experience

Experience

Essential

• Significant post registration experience
• Recent primary and community nursing experience
• Nurse-led management of minor illness, minor ailments and injuries
• Nurse-led triage
• Compiling protocols and clinical guidelines
• Clinical leadership
• Audit
• Research
• Nurse prescribing

Desirable

• Project management
• Working with community development initiatives
• Health-needs assessment
• Experience working in a primary care network

Knowledge

Essential

• Advanced clinical practice skills Management of patients with long-term conditions
• Management of patients with complex needs
• Clinical examination skills
• Respiratory focus
• Accountability of own role and other roles in a nurse-led service
• Local and national health policy
• Wider health economy
• Clinical governance issues in primary care
• Patient group directions and associated policy

Desirable

• Knowledge of public health issues
• Able to identify determinants on health in the area
• Knowledge of public health issues in the area

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).