Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

A.Clinical

• Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as indicated by patient need including:
• Cytology
• Wound care / ulcer care/Doppler
• Removal of Sutures/ clips
• New Patient Medicals/Urinalysis
• Travel Clinic
• Asthma and COPD Management
• Venepuncture
• Hypertension Management / 24 hour ambulatory BP
• Diabetes Management
• Ear syringing
• Routine immunizations/Childhood immunisations
• Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician
• Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs
• Following agreed clinical protocols.
• Maintaining and cleaning equipment used by the nurses and GPs and upholding the standards required for Infection prevention and control.
• Vaccine fridge temperature monitoring
• Maintaining GP and Nurses rooms, stocking and rotating items as required
• Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms
• Supervision of the HCAs
• Ordering of Health Promotion Literature
• Ordering of vaccinations to maintain stock levels if required
• Participation in administrative systems in the practice
• Maintain accurate records
• advise other team members of potential problems or errors within the range of assigned tasks
• Attend and participate in any practice / clinical meetings monthly.
• On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visits
• Support and manage the QoF programmes and income generation for the practice relevant to role
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post

B.Communication

• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
• Communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating
• Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication
• Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders
• Regularly engage with Sussex Primary Care Head of Nursing
• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (e.g. PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate

C.Delivering a quality service

• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent
• Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality
• Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care
• Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, bench-marking and formal evaluation
• Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities
• Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required
• In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate
• Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care
• Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation
• Use a structured framework (e.g. root-cause analysis) to manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events
• Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery
• Working with the practice management monitor and develop the performance of the GPN team in accordance with local policies
• Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance
• Working with practice management to ensure the whole team have skills and knowledge regarding domestic violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour.
• Provide guidance and support to ensure appropriate referral if required in line with legislation, policies and procedures

D.Leadership

• Support the lead nurse/ANP in the delivery of practice nursing services ensuring that the needs of the patient are a priority
• Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model
• Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of work
• Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards
• Promote the role of the Practice Nurse in general practice

E.Team working

• Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time
• Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working
• Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence
• Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need
• Prioritise own workload and contribute to effective time-management strategies embedded within the culture of the team
• Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
• Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care
• Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the practice management team
• Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success

F.Management of risk

• Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
• Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines
• Ensure appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs. Oversee the monitoring, stock control and documentation of controlled drug usage according to legal requirements where appropriate
• Apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines
• Advocate for policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all

G.Managing information

• Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information
• Review and process data using accurate Read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes
• Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases
• Understand responsibility of self and others to the practice and primary care trust regarding the Freedom of Information Act

H.Learning and development

• Undertake mentorship for more junior staff, assessing competence against set standards
• Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g. courses and conferences)
• Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate
• Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

I.Equality and diversity

• Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
• Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture
• Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights
• Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies
• Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice
• Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care
• Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Currant NMC Pin
• Wound care / ulcer care/Doppler
• Removal of Sutures/ clips
• New Patient Medicals/Urinalysis
• Asthma and COPD Management
• Venepuncture
• Hypertension Management / 24 hour ambulatory BP
• Diabetes Management
• Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs
• Routine immunisations/Childhood immunisations

Desirable

• Cytology
• Travel Clinic
• Ear syringing
• Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician
• Ordering of vaccinations to maintain stock levels if required
• On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visits
• Support and manage the QoF programmes and income generation for the practice relevant to role
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post

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

Sussex Primary Care

Address

The Chapel Street Surgery

Chapel Street

Newhaven

East Sussex

BN9 9PW

Employer's website

http://www.sussexprimarycare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)