Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working in accordance with the UKCC Code of Conduct, the post-holder will lead and develop the practice nursing team in the provision of assessment, treatment, screening, health education services and advice to patients.

The post-holder will;

Work with reference to practice agreed protocols and guidelines to provide nursing treatments to patients both independently and in participation with nurse colleagues and general practitioners.

Have the required level of training and competence and will work within patient group directives where these are available. A nurse with prescribing qualifications will use them appropriately.

Attend regular meetings as required by the practice.

First Contact:

• Working independently or alongside the general practitioner and making decisions/recommendations as appropriate.

Clinical Responsibilities:

Identify, assess and diagnose patients with complex health needs across the practice population, in all cases in accordance with practice policy & protocols

• Support the use of technical and specialist nursing treatments for patients with complex healthcare needs
• Be involved in developing programmes to improve health and well-being and meet the specific needs of communities, groups and individuals
• Work with others to change policies to improve health and well-being and reduce inequalities
• Work with colleagues in the implementation and evaluation of evidence-based practice to improve the services offered by the practice nursing team
• Lead the team in quality assurance, development and clinical governance.
• Work with other members of the practice team in the implementation of specific aspects of the NSFs.

Management of Chronic Disease:

• Nurse Led Chronic Disease Management
• Identifying significant abnormalities
• Diagnosis, monitoring and development of individual management plans; agreeing these as appropriate with the patient and other health professionals

Therapeutic Monitoring:

• Checking compliance with and adherence to appropriate treatments using an holistic patient-centred approach
• Recognising abnormalities
• Identifying the impact of treatment and implementing or recommending changes as appropriate.

Ear Care:

• Providing routine ear care

Health Screening:

Recognising issues and gathering sufficient information to refer (e.g. womens and mens health, sexual health, older people)

Undertaking monitoring tasks (e.g. smears) and providing advice as appropriate

Providing in depth monitoring and advice as appropriate and working with the patient in deciding on management plans

Considering the issues in light of the practice population.

Immunisation (Adult and Child):

• Administering appropriate immunisation autonomously
• Working with patients with more complex immunisation issues.
• Working with public health initiatives ensuring the work of the team is up to date.
• Helping the team in achieving the immunisation guidelines and targets.

Risk Assessment:

Recognising issues and gathering sufficient information to refer (eg drugs; domesticviolence; child protection; vulnerable adults; senior patients; social problems)

Travel Health:

• Administering injections and providing guidance in accordance with guidelines
• Identifying problems
• Provision of specialist and evidence based support to the team

• Working with public health initiatives ensuring the work of the team is up to date.

Wound Care and Management:

• Assessing routine wounds including trauma
• Assessing to support good wound management in complex situations

Infection Control

Lead by example in promoting high infection prevention & control (IPC) standards in clinical treatment and throughout the practice to ensure a quality service.

Assist in compilation and implementation of policy, guidance and procedures relating to IPC in the practice

Assist in the collection and contribute to the analysis of surveillance / audit data

To provide specialist advice to staff, patients and the public, in all matters relating to IPC to improve on patient/client care and to develop others.

To communicate as required, with patient/relatives/healthcare workers/outside agencies and give advice/reassurance relating to Infection IPC or the implications of microbiological results.

To maintain updated knowledge and skills in IPC.

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:

In addition to maintaining continued education through attendance at any courses and/or study days necessary to ensure that NMC professional development requirements for revalidation are met, 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.

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.
• Any other duties commensurate with the role to ensure the smooth running of the Practice.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of duties but indicates the main ones attached to the post. It may need reviewing and amending at a future date, following discussions, as the practice develops. Any suggestions by the employee to improve the work situation will also be considered.

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Car driver with clean licence Able to work at the desired times
• Flexible and able to cover for colleague absence through sickness, annual leave or study leave
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Able to work under pressure
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense
• Willingness and enthusiasm to developing nursing skills
• Able to work in a changing environment

Experience

Essential

• Experience of primary care
• Experience and competent in General Treatment Room Duties Experience of working in accordance with the NMC Code of Practice Experience of dealing with the public/patients

Desirable

• Experience of working with a diverse patient group
• Experience in Chronic Disease Management (Diabetes, COPD, Asthma, CKD, Stroke, Hypertension)
• Experience of Systemone Clinical System

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse (diploma or degree level)
• BLS Certification (Completed in the last 12 months)

Desirable

• Qualified in Chronic Disease Management (Diabetes, COPD, Asthma, CKD, Stroke, Hypertension)

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

Spring Hall Group Practice

Address

Spring Hall Group Practice

173c Spring hall lane

Halifax

West Yorkshire

HX1 4JG

Employer's website

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