Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

Responsible for providing nursing services to the patients of the practice including treatment, screening and advice and vaccinations in order to meet the health care needs of the practice population.

Working in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct, the post holder will provide assessment, treatment, screening, health education services and advice to patients.

The post holder is responsible for ensuring the delivery of the highest standards of safe and effective nursing care to the whole practice population.

Clinically, the focus of the role is the delivery of evidence-based practice for patients as required by the Gps, including venepuncture, wound assessment and dressings, ear syringing, ECGs, cervical screening and Vaccinations.

They will manage the provision of child immunisations to agreed protocols.

They will work collaboratively with the whole practice team to meet the needs of patients, with reference to practice agreed protocols and guidelines, providing nursing treatments to patients both independently and in participation with nurse colleagues and GPs.

To provide general and specific health screening, including cervical cytology and new patient checks, to agreed protocols with referral to Gp if necessary.

To advise patients on travel healthcare, to plan and give holiday immunisations schedules and provide other prophylactic injection programmes as required.

To undertake health education using all available resources and to organise health education where needed

To ensure adequate Treatment Room supplies are held, and that all equipment in this area is clean and well maintained.

To organise and maintain appropriate registers and accurate records.

To maintain professional development by attending courses and study days as agreed with GPs/Management team

To carry out community work as required by the GPs.

To participate in clinical audit activities.

To participate in the education and training of other Practice Nurses or other disciplines within the Practice.

To be fully aware of personal responsibilities regarding Health & Safety in the Practice

General Duties

Maintain the highest standards of infection control at all times, maintaining own work areas in a tidy, clean, safe and free from hazards. Initiation of remedial/corrective action where needed or escalation to the management team.

Provide comprehensive travel health advice for patients prior to travel including malaria prophylaxis, safe sex, sun protection, food hygiene, first aid and emergency medication, health insurance and vaccinations

Administer child and adult immunisations and vaccinations in accordance with national and local programmes. Be competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques. Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposals of vaccines and drugs and that adequate stock levels are maintained including the ordering of vaccinations.

Undertake procedures including: venepuncture, BP management, urinalysis, pregnancy testing, ECGs, cervical cytology, wound management, Dopplers, removal of sutures, ear care and syringing.

Provide support and chaperoning to the doctors for minor surgery and other procedures such as coil fittings

Promote health and wellbeing, giving general education advice on diet, contraception, smoking, chronic disease management, exercise etc.

Travel advice and vaccinations.

Initiate and carry out programmes of health screening as agreed with the practice clinical team

Advise, support and encourage individuals, families and groups to address issues which affect their health and social wellbeing

Demonstrate awareness of safeguarding issues and promoting the protection of vulnerable adults and children

Carry out spillage control and decontamination procedures

Contribute to the practice achieving its PMS contract and QOF obligations

Safe management of sharps procedures including use, storage and disposal

Ensure all data protection requirements are met when gathering, recording and storing patient data

Liaise and maintain good working relationships with all members of the practice team. Work within the multi-disciplinary team within the practice and across the wider health system

Work within the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct

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 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.

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.

Participate in clinical audit

Communication and Liaison:

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

Communicate effectively with other team members

Communicate effectively with patients and carers

Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

As well as the nursing team, there is a need to work closely with reception and office staff to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant person and ensuring everyone is aware of the different roles within the nursing team.

Working Conditions and Risks

Exposure to body fluids, blood, wounds etc.

Occasional exposure to aggressive behaviours

Occasional requirement to undertake home visits

Terms and Conditions

Pension Arrangements: You will be auto enrolled into the NHS Pensions Scheme subject to terms and conditions of the scheme.

Health Assessment: This post is subject to a satisfactory pre-employment health assessment

Criminal Records: The successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure check (Paid for by the Practice). Due to the nature of the work, this post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of offenders Act 1974. Applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are spent and failure to do so could result in disciplinary action or dismissal

NMC: The post is subject to the successful candidate holding and maintaining a current, full NMC registration

Data Protection: All members of staff are bound by the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and any breaches of the Act of the confidential nature of the work of this post could lead to dismissal

General: The post holder must comply at all times with the Practice Health and Safety Policies and report any incidents to the Management Team.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Basic life support skills
• Clinical practice nursing skills
• Working in a primary care environment
• Effective communication skills

Desirable

• Up to date training in childhood immunisations
• Health promotion
• Family planning
• Working with clinical system (SystmOne)

Qualifications

Essential

• Adult Nursing Qualification degree/diploma
• Minimum 2 years post registration
• Current NMC registration

Desirable

• Cervical cytology qualification
• Post-registration study in topics allied to general practice

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

Combe Coastal Practice

Address

The Medical Centre

St Brannocks Road

Ilfracombe

Devon

EX34 8EG

Employer's website

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