Job responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical care delivery general
Working within guidelines and protocols undertake and record:
Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for laboratory analysis
Temperature, pulse and respiratory rate
Weight, height, waist circumference and Body Mass Index
Measurement of legs for compression hosiery
ECGs, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Near patient testing e.g. blood glucose, lipids and INR
Doppler ultrasound measurement working with registered nurse
Measurement of airway function (peak expiratory flow rate)
Obtain venous blood samples from individuals for investigation.
Administer medications by injection with the appropriate legal authorisation.
Recognise health promotion opportunities and give brief, focussed lifestyle advice using motivational interviewing techniques which may include:
Alcohol screening
Smoking cessation
Weight management
Sexual health
Undertake initial assessment of patients presenting with wounds, working within expertise to manage independently or refer to other services as necessary.
Remove wound closure materials including sutures, clips and staples.
Take samples for the cervical screening programme according to recognised standards.
Administer vaccines to adults and children according to the UK immunisation schedule.
Provide a pre-travel health service including administration of vaccines and advice after undertaking appropriate risk assessment.
Administer prescribed therapies such as contraceptive injections, vitamin B12, and depo neuroleptic medications recognising side effects and contraindications.
Develop and follow referral pathways for patients with specialist needs.
Long term conditions
Assist nurse-run long term condition clinics:
blood sugar monitoring
assessment of feet with appropriate risk stratification
spirometry
pulse oximetry
Peak Expiratory Flow rate
teaching inhaler technique
assessment of breathlessness.
Recognise signs and symptoms that may indicate undiagnosed long term conditions e.g. poor wound healing, winter cough in smokers and also factors that may indicate mental health problems and use relevant referral pathways.
Quality assurance/service support
Participate in quality improvement and innovations e.g. audit, significant event analysis.
Contribute to development of protocols and new services that aim to reduce unwarranted variation as outlined in the framework for nursing, Leading Change, Adding Value (May 2016)
Attend in-house meetings and contribute to development of the nursing service and where appropriate wider practice systems.
Participate in ongoing supervision and mentorship of unregistered health care staff, nursing students and junior nurses including mentorship for preceptor programmes and contributing to revalidation needs of nurse colleagues.
Attend in-house and external training events and contribute to continuing education of unregistered health care staff by identifying learning opportunities.
Personal/professional development
Complete statutory training/updating and mandatory training as defined by the practice.
Complete skills specific training and regular updating
Participate in an annual individual performance review maintaining a record of own personal and professional development including the requirements for revalidation with the NMC
Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance. Identify gaps in knowledge and skills and how further learning can enhance delivery of nursing service.
Health and safety
Identify and address risks in work activities working with practice nurse manager and practice manager.
Follow appropriate infection control procedures.
Maintain work areas in a tidy and safe manner
Communicate effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet peoples needs.