Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Qualifications: Registered General Nurse

Training: Specific training to fulfil competency for role

Attend regular practice based training and educational meeting

Experience: First Level Nurse

Has undertaken specific training relevant to Practice Nursing

Accountability: Professionally – to patients under NMC code of conduct

Managerially - to Practice Manager

Clinically - to GPs

Special Functions: Manages care programs directly to patients without referral from another Senior Nurse/Doctor

Initiates and manages a methodical assessment of patients needs

Develops clinical and Practice Protocols for the clinical team to work within.

Main Responsibilities: Wound Management

1. Perform complex wound care management

1. Provide the diagnosis – Management plan and treatment of leg ulcers using Doppler assessment.

1. Undertake assessment of wounds in general – referral – appropriate dressings and care.

1. Suture – clip – staples – removal

Vaccinations and Immunisations

1. Provide adult and childhood immunisation service

2. Administer injections under individualised prescription/patient group directives and patient specific directives

3. Understand, apply and manage the principles of the cold chain

4. Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs

5. To undertake home visits to the housebound to administer flu vaccines

6. Develop protocols and updates according to review dates

Emergency Management

1. Is competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques

2. Attends annual updates

Safeguarding

1. Recognise signs – symptoms of child abuse

2. Understand importance of recognition, observation – documentation and communication

3. Awareness of safeguarding procedures and points of referral

4. Knowledge of other Practitioners and agencies roles

5. Understand basic legal issues around child abuse

Mental Health

1. Recognise and be aware of referral mechanisms for family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviours

2. Recognise psychological needs of patients presenting with depression or

suicidal tendency

Health Promotion

1. Undertake opportunistic screening – BP, Height, Weight, BMI, unrinalysis, smoking and alchohol status. Family history, vaccination record.

2. Undertake opportunistic venipuncture

3. Recognise and encourage patients readiness to change unhealthy behaviour

4. Provide healthy eating advice to individuals including the overweight and those needing to reduce fat in their diet

5. Provide smoking cessation advice individually during consultations and signpost to One Life Suffolk

6. Provide advice to patients on increasing exercise and activity – Referrals to Health Link where applicable

7. Offer advice on the recommended limits for alcohol consumption

8. Offer appropriate leaflets.

9. Refer patients as appropriate

10. Works within agreed protocols when managing risk factors to enable patients to manage their own disease

11. Provides psychological support to patients

12. Make available leaflets where appropriate

Women’s Health

1. Advise patients on national and local cervical cytology and mammography screening programmes

2. Undertake a programme of cervical cytology screening when trained and deemed competent

Practice Professional Development Plan

· Monitor and maintain the consistency of professional standards set

· Take appropriate action if standards are not being met

· Recognise the development needs of others and take appropriate action

· Help lead the team towards common objectives

· Advise and support other members of the team

· Match tasks and workload to the capabilities of other team members

• Is responsible for assessment of care needs, development, implementation and evaluation without supervision

• Be aware of current evidence based approaches to patient care and demonstrate this in practice

• Demonstrate and develop clinical expertise in practice

• Ensures clinical supervision is available for all members of nursing team

• Recognise development needs and take appropriate action

Health and Safety/Legislation

• Comply at all times with the practice’s Health and Safety policies and comply with latest data protection legislation and IT requirements.

Risk management

• Apply infection control measures according to local and national guidelines

• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.

• Assess risk within area of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients.

• Infection Prevention and Control is a primary focus for Stowhealth. All individual staff are responsible for their actions and omissions with regards to infection control.

Confidentiality

• Respect patient confidentiality and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by requirements of the role.

Equality and diversity

· Treat co-workers, patients and visitors equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity, age, disability, religion or sexual orientation.

Teaching and mentoring role

• Promote a learning environment for patients and other health professionals.

• Contribute to implementation of teaching to staff, e.g. medical students and GP registrars.

Professional role

• Maintain professional registration and work within the latest NMC code of professional conduct.

• Participate in continuing professional development to ensure up to date evidence based knowledge is maintained.

• Monitor effectiveness of own practice through audit and individual performance reviews.

• Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform about current or future developments.

Communication

• Demonstrate sensitive communication styles appropriate to patients understanding and cultural background for consent to treatment and management of care.

• Communicate effectively with families and carers.

• Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to resolve.

• Maintain comprehensive computer notes as defined by the Nursing and Midwifery Council on record keeping.

• Discuss with colleagues in practice and members of the MDT where patients have complex issues and support for care planning is required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse

Experience

Essential

• First Level Nurse
• Has undertaken specific training relevant to Practice Nursing

Desirable

• 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

Suffolk Primary Care

Address

Grange Farm Avenue

Felixstowe

Suffolk

IP11 2XD

Employer's website

http://suffolkprimarycare.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)