Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION PROVIDED AS ATTACHMENT

In accordance with the NMC / UKCC Code of Conduct and Practice agreed protocols and guidelines, the post-holder will:

· Work as part of the primary healthcare team to provide assessment, treatment, screening, health education services and advice/education to patients.

· Have the required level of training and competence and will work within patient group directions where these are available.

Main responsibilities

1. Management of Chronic Disease

The post-holder will work as part of the primary healthcare team with respect to chronic disease management, including identifying significant abnormalities, and diagnosis, monitoring and development of individual management plans; agreeing these as appropriate with the patient and other health professionals.

With regards to particular chronic diseases:

a) Diabetes

The post-holder will:

· Assist in the management of patients with newly diagnosed diabetes following practice guidelines, protocols and policies.

· Support and provide education for patients in the management of their diabetes (type I and type II).

· Undertake opportunistic screening for the diagnosis of diabetes.

· Provide emergency treatment for hypo/hyperglycaemic emergencies.

· Make appropriate referrals (dietician, chiropodist etc).

· Contribute to the maintenance of the practice diabetic register.

b) Respiratory disease management

The post-holder will:

· Contribute to the care of patients with asthma and COPD, including aiding diagnosis, reviewing inhaler technique and advising on treatment changes.

· Advise patients on their asthma control including the use of self-management plans.

· Contribute to the maintenance of the practice respiratory register.

· Make appropriate referrals.

c) Management of coronary heart disease

The post-holder will:

· Develop and maintain practice register for secondary prevention of CHD.

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

· Work with patients to set action plans for changes of lifestyle. Advise patients on lifestyle management and drug compliance for reducing the CHD risk factors.

2. Pathological specimens and investigatory procedures

The post-holder will:

· Following appropriate training, undertake the collection, storage and despatch of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs, smears etc., and ensure the cleanliness of any equipment so used. Perform any investigatory procedures requested by the GPs.

3. Infection Control

The post-holder will:

· Use and encourage others to adopt appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards-reporting of any potential risks identified, including:

· hand washing;

· universal hygiene procedures;

· collection and handling of laboratory specimens;

· segregation and disposal of waste materials;

· decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment;

· reporting and treatment of sharps injuries;

· dealing with blood and body fluid spillages; and

· assisting patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.

· Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain, ensuring safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs including fridge temperature monitoring.

· Ensure clinical waste collection runs smoothly, reporting any problems to the Practice Manager.

· Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

4. Health Screening

The post-holder will:

· Recognise issues and gathering sufficient information to refer (e.g. women’s and men’s health, sexual health, older people).

· Undertake monitoring tasks (e.g. smears) and providing advice as appropriate.

· Undertake routine & opportunistic screening – BP checks, height, weight, BMI, urinalysis, smoking status, blood sugar measurement.

5. Travel Health

The post-holder will offer a holistic approach to travel health including comprehensive advice to travellers prior to travel.

The post-holder will provide specific evidence based practical skills and knowledge in telephone and face to face triage in the following areas:

• Soft tissue and ligament injuries;

• Diabetes;

• Tissue viability;

• Asthma;

• Ear care;

• Minor burns;

• Paediatrics;

• Dermatology;

• Cardiovascular disease;

• Gynaecology.

7. Wound management

The post-holder will:

· Assess routine wounds including trauma, and support good wound management in complex situations.

· Devise an appropriate wound management plan for individuals.

· Perform complex wound care using aseptic technique.

· Carry out suture and clip removal.

· Assist with minor surgical procedures in the absence of another member of the Nursing team.

8. Vaccinations & immunisations

The post-holder will:

· Provide an adult and child immunisation service.

· Administer injections under an individualised prescription or Patient Group Direction.

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

· Assist in the development of practice protocols/patient group directions.

9. Ear care

The post-holder will:

· Provide a safe, evidence based service for patients requiring ear irrigation.

· Advise patients about safe ear care.

10. Emergency management

The post-holder will:

· Maintain competence in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques in line with local guidance.

11. Safeguarding issues: Both Adult and Child

The post-holder will:

· Recognise the signs, symptoms and categories of abuse.

· Understand the importance of recognition, observation, documentation and communication.

· Be aware of practice procedures and protocols.

· Know points of referral.

12. Mental health

The post-holder will:

· Recognise and have awareness of appropriate referral mechanisms for family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviours.

· Recognise psychological needs of patient presenting with depression or suicidal tendency

13. Men’s health

The post-holder will:

· Initiate opportunistic consultations with patients to cover issues of men’s health.

Participate in any screening programme as appropriate, such as but not limited to chlamydia screening

14. Women’s health

The post-holder will:

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

· Undertake cytology sampling and audit a minimum of twenty consecutive smears each year to demonstrate an adequate sampling rate.

· Promote breast self-awareness, demonstrate breast self examination and provide supporting literature.

15. Contraception and sexual health advice

The post-holder will:

· Contribute to the practice’s contraceptive and sexual health services.

· Take samples for microscopy as clinically indicated, in line with practice policy.

16. Risk Assessment

The post-holder will:

· Recognise issues and gather sufficient information to refer (e.g. drugs; domestic violence; child protection; vulnerable adults; senior patients; social problems).

17. Administrative and professional responsibilities

The post-holder will:

· Ensure accurate documentation of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients’ notes on the clinical computer system.

18. Health promotion

The post-holder will:

· Recognise patients’ readiness to change in supporting their attempts to change unhealthy behaviour.

19. Research projects

The post-holder will:

· Co-operate and participate as required and agreed with the post-holder, in any research projects within the Practice.

20. Service Improvement

The post-holder will:

· Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit 

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse Adult,
• Valid in date NMC registration,
• Ambitious to develop as a primary care nurse with an extended range of competencies,
• Exceptional interpersonal skills,
• Exceptional organisational skills,
• Ability to use own initiative,
• Autonomous and team worker,
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills,
• Reflective practitioner,
• Flexible/adaptable,
• Self-motivation and self-direction,
• Treatment room skills including (not exclusive),
• Cervical sampling,
• Adult immunisation,
• Childhood immunisation,
• Consultations skills and promoting behaviour change,
• Diabetic care (including foot checks),
• Subcutaneous administration of hormones,
• Travel Health and Vaccination,
• HRT review,
• Long Term Condition management ranging from provision of structured clinics, supporting self-management through to management of people with complex co-morbidities,
• Spirometry,
• Womens Health and Contraception,
• Health education/promotion and weight management,
• Assessment of CVD risk,
• B12 administration,
• Pulse and blood pressure recording,
• Phlebotomy

Desirable

• Knowledge of SystmOne,
• Pathology results filing,
• Wound management,
• Suture removal,
• Learning disability review,
• ECG.

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).