Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Role Purpose

• To work as an autonomous practitioner providing care to patients within the primary care setting using specialist practice nurse skills.
• To work within Practice policies, protocols and guidelines whilst using experience and clinical judgement to provide nurse interventions and care.
• To work collaboratively with the whole practice team ensuring that the care delivered to the Practice population is relevant, responsive, of the highest standard and is clinically effective and efficient.
• Contribute to improving quality standards.

• To work within the framework of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice to ensure that the best possible care is given to the Practice population.

Role Responsibilities

Professional and Managerial Role

• NMC registration - upholding professional standards of practice and behaviour.
• To work independently and accepting professional accountability within the scope of your clinical practice and expertise.
• Attend and contribute to relevant internal and external meetings as required.
• Provision and promotion of evidence-based practice.
• Remaining up to date with pertinent health policies, working with the Practice team to consider the impact and the strategies for implementation.
• Deliver and maintain primary nurse led services including long term conditions in line with disease registers.
• Signpost effectively to other clinicians and agencies when appropriate.

Clinical

• Make professional autonomous decisions for which the post holder is accountable for and to provide and promote safe, effective, and cost-efficient individualised patient care.
• Where necessary, evaluate patients test results in conjunction with the patient and their GP and ensure the appropriate course of treatment is initiated.
• Communicate effectively with patients/families/carers regarding information about their care and considering the equality and diversity needs and preferences of said population.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records using the Practice clinic system (SystmOne).
• Protect and promote the health and well-being of patients, their relatives and carers through advice, education, screening, and signposting to appropriate agencies when required.
• Undertake clinics and offer focused lifestyle advice in line with local, national guidance and quality outcome framework indicators; this may include practice-based clinics or home visits.
• Manage programmes of care for patients with long term conditions and other practice nurse duties by providing and evaluating care under agreed guidelines and patient group directives. These may include but not exhaustive of:

o Diabetes

o Cardiovascular disease

o Asthma, COPD

o Contraception and Sexual Health

o Adult and childhood immunisations

o Care planning

o Learning disabilities

o Difficult to reach service users

o Dementia

o Cervical Screening

o Anticoagulation monitoring

o Wound Care

o Travel Health

• Apply infection control measures in all areas of practice.
• Liaise with the multidisciplinary team and outside agencies to ensure patients and their care givers are well supported.

Teaching and Mentoring

• Promote a learning environment and assist with the planning and implementation of teaching for staff and other health professionals, including pre- registration student nurses/registrars.
• Contribute to planning and implementing peer review and other educational opportunities within the Practice.
• Mentor and support other staff in developing and maintaining clinical skills.
• Disseminate learning and information to the relevant Practice teams.

Quality

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.
• Effectively manage own time, workload, and resources.
• Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards.

Public Health

• To support public health campaigns
• To provide specialist knowledge on all public health programmes available to the general public.

Communication

• To be aware of data protection issues.
• To liaise effectively with other health professionals both inside and outside the organisation, with regard to accepting and making clinical referrals.
• Communicate effectively with patients and relatives, considering differences in language, literacy, and culture.

Training & Personal Development

• To undertake all personal training required to fulfil the current job role, and all future requirements relevant to this job description.
• Manage own time effectively, plan and meet personal and Practice targets.
• Ensure own personal development through reflection and feedback from Partners and colleagues.
• Take part in annual appraisal, peer review and revalidation as required by practice policy and code of conduct.

Please download and see attached Job Description for full details of the role.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse (Registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council)

Desirable

• Cervical Cytology updated within the last 3 years (registered)
• Independent Nurse Prescriber Qualification
• Accredited qualification in Family Planning and Sexual Health
• Independent Nurse Prescriber Qualification
• Accredited qualification in Diabetes Care
• Accredited qualification in Asthma/COPD

Additional requirements

Essential

• Enhanced DBS Certification & legal right to work in the UK
• Hep B/MMR vaccinated or willing to be vaccinated
• A flexible and adaptable approach to maintain the consistent delivery of high-quality services

Experience

Essential

• Experience in the management of patients with long term conditions
• Proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of own clinic practice
• Understand, interpret and help implement local and national guidelines
• Understanding of infection prevention and control measures in clinical practice

Desirable

• Recent and relevant experience in primary care
• Post registration experience (minimum 3 years)
• Immunisation and vaccinations, (adult and children)
• Health promotion and screening
• Travel vaccinations and advice

Skills

Essential

• Good organisational skills, able to work under pressure and prioritise workload
• Proficient in the use of MS Office, Word, Excel, SystmOne and/or other clinical software
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills
• The ability to work under pressure

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of national standards that inform practice (e.g., QOF, NICE guidelines, etc)
• Experience of wound care acute/non acute. Have knowledge of dressing types and rational for selection in line with the local dressing formulary
• Understanding of effective team working
• Understanding of evidence-based practice

Desirable

• Understanding of anticoagulation/warfarin monitoring
• Understanding of systems to gain insight as to the health needs of the practice population as they relate to Primary Care

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).