Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

Assess, plan, provide and evaluate nursing care to meet the care needs of individuals and groups in the practice population

Assess and treat specific diseases in accordance with agreed medical/nursing protocols

Provide direct access to specialist nursing care for undifferentiated patients within the practice population

Undertake diagnostic, health screening, health surveillance and therapeutic interventions within a broader health promotion/public health strategy

Participate in developing programmes to improve health and well-being and meet the specific needs of communities, groups and individuals

Participate in quality assurance, development and clinical governance

Ensure continuation of personal professional development

Use nursing skills appropriately and effectively to deliver best patient care

Nursing Duties and Responsibilities will include:

Management of chronic disease

Identifying significant abnormalities

Monitoring and development of individual management plans; agreeing these as appropriate with the patient and other health professionals

If required, home visits for QOF / Chronic Illness Reviews / Vaccinations

Therapeutic monitoring

Checking compliance with and adherence to appropriate treatments using an holistic patient-centred approach

Recognising abnormalities

Identifying the impact of treatment and implementing or recommending changes as appropriate.

Wound Care and management

Assessing routine wounds including trauma

Assessing to support good wound management in complex situations (e.g. use of Doppler technique)

Patient health checks

Identifying significant abnormalities

Obtaining appropriate information using a lifestyle questioning approach and identifying appropriate health promotion issues

Working with patients to develop a management plan where health problems or potential health problems are identified

Risk assessment

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

Health screening

Recognising issues and gathering sufficient information to refer (e.g. womens and mens health, sexual health, older people)

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

Providing in depth monitoring and advice as appropriate to the level of the post-holders specialty and working with the patient in deciding on management plans.

Travel health

Administering injections and providing guidance in accordance with PGD guidelines

Identifying problems

Immunisation (adult and child)

Administering appropriate immunisation autonomously

Working with patients with more complex immunisation issues.

Administer injections under an individualised prescription or Patient Group

Direction.

Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs

First contact

Working independently or alongside the general practitioner and making decisions/ recommendations as appropriate.

Minor operations

Assisting the general practitioner and/or undertaking some simple procedures

Ear care

Providing routine ear care

Dealing with more complex problems and referring to a Doctor if prescribing is appropriate.

Mental health

Communicating with key workers

Administering appropriate prescribed therapies and monitoring for side effects.

Emergency Management

Ensure competency in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques by maintaining and updating CPD.

Infection control

Support patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines - This includes:

Universal hygiene precautions

The collection and handling of laboratory specimens

Segregation and disposal of waste materials

Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries

Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages

General responsibilities will include:

Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by GPs

Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by GPs

Cytology

Cryotherapy

Wound care / ulcer care

Removal of Sutures

New Patient Medicals if deemed appropriate/Urinalysis

Travel Advice

ECGs

Asthma

Diabetic reviews

Venepuncture

Hypertension Management

Ear Irrigation

Smoking cessation

Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician

Assisting GPs with minor surgery / Insertion and removal of contraceptive devices

Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs

Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to GPs as appropriate

Maintaining and cleaning equipment used by the nurses and GPs

Maintaining Nurses and GPs rooms, stocking and rotating items as required

Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms

Ordering of Health Promotion Literature

Ordering of stock

Ordering of vaccinations to maintain stock levels and participate in data return audits

Participation in administrative systems in the practice

Maintain accurate records at all times

Attend and participate in any practice meetings when required.

On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visits i.e. flu vaccinations

Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post

Administration of the Clinical Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)

Assist in accurate recording of data input to support the QOF.

Liaise with Practice Business Manager to ensure maximum benefit is gained from the Quality and Outcomes Framework in support of patient care

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Grades x5 A to C
• A national nursing qualification

Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Able to demonstrate enthusiasm to developing skills
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Pleasant and articulate
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work in a changing environment
• Able to use own initiative
• Clean, tidy appearance

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Competency in basic nursing
• Excellent communication skills, written and spoken
• Basic IT Literacy

Experience

Essential

• Hospital or General Practice Experience
• Experience of dealing with patients and and relatives and general public

Desirable

• SystmOne and T Quest

Other

Essential

• Flexibility of working hours/ able to work at the desired times
• Car driver/clean licence

Desirable

• Experience of 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).