Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Primary key responsibilities

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:

1. To be instrumental in the support of the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC requirements by providing audits, training, support and evidence of compliance to the practice manager

2. To support in the publication of the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the practice manager

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. Provide wound care (ulcer/Doppler, etc.) to patients

11. To review patient medications to enhance compliance

12. To provide guidance to patients in the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications regarding side effects and dosages

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

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

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

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

17. To ensure SNOMED CT codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing team

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

19. To develop, implement, embed and participate in well woman clinics

20. To develop, implement, embed and participate in well man clinics

21. To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy

22. To assist GPs with minor surgery when required

23. To prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

24. To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

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

26. To implement vaccination programmes for adults and children

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

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

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

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

31. To understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately

32. To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Secondary key responsibilities

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

1. Develop and review audit protocols and process for the practices, effectively utilising the audit cycle

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Coordinate the nursing team rota, ensuring sufficient staff are available to meet patient needs

9. Lead the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients

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

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Polite and confident
• Flexible and co-operative
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations

Desirable

• Motivated, forward thinker
• Effectively utilise resources

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Clinical knowledge in the following:
• a)Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• b)ECGs
• c)Venepuncture
• d)New patient medicals
• e)Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• f)Womens health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• g)Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• h)Travel medicine
• Chronic disease management awareness for:
• a)Diabetes
• b)Hypertension
• c)CHD
• d)Asthma
• e)Spirometry
• Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• Understand the requirement for PGDs 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 procedure
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies

Desirable

• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena

Other requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for nurse revalidation
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) commensurate with the role of a Practice Nurse

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
• Family planning qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures

Desirable

• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Strong IT skills, including clinical IT system user skills
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

• Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
• Experience with clinical risk management

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).