Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

• Patient Support and Clinical Services

The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

• To support the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC Policy supporting the implementation of audits, coaching and training, and evidence of compliance to the relevant manager

• To assist in the production of the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the Lead Nurse and relevant manager

• To develop, implement and embed an effective care management programme for the frail and elderly patients registered at the practice

• To assess the needs of patients ensuring the provision of healthcare is appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice

• To develop, implement and embed health promotion and wellbeing programmes

• To implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease patients that promote health and wellbeing

• To identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects to patients health

• As required, to provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

• To administer vaccines and immunisations to patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice

• To review patient medications to enhance compliance
• To provide guidance to patients in the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications regarding side effects and dosages

• To co-ordinate the provision of travel medicine services

• To perform phlebotomy services at the request of the GPs and in accordance with practice policies

• To oversee the provision of chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as necessary

• To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation

• To ensure read codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing team

• To ensure the appropriate maintenance and use of chronic disease registers

• To develop, implement, embed and participate in well woman clinics, including cervical cytology

• To develop, implement, embed and participate in well man clinics

• To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy

• To assist GPs with minor surgery when required

• To prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

• To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

• To recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

• To implement vaccination programmes for adults and children

• To support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the-counter medicines (within own scope of practice)

• To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

• To delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)

• To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

• To understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately

• To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate
• Systems and Administrative Support

Support the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients

Ensure accurate data is recorded on the patients computer records and that paper notes are kept in chronological order as per protocol.

Embrace and support advancements in Information Technology

To receive incoming and initiate outgoing communications in order to facilitate timely and appropriate exchanges with others, taking messages and dealing with enquiries.

Liaising with and assisting members of the nursing and administrative team

Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to improve patient care

Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate

Liaising with and assisting members of the nursing and administrative team

• Team-working

We are a small team with a big remit, so we consider teamwork a core part of our job role. We support each other and our patients, so we ask of each other:

Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation

Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)

To recognise the importance of effective communication within the team

To communicate effectively with patients, carers, and other team members

To attend practice and other meetings as required

To, as part of valuing diversity and maintaining a great team, recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

• General Duties

To support others by maintaining filing and administrative systems so that written or electronic information is easily accessible and secure.

Open and secure premises if required

• Special Circumstances Primary Care

Learning and Development

The effective use of training and development is fundamental in ensuring that all staff are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake in and complete mandatory training as directed. It is an expectation for this post holder to assess their own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate.

The post holder will undertake mentorship from team members and disseminate learning and information gained to other team members to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g., courses and conferences).

The post holder will provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging We are working to create an environment where everyone, patients, colleagues, and carers feel included and a sense of belonging, regardless of their background, circumstances or identity.

Confidentiality As a healthcare role this role is entrusted with access to the most strictly confidential information on patients, carers, colleagues and the organisation. Youll be trusted and supported to work to the highest levels of confidentiality.

Health, Safety & Wellbeing As well as their own health, safety and wellbeing, The post-holder will support in promoting and maintaining health, safety, wellbeing security of the team, organisation and premises as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy.

• About this Job Description.

We live in a changing world and, so as the needs, requirements and options for patients and the wider team evolve, this role may need to change too. Well always talk to you about these changes and the reasons for them. This description is an outline of responsibilities and so not exhaustive: Unless supported by you (e.g. for professional development), well only ever ask you to do things that are consistent with the general scope of the role.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
• Nurse prescriber
• Family planning qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• Experience of managing elderly patients

Skills/Qualities and Other

Essential

• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• New patient medicals
• Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• Chaperone procedure
• Womens health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Chronic disease management
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills & telephone manner
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Polite and confident
• Flexible and co-operative
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations
• Motivated, forward thinker
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• Effectively utilise resources
• Ability to deal with all matters confidentially and an understanding of GDPR and its application in a healthcare setting
• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for nurse revalidation
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) commensurate with the role of a Practice Nurse

Desirable

• Travel medicine
• Spirometry
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Strong IT skills

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).