Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

RESPONSIBLE TO: The Partners (clinically)

Practice Manager (administratively)

REPORTING TO: Nurse Manager

HOURS OF WORK: Up to 37.5 hours per week

SALARY: Depending on experience and qualifications

Job summary

To provide an maintain a high standard of nursing care for patients as well as providing nursing assistance to the doctors and other members of the primary healthcare team. The duties will include all tasks normally undertaken by an experienced RGN and, in addition, any roles agreed between the nurse and the doctors, as appropriate, having regard to current training.

As a Practice Nurse you should take all necessary measures to maintain your continuous professional development and ensure that:

• You are fully trained and current to fulfill your professional responsibilities
• NMC post-registration education and practice (PREP) requirements are met, to include, attendance at study days, courses and regular updates.

Job Responsibilities

You will be responsible for organising and supervising all basic nursing procedures conducted in the treatment room. Clinical tasks including procedures such as:

• Wound care / ulcer care
• Routine Immunisations / Injections
• New patient checks
• Venepuncture
• Blood pressure measurements
• Removal of sutures
• Ear syringing
• ECGs
• Assisting with minor operations
• Cervical cytology

In addition to the above carry out the following within your scope of professional competency:

• HRT checks
• Emergency contraception
• Family planning provides appropriate advice on contraceptive methods available and benefits associated with these methods.
• Pregnancy testing
• Chaperoning and assisting patients, where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician.
• Travel advice to patients prior to travel including vaccinations and medicines, safe sex, food hygiene and sun protection.
• Chronic Disease Management, ideally Diabetes.

Other tasks including:

• Responsibility for entering details of all patient consultations onto the clinical system.
• Maintain Nurses rooms, stocking and rotating items as required.
• Undertake housekeeping duties including general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms.
• Ordering vaccinations to maintain stock levels.
• Ordering disposable instruments and stock to maintain stock levels.
• Maintaining and cleaning equipment used by nurses / GPs.
• Participation in administrative systems in the Practice.
• Awareness of identification and reporting procedures related to professional standards
• Attendance at Staff meetings
• Ensure effective communication and relationship with other agencies
• Support the clinical governance agenda
• Participate in continuing education and maintain a contemporary level of professional knowledge
• Participate in clinical supervision.
• Participate in the management of the Nursing Team
• To be infection control lead within the practice, monitoring and assessing infection control procedures and completing an annual audit throughout the practice and reporting back to the Operations Manager (Patient Services) and clinical team

Requirements of the Post

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use own judgment, resourcefulness and common sense
• A commitment to maintain a high professional standard of nursing care and to keep up to date with all aspects of nursing care relevant to the post.
• A commitment to ensure all Health & Safety requirements and Infection Control measures are met and to report any problems to the Surgery Manager.
• A commitment to the effective use of Practice and NHS resources.
• An awareness of own limitations and experience.
• To work only in accordance with the UKCC Code of Conduct and within the scope of Professional Practice.
• To have a written professional development plan and to maintain an up to date portfolio which meets the requirements of registration
• Membership of the NMC
• Participate in regular audit of various aspects of the nursing service provided and the implementation of any changes necessary to effect improvement.

Confidentiality:

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health & Safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Reporting potential risks identified

Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

• Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE in English and Mathematics (Grade C or above)
• Nursing degree
• Practice Nurse Diploma or experienced Practice Nurse
• Current NMC registration

Desirable

• Chronic Disease Management Diploma(s) - Diabetes

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable commitment to professional development
• Experience of working in accordance with the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct and The Scope of Professional Practice
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communication with a diverse range of people

Desirable

• Experience of SystmOne Clinical System

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of the Practice Nurse role
• Awareness of accountability within role
• Knowledge of Health Promotion strategies
• Knowledge of Infection control
• Competent in clinical skills cervical cytology, immunisation and vaccinations, ear care, minor surgery
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to self-motivate, organise and prioritise own workload
• Ability to support patients to change lifestyle
• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patient and families
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Good time-management skills
• Able to work as part of team

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

Roundwell Medical Centre

Address

Dr Torrens Way

New Costessey

Norwich

NR5 0GB

Employer's website

https://www.roundwellmedicalcentre.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)