Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical

• To be responsible for the assessment, planning, development and delivery of nursing care to the practice population. Supported by senior nurses within the practice they will deliver care within the boundaries of their role, focusing on health prevention, monitoring of long term conditions and screening activities.
• To perform a wide range of clinical skills such as but limited to venepuncture, wound care/dressings, removal sutures/clips, therapeutic injections, adult and childhood immunisations, vaccinations, ECGs, spirometry and peak flow readings, Dopplers, blood pressure, and medication reviews.
• To develop and provide health promotion programmes and screening for chronic diseases; offering health education and lifestyle advice in the areas of smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise, and sexual health/contraception to promote health and prevent disease.
• To review patients with chronic diseases and provide monitoring, management, follow up, supporting patients to adopt health promotion strategies that encourage healthy lifestyles and apply principles of self-care and referral in accordance with practice protocol and national guidelines.
• To supervise and support Health Care Assistants working within the Practice sites.
• Act as a mentor to students ensuring that an appropriate learning environment is maintained.
• To respond to emergencies as the situation arises.
• To work independently and autonomously, flexibly and competently, and refer to the GP or other health care professionals, either in primary or secondary care as the need arises.
• Keep up to date with relevant evidence and research related to area of practice.
• Keep up to date with all mandatory training and updates.
• To attend practice meetings as required and to participate in development sessions.
• To undertake any additional duties, as may be required, according to competence and prior training and undertake other work and general duties as deemed necessary by the practice and for on-going personal development.
• Work within own competencies and professional code of conduct as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposals of vaccines and drugs.
• Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and Abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health,

Quality & Clinical Governance

To clearly document all consultations, treatments, tests, and advice in the patients within System1, including onward referrals or tasks to other professionals.

To provide a telephone advice service to patients to give symptomatic advice or urgent GP appointments/or refer to other services. Make appointments where necessary.

To participate in the development of practice protocols and guidelines in accordance with Clinical Governance and CQC.

Partake in clinical audit where appropriate.

Ensure that all equipment used during practice has been maintained and report any faults through the appropriate mechanisms.

Ensure that all rooms are stocked to appropriate levels and order replacement items, as necessary.

Report any untoward/critical incidents and participate in debriefs as required.

To participate in Clinical Supervision and Personal Development Reviews.

Professional Responsibilities

Responsible for own professional practice and accountability according to NMC guidelines and to maintain ensure Revalidation is effective registration.

To acknowledge clinical limitations and not undertake any procedures for which one is not adequately trained and shows competency.

Maintain knowledge and skills by attending educational updates and courses as required in accordance with continuing professional development.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills written and oral;
• Strong IT Skills;
• Clear, polite telephone manner;
• Competent in use of Office and Outlook;
• Systmone user skills;
• Effective time management;
• Facilitate learning of students and act as a learning resource;
• Team worker;
• Ability to work flexibly and autonomously & in stressful situations

Desirable

• Driving Licence/Car owner

Clinical Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Wound care /removal of sutures & staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice.
• Broad knowledge of Clinical Governance
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes.
• Ability to work within scope of practice and understand when to refer to GPs.
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy.
• Requesting pathology tests and processing results, advising patient accordingly.
• Chaperone procedure.

Desirable

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Asthma
• Spirometry
• CHD
• Immunisations (routine; childhood and travel)
• Womens Health (cervical cytology; contraception etc)
• Travel medicine.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Evidence of Post registration qualifications e.g. Family Planning

Desirable

• Post graduate diploma or Degree in Primary Care
• Prescribing Nurse
• Experience of Chronic Disease management
• Working in Primary Care

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).