Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

• Assess, plan, develop implement and evaluate treatment programs that promote health and well- being.
• Proactively identify, and manage as appropriate treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long term condition.
• Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.
• Work with other healthcare professionals to monitor long term conditions including non- drug based methods using a management plan, and in line with national and local policies and practice needs.
• Provide information and advice on prescribed or over the counter medication on medication regimens, side effects and interactions.
• Work with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments.
• Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies and promote self care.
• Recognise assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with the NSF for Mental Health.
• Implement and participate in immunisation and vaccination programs for both adults and children.
• Advise, support and administer vaccinations where appropriate for patients travelling abroad.
• Support and manage health needs of women presenting for cervical cytology consultations.
• Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting with aural conditions.
• Meet the needs for patients attending for wound care.

Communication

• Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognizing the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.
• Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders.
• Ensure awareness of sources of patient support and guidance, referring where appropriate.
• Attend and participate in practice team meetings: Clinical team meeting, Nurses Meeting and QOF Meeting as requested.

Delivering a quality of Service

• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of competence as regulated by the NMC.
• Take responsibility for own development learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model.
• Support the development of others in order to maximise potential.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of changes within the areas of care and responsibility.
• Contribute and participate in the development of practice guidelines, protocols and standards.
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Prioritise organize and manage own workload in a manner that promotes quality.
• Deliver evidence based care according to NSF, NICE Guidelines, practice protocols.
• 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/practice protocol.
• 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.
• Utilize the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements when required.
• In partnership with the clinical team collaborate on improving the quality of healthcare, responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate.
• Act as an advocate when representing the patients and colleagues viewpoints to others

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.
• Ensure clear understanding and utilization of referral mechanisms within the practice.
• Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting on care delivery.
• Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence of those taking on delegated duties.
• Accept delegation from other nurses, prioritise own work load to ensure effective time management
• Work effectively with others to clearly defined values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery, participating 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 to conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Ensure the safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.
• Undertake mandatory and statutory training.
• Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines.

Utilising Information

• Use technology to aid planning implementation and monitoring, and for communicating information.
• Review and process data using accurate Read codes.
• Understand the responsibility of self and others regarding Freedom of Information Act.

Learning and Development

• Assess learning needs in conjunction with Clinical Services Manager and undertake learning as appropriate for the needs of the practice.
• Make effective use of learning opportunities and disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice.
• Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues.

Equality and Diversity

• Identify patterns of discrimination, take actions 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.
• Accept the rights of individuals to choose their providers and, participate in care and refuse care.
• Assist patients from marginalized groups to access quality care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered First level Nurse

Desirable

• Membership of a professional body

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a nursing team
• Experience of dealing with vulnerable patients

Desirable

• Experience of working in a GP Practice
• Experience of working in primary care

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of needs of patients with long-term conditions
• Aware of accountability of own role and other roles in a nurse led service
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Awareness of clinical governance issues in primary care
• Knowledge of patient Group Directions and associated policy

Desirable

• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of local and national health policy
• Awareness of issues within the wider health economy

Skills

Essential

• Clinical skills; Cervical Cytology, Wound Care, Immunisation, Ear Care, Travel Health
• Management Skills; (motivational interviewing) to support patients change lifestyles.
• Communication skills; both written and verbal.
• IT Skills

Desirable

• Uses initiative
• Gets on well with people at all levels

Other

Essential

• Highly motivated
• Flexibility
• Enthusiasm
• Team Player
• Car Driver
• Clean Driving Licence

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Hawkinge and Elham and Valley Practice

Address

Hawkinge Health Centre

74 Canterbury Road

Hawkinge

Folkestone

Kent

CT18 7BP

Employer's website

https://www.elhamsurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)