Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

The Practice Nurse, whilst working autonomously without direct supervision, will work closely with nursing colleagues and GPs to provide a high standard of primary care health services to our patients. Particular emphasis is to support, offer clinical advice and where appropriate medications to our Asthma and COPD patient cohorts These services will be delivered in accordance with national and local guidelines and legislation and Arbury Medical Centre policies.

Job Responsibilities:

• Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by GPs
• Assessment of new symptoms, treatment of major illnesses and referral to doctor for management of more serious conditions where appropriate;
• Assessments of injuries, treatment of minor injuries, referral to doctor for management of more severe injuries where appropriate;
• Complete annual reviews on patients with confirmed diagnosis of asthma or COPD
• Undertaking spirometry testing and interpreting results to support diagnosis of suspected respiratory conditions and/or to support the health management of those with confirmed respiratory condition.
• Chronic disease management of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, hypothyroidism, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, epilepsy and other chronic conditions routinely managed by practice nurses
• Supporting the administration of the seasonal flu vaccination programme to our patients and participation where required in any pandemic vaccination programme
• Support COVID vaccination programme should the practice agree to participate
• Cervical Cytology
• Vaginal Pessary (fit and change)
• Wound care / ulcer care / Doppler / Removal of Sutures
• Urinalysis
• Travel Vaccinations
• Routine injections, vaccinations and immunisations including childhood immunisations
• ECG 12 lead
• Ear Irrigation
• Family Planning - depo-provera injections and contraceptive pill reviews
• Assisting GPs with minor surgery and implant/coil fittings in absence of HCA
• Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs
• Recording temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure as required for the management of illness where required;
• Health promotion and health education in respect of smoking cessation, obesity, diet and exercise where required;
• Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician where required;
• Perform basic life support & emergency patient care if/when needed
• Other duties routinely undertaken by practice nurses covering agreed local or national enhanced services.

Other tasks will include

• Routine infection prevention activities
• Recording of fridge temperatures to monitor and maintain cold chain
• Maintaining all stock levels including vaccinations within nurse clinical rooms
• Participation in administrative systems in the Practice
• Make use of all practice templates to record daily healthcare activities to maintain consistent and accurate coding occurs within a patients record which also supports practice/patient achievement targets related to QOF and local/direct enhanced services
• Support and advise other nurses and GPs of potential problems or errors within the range of assigned tasks
• Attend and participate in any Practice meetings when required.
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post
• Reporting/discussing any safeguarding concerns to the practice Safeguarding Lead/Deputy
• Continuing Professional Development
• To maintain and develop professional knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure that practice reflects best practice, remains evidence based, is current and responsive to meet changing patient and NHS service needs.
• Maintain Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration (including revalidation) as a General Nurse (this is the responsibility and cost to the staff member)
• Work within the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct
• Work within professional competence and patient group directives
• Monitor the effectiveness of own clinical practice by participating in quality assurance processes such as audit and significant event recording.

Confidentiality:

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating
• to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

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 recognises 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.

Personal/Professional Development:

• The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
• Completion of mandatory and job role training as directed these training sessions may be e-learning, on site or off site facilities

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

Communication:

• The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

• Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a nursing team and with vulnerable patients.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a GP Practice.

Qualifications

Essential

• RGN qualification, NMC registration up to date.

Desirable

• Degree module in asthma, COPD and/or diabetes, cervical screening, child immunisation training up to date.

Quality Care

Essential

• The ability to provide quality care, have good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team are essential to the post.

Desirable

• An awareness of QOF (Quality Outcomes Framework), Emis Web and have basic IT skills is desirable.

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

Arbury Medical Centre

Address

Cambridge Drive

Stockingford

Nuneaton

Warwickshire

CV10 8LW

Employer's website

https://www.arbury.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)