Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
The Practice Nurse will undertake a range of nursing
assessments and care interventions in order to meet the nursing needs of the
practice population; this will be done in collaboration with other members of
the practice team and with other partner organisations as appropriate. Care
provided will remain evidence based in line with practice, local and national
guidelines, policies and procedures as appropriate.
The Practice nurse will strive to secure the best possible
outcomes for the patients under their care, whilst at the same time having due
regard for the financial, ethical and organisational impacts of their activity.
Clinical Practice
Working collaboratively with the wider practice team, help
to assess, deliver and evaluate nursing care in a holistic manner to the
practice population, including
Management of chronic disease from diagnosis,
monitoring and development of individual care plans, agreeing where appropriate
with the patient and other health care professionals.
Provide information and advice on prescribed or
over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and
interactions.
Obtaining appropriate information using a
lifestyle questioning approach and identifying health promotional issues.
Working with patients to develop a management
plan where potential/actual health problems are identified.
Undertake the collection of pathological
specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs etc.
Assessing and managing routine wounds including
trauma.
Support and advise women requesting information
relating to family planning needs.
Support and manage health needs of women
presenting for cervical cytology consultations.
Implement and participate in vaccination and
immunisation programmes for both adults and children.
Removing and inserting pessaries
Undertake and interpret spirometry to enable the
diagnosis and monitoring of Asthma/COPD .
Advice, support and where appropriate,
administer vaccinations for patients travelling abroad.
Provision of ear care as appropriate, including
syringing.
Assisting in providing minor-surgery sessions
when required.
To carry out appropriate domiciliary visits to
patients as directed by the Partners.
Communication and confidentiality
Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication
styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treat.
Communicate effectively with patients and
carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication.
Communicate effectively with colleagues; both
within the practice and within the wider health and social care environment.
Recognise that information obtained and accessed
through the role of Practice Nurse will often be confidential in nature and
that the trust of patients and the wider community in the practice and the
nursing profession may be seriously damaged through breach of this trust.
Maintain patient confidentiality; whilst at the
same time recognising the situations where confidentiality may lawfully be
disregarded.
Hold information about the management and
working of the practice as confidential, unless specifically authorised to
disclose such information. This does not affect your rights and obligations
under English Law.
Administration
Ensure accurate and timely notes of all
consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes accurately.
Attend and participate in practice and clinical
meetings. The only reason for not attending will be annual/study or sick leave.
Assisting in stocking, cleaning, auditing and
preparation of clinical areas as may be required.
Training and Development
Actively participate in the annual appraisal
process, through which training and development needs may be identified in line
with the requirements of the practice.
Remain up to date with developments within their
scope of professional practice; taking into account changes in practice, local
and national guidelines as appropriate.
Attendance at courses and study days as agreed
as appropriate.
Maintain compliance with all elements of
statutory and mandatory training as notified from time to time.
Undertake the supervision, training, assessment
and support of unregistered colleagues and / or students as may be required
from time to time, within the scope of ones own competence.
Professional practice
The Practice Nurse shall at all times
Recognise and work within their own competence
and professional code of conduct as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery
Council (NMC).
Priorities, organise and manage own workload in
a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
Engage in and operate the child and adult
protection policies and procedures of the practice and local authority as
appropriate to their role; ensuring that safeguarding is prioritised, including
the escalation of concerns in a timely manner.
Comply with the policies and procedures of the
practice; with particular regard to domestic violence, vulnerable adults,
substance abuse and addictive behaviour and refer as appropriate.
Health and Safety
Comply with all policies procedures and
instructions relating to Health and Safety in the Workplace.
Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they
are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security
legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
Maintain an awareness of national standards of
infection control and cleanliness and Regulatory / contractual / professional
requirements and good practice guidelines.
Ensure safe management of sharps storage and
disposal.
Recognise that there may be times where lone
working is required; when this occurs to follow the policy and procedures
relating to lone working as provided by the practice.
Medicines management
Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of
vaccines and drugs is undertaken. Where appropriate, oversee the monitoring and
stock control.
Unless authorised as an independent /
supplemental prescriber, to only administer medications that have been
authorised under either a PSD or PGD.
Equality and diversity
Act 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 legist ration.
Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and
beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
Behave in a manner that is welcoming others, is
non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and
rights.
Research and audit
As a Research Practice, the Practice Nurse is to
be involved in Research to provide better quality of care for Patients.
Undertake audit s from time to time in order to
evidence the safety of services provided and / or provide evidence to drive
service improvement.
Engage fully in service development and / or
improvement activities as may be required form time to time.
Other duties
To undertake any other duties as may from time to time be
required, which are commensurate with the role described above.
