Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Practice Nurse Job Description and Personal Specification

JOB DETAILS

Practice Nurse

Hours:Variable hours available up to 30 hours

Reports to: Practice Manager

Accountable (non-clinical) to: GP Partners

Accountable Professionally: NMC JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will:

Demonstrate clinical knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deliver all aspects of nursing care in the practice.

Work collaboratively within the team and colleagues to develop and deliver high quality care

Ensure a positive working environment

Support patients to be healthy and participate in the monitoring of patients with long term conditions and health screening.

Work under National, local and practice policies to ensure patients health needs are met

Provide support to junior nurses, healthcare assistants, phlebotomists and student nurses as required.

Maintain accurate clinical records using electronic patient records ensuring confidentiality and in accordance with NMC code of conduct

CLINICAL

All clinical tasks and duties will be performed with evidence of underpinning learning and achievement of any accredited courses and competences, in line with National, local and practice guidelines.

Training will be provided in accordance with identified learning needs and practice requirements

The post holder will:

• Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and well- being of patients attending the practice

• Deliver clinical care[1] within the treatment room setting of (subject to completion of training):
• Wound care acute, post-operative, chronic and minor injuries
• Complex wound management involving Doppler assessment and compression bandaging
• Child and adult immunisations and the annual influenza immunisation programme
• Sexual health services
• Cervical screening
• Undertake ECGs
• Venepuncture
• Administer prescribed medication for shared care agreements (amber drugs) in line with National, Local and NMC code of conduct
• Work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments.
• Provide information and advice on prescribed or over the counter medication on medication regimes, side-effects and interactions
• Comply with all aspects of infection prevention control
• Assist with minor surgical procedures

• Support health promotion and education
• Assist in the screening for patients at risk of long term conditions.
• Participate and undertake opportunistic and health screening risk assessments, providing health advice and making appropriate referrals into exercise, alcohol, smoking, weight management and mental health services where applicable.
• Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care.
• Identify and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

• Chronic Disease Management
• Perform spirometry testing for diagnosis and annual reviews
• Assist in regular calibration and routine checks as per Spirometry guidelines ( after completion of respiratory/spirometry course)
• Following completion of advanced training,
• Undertake assessment and management of patients with long term conditions including diabetes, stroke, hypertension and cardiovascular and respiratory (COPD, Asthma)
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment plans for patients with chronic diseases, making appropriate referrals as necessary

• Travel Health
• Deliver immunisations under PSD or PGD for travel services
• Complete necessary study and qualifications to complete travel health assessments and provide accurate advice
• Pathology
• Undertake the collection, storage and despatch of all pathological specimens to a high standard, ensuring universal precautions are followed
• Manage results, referring to GP/ Advanced nurse practitioner as necessary.
• Provide information to patients regarding their results and any actions required.

MANAGEMENT OF RISK

• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs and apply robust infection control standards
• Maintain own NMC registration and work within the NMC code of professional conduct.
• Report any Faults, repairs or non-clinical incidents to the Practice Manager
• Ensure all patient identification is checked before procedures are performed,
• Assist in the transportation of equipment and supplies in accordance with health and safety guidelines.
• Ensure safe moving and handling of patients

Promote and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy.

Offer all patients a chaperone for intimate examination and act as Chaperone and assist patients who are being examined by another clinician

MANAGING INFORMATION

• Maximise opportunities to meet QOF objectives
• Review and process data using accurate read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval and monitoring and audit process.
• Ensure clinical information is documented using practice templates.
• Assist in the recording of information for clinical audits: minor surgery procedures, cytology, child immunisation and high risk drug monitoring.

COMMUNICATION

Ensure all patients and relatives are treated with respect and dignity at all times.

• Utilise and demonstrate effective communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent given to treatment.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural backgrounds and preferred ways of communicating.

• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues

Maintain accurate clinical records using electronic patient records ensuring confidentiality and in accordance with NMC code of conduct

Attend and participate in practice meetings as required.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

• Participate in individual annual performance review including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of training and development
• Identify own training needs and inform the practice manager immediately of any deficit of knowledge or skill impacting on patient care
• Ensure timely and continuous updating of CPD log for revalidation
• Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate, participating in self-directed learning and training as required and assist with the teaching of attached students as appropriate.
• Maintain professional registration and ensure continued education by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development.
• Complete all mandatory training within agreed time scale.
• Act as an associate mentor to student nurses, junior and senior nursing staff against set standards as required.
• Participate in training at in-house TARGET sessions to the nurse team.
• The post holder will be expected to keep up to date with local and national developments.

SERVICE IMPROVEMENT

• Participate in research or patient surveys to improve services

• Participate in clinical audits as delegated by the Practice Manager
• Support and work collaboratively with the practice team to develop and improve services and other initiatives
• Always maintain a positive attitude about the practice services and provide information to patients, staff or other service users on request.

DELIVERY OF QUALITY SERVICES

• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC and comply with revalidation requirements.
• 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
• Prioritise, organise and effectively manage own workload, time and resources in a manner that maintains and promotes quality
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
• Deliver individualised patient care according guidelines and evidence-based care
• 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
• Work within policies regarding family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behavior, and refer as appropriate

CONFIDENTIALITY

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation.
• All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential. Proven breach of confidentiality will result in dismissal from the practice

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

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

GENERAL

• The post holder must have a current UK driving licence. Insurance must cover business use and documents (driving licence, MOT, Insurance and Tax) must be available on request from line manager.
• The Job description may be subject to variation from time to time and should be viewed as a guide rather than an exact description.
• The post holder will be provided and expected to wear a uniform whilst in clinics or home visits and comply with practice uniform bare below the elbows policy at all times.

[1] This list is not exhaustive

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a nursing team

Desirable

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

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

Glebe House Surgery

Address

Glebe House Surgery

19 Firby Road

Bedale

North Yorkshire

DL8 2AT

Employer's website

http://www.glebehousesurgery.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)