Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Helston Medical Centre & Porthleven Surgery are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Practice Nurseto join our multidisciplinary team in delivering high-quality primary healthcare services. The Practice Nurse will be responsible for providing nursing care, health education, and chronic disease management using evidence-based practice to a diverse patient population registered within the general practice, this may include housebound patients.

Helston Medical Centre & Porthleven Surgery must ensure that the post holder has access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the organisation to provide general advice and support on a day-to-day basis

The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

a. Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical records using practice systems (SystmOne).

b. Assist with clinical audits, Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), and local incentive schemes

c. To Support the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC Policy supporting the implementation of audits, training, support and evidence of compliance to the practice manager

d. To support the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the practice manager

e. To develop, implement and embed an effective care management programme for the frail and housebound patients registered at the practice

f. To assess the needs of patients ensuring the provision of healthcare is appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice

g. To develop, implement and embed health promotion and wellbeing programmes

h. To implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease patients that promote health and wellbeing

i. To identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects to patients health

j. As required, to provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

k. As required, to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions

l. To prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice

m. To co-ordinate the provision of travel medicine services

n. To request pathology services and process pathology results as required

o. To oversee the provision of chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as necessary, referring patients to secondary/specialist care as required

p. To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation

q. To ensure read codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing team

r. To ensure the appropriate maintenance and use of chronic disease registers

s. To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy

t. To assist GPs with minor surgery when required

u. To prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

v. To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

w. To recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

x. To implement vaccination programmes for adults and children

y. To support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the-counter medicines (within own scope of practice)

z. To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

aa. To delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)

bb. To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

cc. To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

dd. To delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)

ee. To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Practice Nurse may be requested to:

a. Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the partners

b. Support all members of the nursing team, providing guidance when necessary, annual appraisals and training needs analyses as required

c. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

d. Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to improve patient care

e. Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate

f. Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)

g. Be part of the nursing team assisting with the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients

h. Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation

Experience

Essential

• Experience working in primary care
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of infection control

Desirable

• Experience of chronic disease management
• Experience of working as a practice nurse of community nurse
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• Experience of quality initiatives ie benchmarking

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (NMC)

Desirable

• Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication
• Effective time management
• Good interpersonal skills
• problem solving
• Polite and confident
• Flexible
• high levels of integrity

Desirable

• Strong IT
• Clear polite telephone manner

Clinical Knowledge

Essential

• Wound care, removal of sutures and staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• Requesting pathology tests and processing the results advising patients accordingly
• understanding the importance of evidence based practice
• Understanding requirements of PDGs and associated policy
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• Chaperone procedures
• Woman's Health ie cervical cytology,
• Immunisations - routine, children

Desirable

• Travel vaccines
• Spirometry
• Knowledge of public health issues in local area
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies

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).