Practice Nurse (Band 7)

Job responsibilities

Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility Clinical Role

Make professionally autonomous decisions for which he/she is accountable and provide safe, evidence based, cost effective, individualised patient care.

Where necessary evaluate patient test results in conjunction with the patient and their GP and ensure the appropriate course of treatment is initiated

Make appropriate referrals to other members of the primary, community and secondary care teams.

Manage programmes of care for patients with chronic diseases by planning, providing and evaluating care under agreed guidelines and patient group directions. Undertake annual review of patients understanding and ability to self-manage.

Administer adult immunisations and vaccinations in accordance with national and local programmes. Competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques. Ensuring safe storage, rotation and disposals of vaccines and drugs and that adequate stock levels are maintained.

Be able to undertake procedures including: venepuncture, glucose tolerance tests, BP management, urinalysis, peak flow, pregnancy testing, cytology, and wound management.

Provide support and chaperoning to the doctors for minor surgery and other procedures.

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

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

Enables supports and encourage individuals, families and groups to address issues which affect their health and social wellbeing.

Contribute to the practice achieving its GMS contract obligations.

Maintain accurate records according to NMC rules.

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

SPECIFIC TASKS:

Help the practice develop and deliver specialist primary nurse led services including chronic disease management. Initiate the role of diagnosis for patients suspected to have a chronic disease e.g. diabetes, COPD, asthma, CHD, , CKD referring to other clinicians as appropriate.

Respiratory conditions

Manage programmes of care for patients with asthma and COPD by planning, providing, and evaluating care under agreed guidelines. Help maintain disease registers. Undertake annual review of patients understanding and ability to self-manage. General review which includes review of symptoms, level of control, medication concordance, discussion of self-management plan and management of risk as patients symptoms dictate. Lifestyle advice

Undertake regular medication reviews for groups of patients deemed suitable by the clinical team.

Diabetes/Non diabetic hyperglycaemia:

Review newly diagnosed individuals with Non diabetic hyperglycaemia, offer health promotion advice and refer to appropriate education programme. Set up recall system and monitor.

Review newly diagnosed patients, offer health promotion advice, information regarding risks and work closely with GPs within diabetic team when planning Care and treatment.

General review which includes review of symptoms, level of control, medication concordance, discussion of self-management plan and management of risk. Lifestyle advice to include smoking cessation, weight management and blood pressure control.

Ischaemic Heart Disease:

Review of patients with IHD, offer health promotion advice, information regarding risks and work closely with GPs within team when planning Care and treatment.

General review which includes review of symptoms, level of symptom control, medication concordance, discussion of self-management plan and management of risk. Lifestyle advice to include smoking cessation, weight management and blood pressure control.

Hypertension:

Screen opportunistically for hypertension, including assessing risk factors, lifestyle, secondary causes. Undertake blood pressure recordings, blood tests, urinalysis and ECGs as appropriate.

Patients found to be hypertensive will be managed according to practice protocol.

Review patients with hypertension using the Essential Hypertension template and hypertension protocol. Take blood pressure readings, routine blood tests, urinalysis and ECGs as needed. Review to include an update of risk factors, target organ damage, compliance and side effects of medication, and use of patient held records.

Any deterioration in blood pressure control, problems with medication and evidence of target organ damage will be discussed with the doctor either personally or via task

Immunisation and vaccination :

Provide up to date advice on routine national Immunisation schedule to patients and staff. Participate in practice vaccination programmes . Responsible for Home Visiting vaccination programme and Nursing /Residential home vaccination within Practice area.

Cytology: To take cervical cytology samples as per cytology protocol.

Screening: To take high vaginal and endocervical swabs including for Chlamydia

Smoking cessation: Give smoking cessation advice and refer to local service.

Transport

Essential

• Ability to use own roadworthy vehicle and have a legal driving licence for home visiting.

Experience

Essential

• RGN Registration with minimum 4 years experience of working within a primary care nursing team
• Experience in reviewing and managing long term conditions
• To have drive and enthusiasm for continued development within the team to be able to support the delivery of services to provide the best care for our practice population and maintain the highest standards of care .

Desirable

• Any experience with long term conditions management such as COPD, paediatric asthma , Diabetes , CKD, CHD

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nursing qualification with valid registration with NMC
• Experience in reviewing and managing Long Term Conditions - a desire and willingness to do additional training in long term conditions dependant on current experience
• Immunisation and Vaccination trained

Desirable

• Experience in managing COPD, asthma and paediatric asthma ,Diabetes, CHD, CKD
• ARTP registered Spirometry in performance and interpretation
• Other long term conditions qualifications
• Contraception qualification
• Non Medical Prescriber
• Cervical Cytology

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Excellent Communication skills, effective time management , ability to work autonomously and as a team member
• Pro active and motivated , endeavour all types of challenges

Desirable

• Longer term - an interest in developing within the managerial side of leading the nursing service , supporting and development within the team .
• Familiar with using System One
• Familiar with using Ardens Templates

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).