Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Job Description

Job Summary

The ANP will be an experienced nurse who holds an appropriate, specific, advanced professional qualification which meets NMC requirements for high level practice.

The ANP will work with the practice team to provide high quality care, across all age groups which meets the needs of the practices patient population.

Working within defined professional boundaries, they will be able to make safe clinical decisions relating to assessment, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing and review. The ANP will demonstrate autonomous critical thinking ability.

The APN will function as an integral part of the clinical leadership team in the practice, providing advice and guidance to the nursing team to ensure they deliver care based on the needs of the practices population.

The ANP will have a desire to progress and learn, particularly in the management of patients with chronic diseases.

The post holder will be flexible and versatile, and have a proven understanding of working across all areas in a GP Practice. On occasions, the post holder will be required to cover leave or sickness.

NMC requirements for advanced practice must be met.

Working hours will be 30 - 37.5 hours per week, over five days.There will be a requirement to cover some aspects of on-call and extended hours service provision.

Main Purpose

The purpose of the post is to provide advanced nursing services to the patients of the practice.

Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the Practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent training, competencies and developments.

Key Relationships and Contacts

Internal:

Practice Partners

Practice Manager

Care Home Managers and Staff

Salaried GPs

Lead Practice Nurse

Practice Nursing Team and Healthcare Assistants

Doctors in Training

Assistant Practice Manager

Administration Team

Secretarial Team

External:

Patients, carers and relatives

Multidisciplinary Team Members

Practice suppliers (equipment, supplies and services)

Social and Lifestyle Prescribers

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

CLINICAL PRACTICE

Assess/examine patients of all ages, diagnose, plan, treat and review/evaluate. Assessment may be face-to-face by appointment or by telephone as part of a triage/unscheduled care team and will include patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis.

Diagnose and manage patients presenting with both acute and chronic conditions based on a management plan which includes a medication plan and other interventions.

Identify health priorities and make timely and appropriate interventions to support patients presenting in an emergency and/or with complex/urgent needs.

Assess and manage patients physiological and psychological needs, including patients with complex needs, multiple diagnoses and polypharmacy.

Identify patients at risk of developing a chronic illness and develop a plan for minimising risk of worsening.

Advise and educate patients, promoting understanding, self-management, healthy lifestyle choices and sources of support and compliance with treatment plan and medication.

In line with competence and agreed protocols, prescribe medication, review its effectiveness and make appropriate adjustments to treatment, ensuring patient understanding of medication side-effects and interactions, including over-the-counter medication.

Provide support to the Lead Practice Nurse to ensure the health needs of all patients presenting to the nursing team are met in a clinically appropriate way and by the team member best qualified to meet their needs.

Provide support to the Lead Practice Nurse to ensure the nursing team meets the clinical needs of patients presenting with routine and emergency needs and conditions or who require advice and support including chronic disease management, family planning, vaccination and immunisations, health promotion/lifestyle advice, wound care, venepuncture etc.

Ensure that all patients who may be vulnerable or who have mental health needs are appropriately managed and protected by the nursing team.

COMMUNICATION

Advise patients of the ANP role, its extent and limits.

Advise patients appropriately and refer on if they require the services of a GP or other clinical team member.

Communicate effectively, promptly and appropriately with patients and team members.

Provide links to additional information/guidance/support for both colleagues and patients/carers including onward referral where required.

Modify method of communication with patients to suit the situation, recognise problems/barriers take action and seek help at an early stage when they arise.

Communicate risk to patients and ensure proper consent gained where appropriate.

Act as an advocate for patients or colleagues who need assistance and representation.

Establish and maintain effective communication with internal and external stakeholders/organisations/individuals.

Contribute to practice and nursing team meetings.

QUALITY AND LEARNING

Provide services to the practices patient population to the highest possible standard.

Comply with NMC Code of Conduct and keep registration up to date, documented and checked in the practice on an annual basis.

Provide care that is evidence-based, working to agreed and established clinical guidelines and supporting others to do the same.

Work to agreed standards, monitor and maintain the standard of care offered.

Take action if standards are not met (self or others)

Manage own and others workload to maintain priorities and service level.

Undertake training needed to ensure competencies for delivering all responsibilities and ensure nursing colleagues are supported in doing the same.

Lead and contribute to clinical governance activities/clinical audit to ensure continual improvement of service delivery and assessment of impact of changes on patient care.

Lead and contribute to complaints responses/reviews, significant event, peer review and other shared learning activities

Identify opportunities for shared learning.

Ensure learning from outside educational events is effectively cascaded to the team and resultant changes to practice implemented.

Support and mentor staff in training, assess against standards

Support the performance and development of team members including giving and receiving effective feedback.

Lead and contribute to in-house training events based on learning needs analysis and Practice Learning Plan.

Take responsibility for own development including maintenance of a Personal Development Plan and record of learning, clinical supervision, staff appraisals, giving and receiving feedback.

Challenge under performance or poor skills/inappropriate actions and implement performance management of team members in consultation with management team and GPs.

Undertake regular mandatory training and ensure the competence of nursing team colleagues (child protection, vulnerable adults, basic life support, moving and handling etc).

LEADERSHIP

The ANP will:

Behave as a positive role model and set standards for the nursing team.

Provide support to the Lead Practice Nurse to lead the planning process for the nursing team, including setting goals and monitoring achievements/outcomes.

Introduce, review and update clinical guidelines and protocols in accordance with latest evidence base.

Critically evaluate new developments or service delivery models and contribute to leading their incorporation in the practice to enhance care, applying good change management techniques, including participation in commissioning processes.

Critically evaluate skill mix, workload and practice service delivery needs to contribute to the practices learning plan and recruitment plan.

Provide support to the Lead Practice Nurse to lead the nursing team by balancing the needs of individuals, the team and the practice, effectively managing conflict or differing needs and priorities.

Delegate appropriately and effectively, monitoring performance and offering guidance and support, including ensuring and maintaining individuals competence.

OTHER DUTIES

The ANP may, from time-to-time, be asked to undertake other reasonable duties, with appropriate training. It is important that all members of staff are prepared to undertake additional or relinquish current duties to maintain service delivery to patients. It is expected that requests from the Partners will not be unreasonably refused.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse (RGN or RN)
• Non-medical prescriber qualification
• Nurse Practitioner qualification (MSc Specialist Practice)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Mentoring qualification

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5 years post registration experience
• Evidence of ongoing personal and professional development
• Experience in management of patients with complex needs and long term conditions e.g. COPD, diabetes, CHD.
• Evidence of working autonomously as part of a team
• Proven ability to evaluate safety and effectiveness of their own clinical practice
• Knowledge of clinical governance issues in primary care
• Ability to work in a with a team
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Experience of treating patient of all ages (adults and children)
• Physical assessment and clinical examination skills

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in a GP Practice or Primary Care
• Interpreting and implementing local and National policy agendas for health
• Experience of using EMIS WEB, DOCMAN software
• Wider IT skills

Qualities / Attributes

Essential

• Demonstrates well developed organisational and communication skills (written and verbal)
• Highly motivated with excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritise own workload
• Able to work in a changing environment
• A degree of flexibility within working hours
• Time management skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Team Player

Other

Essential

• Satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
• Occupational Health clearance for patient contact
• Flexibility to work anti-social hours including weekends if required
• Flexibility to work at different locations if required
• Full current driving licence and car owner

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).