Nurse Associate

Job responsibilities

The Nursing Associate is to undertake the following key responsibilities in delivering health services:

a. Delivery of high quality, compassionate care whilst undertaking specific clinical and care tasks under the direction of a registered nurse (or other registered care professional dependent) with a focus on promoting good health and independence

b. To provide high-quality holistic and person-centred care to individuals

c. To provide routine care to patients as required in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

d. To provide wound care, dressings and other clinical tasks as required

e. To provide Feno testing

f. To improve safety and quality of care at every opportunity

g. To contribute to the delivery of integrated care

h. To work with a supervisor to take responsibility for developing own clinical competence, leadership and reflective practice skills within the workplace

i. To support registered nurses to enable them to be able to focus on the more complex clinical care.

j. To perform and record clinical observations such as blood pressure, temperature, respirations and pulse

k. To provide flu vaccinations, ECGs and venepuncture and other relevant clinical tasks as required by the organisation in line with the competencies of the role (training provided where necessary)

l. To promote health and wellbeing to all patients, for example undertaking the NHS health check

m. To advise patients on general healthcare and promote self-management where appropriate, including signposting patients to personalised care colleagues and local community and voluntary sector services

n. To maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient health records ensuring that clinical data is appropriately recorded on SystmOne using Ardens templates.

o. To process pathology results as required

p. To enhance own performance through continuous professional development, imparting own knowledge and behaviours to meet the needs of the service

q. To work with your line manager to access regular clinical supervision to enable you to deal effectively with the difficult issues that people present.

r. To contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance.

s. To attend a formal review with your manager when required.

t. To support and deliver health promotion and wellbeing programmes including any opportunistic delivery.

u. Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area.

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Nursing Associate may be requested to:

a. Support delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives enhancing service delivery and patient care

b. Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.

c. Continue personal development and training.

d. To understand practice and departmental policies

e. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes.

f. Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility.

g. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
• Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload
• Knowledge of IT systems including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi -disciplinary team
• Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues

Desirable

• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities
• SystmOne user skills
• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing (Making Every Contact Count)
• Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and healthcare support workers as required within the clinical setting

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered nursing associate and on the NMC register
• Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as Nurse Associate

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of time management skills and ability to prioritise
• Ability to communicate with members of the public and health and care providers
• Understand the importance of following procedures and treatment plans
• IT skills
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Understanding of the scope of the role of the nursing associate in the context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation and how the role may contribute to service development
• Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information
• Experience of working in teams under appropriate supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
• Chaperone procedure

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person centred support in a non-judgemental way
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance and health and safety
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own home

Desirable

• Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential

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).