General Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Administration and Professional Responsibilities

Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team

Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients journal

Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date with accurate details recorded

Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care

Attend and participate in the practice meetings as required

Assist in formulation of practice philosophy, strategy and policy

To assist in seasonal and special projects as requested e.g. flu campaign

To be aware of responsibilities under the Date Protection Act

Management of appointment system

Ensure total familiarity with all appointment systems, including regular and incidental variations

Book appointments and recalls, ensuring sufficient information is recorded to enable retrieval of the medical record

Monitor flow of patients into the waiting room, ensuring the appointment system accurately reflects the arrival of patients

Monitor effectiveness of the system and report any problems or variations to the IT Lead(s)

Infection Control

Maintain high standards of infection control at all times, protecting patients, self and colleagues. This includes appropriate maintenance of the clinical equipment and stock. (Check and monitor equipment eg storage, cleaning schedule, fridge temperature checks, emergency trolley and drug store checks, expiry date checks).

Apply infection control measures within the practice according to practice, local and national guidelines.

Communication

Communicate clearly and 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 externally to sustain a high standard, professional approach.

Attend and contribute to practice and primary care team meetings.

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.

To uphold confidentiality of patient records and practice information.

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality and meets practice expectations

Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines, QOF guidance and evidence-based care

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

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

Actively participate in the practice significant event procedures. Ensure learning and actions from significant event reviews are implemented and reviewed.

Safeguarding: Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients safeguarding health procedures and local guidance

Leadership personal and professional development

Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model.

Undertake mentorship for more junior staff, assessing competence against set standards. 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

Support and contribute to the teaching of nursing staff/ medical students/ GP registrars and administration staff as appropriate

Work with the partners and practice manager in planning and implementing changes within the area of care and responsibility

Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards

Participate, undertake and support annual staff appraisal. Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate ensuring clinical portfolio, continued professional development and registration fit for purpose

Team working

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and working with the GP Partners, Practice Manager and nursing team exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working

Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence

Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need

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

Special requirements for the post

An ability to use your own judgement, resourcefulness, common sense and local knowledge, to respond to patients enquiries and requests while adhering to practice limitations

An understanding and acceptance of your own capabilities and awareness of your own limitations

Ability to work without direct supervision and determine your own workload priorities

Basic keyboard and computer skills

Flexibility of working hours

Communication

Communicate clearly and 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 externally to sustain a high standard, professional approach

Attend and contribute to practice and primary care team meetings

Contribution to the implementation of services

Apply practice policies, standards and guidance

Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect your own work

Participate in audit where appropriate

Confidentiality

Has been acquired by you during, or in the course of your employment, or has otherwise been acquired by you in confidence

Is related to patients including their identity, personal information and all of their medical records

Belongs to, or is held by Tower Family Healthcare whether stored electronically or otherwise and all details of Tower Family Healthcares premises, information, assets, internal communications, intellectual property, technical systems, projects, operating procedures and finance

Relates particularly to Tower family Healthcare, or that of other persons or bodies with whom we have dealings of any sort; and has not been made public by, or with our authority

Shall be confidential, and (save in the course of our business or as required by law) you shall not at any time, whether before or after the termination of your employment, disclose such information to any person without our prior written consent. A breach of this clause may be treated as gross misconduct leading to summary dismissal and / or criminal proceedings.

Managing information

Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information

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

Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases

Understand responsibility of self and others to the practice regarding the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act

Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information to the team

Equality and diversity

You will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Behaving in a manor which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered first level nurse MSc or equivalent with current registration
• Relevant nursing/health degree
• Accredited LBC Cytology
• Up to date life support training

Desirable

• Diabetes diploma / COPD diploma / Asthma Diploma
• ECDL
• Mentor/teaching qualification Teaching certificate
• Clinical supervision training and experience

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5 years post registration nursing experience
• At least 3 years recent primary care / community nursing experience
• Demonstrate evidence of experience outlined within clinical practice section of job description
• Audit

Desirable

• Home visit assessment of patients
• Sexual Health including fitting / removal of IUCD and LAC
• Minor Surgery
• Child Health Surveillance

Skills

Essential

• Clinical skills & competency relevant to the practice nurse role.
• Communication skills written and verbal
• Communication of difficult messages to patients and families
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Clinical examination
• IT Skills

Desirable

• Teaching and mentorship in clinical setting
• Telephone triage skills
• Change management
• Participate in the care of equipment

Knowledge

Essential

• In-depth knowledge and management of patients with long term conditions/chronic diseases
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience of the practice nurse role
• Patient group directions and associated policy

Desirable

• Ability to identify priorities on health in the area
• Local and national policy / Wider health economy
• EMIS clinical system

Other

Essential

• Full UK driving licence business use
• Reliability & commitment to team working
• Highly motivated
• Flexible and responsive to change week/evening /weekend working
• Enthusiasm
• Team player
• Willingness to undertake further training
• Demonstrates the ability to value the opinion of others
• Ability to work within a pressurised environment maintaining a safe, high standard of quality care

Desirable

• Ability to work across boundaries
• Ability to undertake stock control

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).