Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Role Overview

As a Practice Nurse at Helmsley Medical Centre and Terrington Surgery, you'll be a key member of our clinical team, delivering comprehensive nursing care to patients across two well-established practice sites. This autonomous role offers variety, professional challenge, and the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients in a supportive rural healthcare setting. You'll work flexibly across both sites (approximately 15 minutes apart), delivering nurse-led clinics, health assessments, and chronic disease management. With the backing of experienced GPs and a dedicated nursing team, you'll have the clinical freedom to make decisions whilst knowing support is always available when needed.

Clinical Responsibilities

Chronic Disease Management

Lead clinics for patients with diabetes, asthma, COPD, and cardiovascular disease

Conduct annual reviews, medication reviews, and lifestyle interventions

Monitor blood pressure, perform ECGs, and conduct spirometry

Develop personalised care plans in partnership with patients

Immunisations and Vaccinations

Deliver childhood immunisation programmes in line with national schedules

Provide seasonal flu vaccination campaigns for at-risk groups

Conduct travel health consultations and administer travel vaccinations

Support COVID-19 and other vaccination programmes as required

Health Screening and Assessments

Perform NHS Health Checks for adults aged 40-74

Conduct new patient health assessments and registration checks

Deliver over-75s health reviews and frailty assessments

Carry out cervical cytology screening and sexual health consultations

Acute and Minor Illness

Assess and manage minor illnesses and injuries

Provide wound care including dressings, suture removal, and wound assessment

Take blood samples and perform point-of-care testing

Triage urgent care requests and signpost appropriately

Professional Development and Governance

Maintain professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Engage in continuing professional development and reflective practice

Contribute to clinical audits, significant event analyses, and quality improvement projects

Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records in accordance with professional standards

Stay current with evidence-based practice and clinical guidelines

Collaboration and Communication

Work collaboratively with GPs, ANPs, and Healthcare Assistants across both practices

Participate in practice meetings, MDT discussions, and clinical case reviews

Communicate effectively with patients, families, and external healthcare providers

Contribute to practice policies, protocols, and service development initiatives

Additional Duties

Adhere to all practice policies including safeguarding, infection control, and health and safety

Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with GDPR and professional standards

Support practice initiatives such as QOF achievement and enhanced service delivery

Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as requested by the practice

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• 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
• Able to use and identify when to use the Chaperone procedure
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies

Desirable

• Clinical knowledge in the following:
• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• New patient medicals
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Women's health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• Travel medicine
• Chronic disease management awareness for:
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• CHD
• Asthma
• Spirometry
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena

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

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 (RN) with current valid NMC registration
• Degree or Diploma in Nursing

Desirable

• Recognised qualification in chronic disease management (diabetes, asthma, COPD)
• Immunisation and vaccination qualification
• Cervical cytology screening certification
• Minor illness assessment qualification
• Clinical supervision or mentorship qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience working as a Practice Nurse or in a primary care setting
• Proven experience in chronic disease management and health promotion
• Experience delivering immunisation and vaccination programmes
• Competent use of clinical IT systems (SystmOne experience highly advantageous)

Desirable

• Experience working in rural or dispersed practice settings
• Experience in clinical supervision, mentoring, or training of colleagues
• Involvement in quality improvement projects or clinical audit
• Understanding of QOF, enhanced services, and primary care frameworks

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).