Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE
The Practice Nurse will work in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct with support from the Senior Practice Nursing Team and GPs to deliver practice nursing services both independently and in participation with the Clinical Team
The nurse will work to deliver high quality patient care by assessment, treatment, screening, health education services and advice to patients
The nurse will work under local and practice policies to ensure patients health needs are met and providing support to healthcare assistants and student nurses as required
CLINICAL
All clinical tasks and duties will be performed after completion of accredited courses and deemed competent.
Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition (s) Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Respiratory Conditions
Work with other health care professionals to monitor, manage and treat long-term conditions
Review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence based practice and national and Practice policies/guidance
Work with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments
Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care. To be competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation and attend regular update sessions
Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote them to live healthily, and apply principles of self-care
Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and well- being of patients attending the practice
Support and manage health needs of women presenting for contraception and cervical cytology consultations
Following CASH course to assess, evaluate and provide a full contraceptive service for the individual patient needs
Advise on breast self-awareness and provide supporting literature where required
Give basic knowledge on peri & post-menopausal symptoms and make appropriate referral
Advise on the increased peri and post-menopausal risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.
Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children. Understand the medico-legal principles of informed consent
Advise, support and, where appropriate, administer vaccinations and advise on Malaria tablets for patients travelling abroad and ensure safe storage, vaccine stability, rotation and disposal of vaccines
Meet the needs of patients presenting for opportunistic wound care
Undertake opportunistic screening
Offer smoking cessation advice individually in opportunistic consultations
Supports infection control measures within the Practice, and educate colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures
To be able to give basic advice and appropriate referral on issues covering, testicular cancer, family planning and sexual health for men
Support the Nurse Manager with the development and implementation of new initiatives, national guidance, policies, protocols and procedures
To undertake Home Visits as required by the Practice
To be competent in areas of prescribing for Long Term Conditions (Senior)
To maintain competency in the insertion and removal of the Contraceptive Implant following National Guidance (Senior)
Nurse Prescriber (Senior)
To work within own competences and professional code of conduct as regulated by NMC
To be safe and accountable in the areas of prescribing following local and national guidance
Aware of Medicine Management and any changes in local and national formularies
To undertake annual Prescribing Scope of Practice as part of their Appraisal (Senior)
Management (Senior)
Working with the Nurse Manager to develop and implement new initiatives, national guidance, policies, protocols
When the Nurse Manager/Lead Nurse is unavailable to undertake the day to day running of the Nursing Team
To support and help develop junior members of the Nursing Team
Lead Nurse for a Long-Term Condition: education for staff, developing new initiatives to improve the service for the practice and patients, auditing the service
Audits
COMMUNICATION
Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
Ensure all patients and relatives are treated with respect and dignity at all times
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
Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues
Comply with practice requirements for recording information into patients records.
Communicate effectively with other members of the MDT
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 with legislation, policies and procedures
Prioritise, organise and manage own and workload in a manner than maintains and promotes quality
Deliver care as an individual and team according to local and national guidelines and evidence-based care
Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of work of self, implementing improvements where required
Support and participate in shared learning across the Practice and wider organisation
Report and discuss Significant events with the Clinical Team
Attend Clinical and Nurse Meetings to discuss and review practice systems/policies and new initiatives
Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance
Work within policies regarding family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour, and refer as appropriate
TEAM WORK
Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working
Recognise & understand the roles of individuals working within the team & how these interfaces with your own
Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care deliver
Participate in and support local projects as agreed with the Practice Management Team
MANAGING INFORMATION
Review and process data using accurate read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval and monitoring and audit process.
Ensure clinical information is documented using practice templates.
Awareness of data entry a checking of appropriate codes to achieve targets
Follow Information Governance Guidance
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
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 recognizes 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
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
The Nurse will assess learning needs with their Line Manager
The Nurse must complete all mandatory training within agreed time scale.
To be part of clinical supervision on a regular basis.
To participate in Safeguarding meetings
To attend training and development courses according to practice requirements and availability of mentorship support and funding available.
To participate in training at in-house TARGET sessions to the nurse team.
To keep up to date with local and national developments.
To participate in the development of practice policies and guidelines.
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:
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
GENERAL
This job description is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder. The specific objectives of the post holder will be subject to review as part of the individual performance review process
The nurse must be a car owner with a current UK driving license. (unless agreed by the Senior Partners) Insurance must cover business use and documents (driving license, MOT, Insurance and Tax) must be available on request from line manager.