Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities:

Assist and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed.

Such tasks may include (list not exclusive):

• Management of patients with chronic disease including diabetes, vascular and respiratory disease

• Administration of childhood and adult vaccinations

• Running well person clinics and health promotions programmes, facilitating change by providing assessment and lifestyle advice on diet, smoking, alcohol intake and exercise

• Interest in long term condition management

• Contribute to Quality and Outcomes Framework and other quality indicators as appropriate

• Perform holistic assessment of patients and attending for cervical cytology smear tests

• Perform venepuncture according to local guidelines

• Provide holistic approach to wound management and implement would care in line with current evidence based guidelines including the use of Doppler and leg ulcer management

• Assessing problems presented opportunistically by patients, dealing with minor illness

• Assist patients to identify their health needs, incorporating the use of care plans

• Removal of Sutures
• New Patient Medicals/Urinalysis
• Travel Clinic
• ECGs
• Asthma/Peak Flow Readings/Spirometry
• Venepuncture
• Hypertension Management
• Ear syringing

• Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs

• Interest in Diabetes or Coronary Heart Disease and Contraception.

• Offer a holistic approach to travel health by providing comprehensive advice to patients prior to travel

• Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate
• Maintaining and cleaning equipment used by the nurses and GPs
• Chaperoning and assisting patients who are being examined by another clinician.
• Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms
• Ordering of vaccinations to maintain stock levels
• Participation in administrative systems in the Practice
• At all times there will be a need to maintain accurate records
• A duty to advise senior nurses of potential problems or errors within a range of assigned tasks
• Attend and participate in any Practice meetings when required.
• On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visits

Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post

Special Requirements of the Post:

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Ability to use own judgment, resourcefulness and common sense
• A commitment to maintain a high professional standard of nursing care and keep up to date with all aspects of nursing care relevant to the post
• A commitment to ensure all Health and Safety requirements and Infection Control measures are met and to report any problems to the practice manager
• A commitment to the effective use of practice and NHS resources
• An awareness of own limitations and experience
• To work only in accordance with the UKCC Code of Conduct and within the scope of professional practice
• To have a written professional development plan and to maintain an up to date portfolio which meets the requirements of registration with the UKCC
• Cooperate with annual appraisal meetings

For a full list of responsibilities please see the attached job description

Qualifications

Essential

• RGN/RN

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 2 years post-registration experience
• Clinical supervision training and experience
• Knowledge of needs of patients with long term conditions
• Knowledge of chronic disease management
• Aware of accountability of own role and other roles in a nurse led service
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Awareness of clinical governance issues in primary care
• Knowledge of patient group directives and associated policies
• Evidence of appropriate continuing professional development
• Proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of own practice

Desirable

• Ability to identify determinants on health in the local area
• Chronic disease diplomas in Asthma, COPD, Hypertension, Diabetes or vascular management
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of local national health policy
• Awareness of issues in the wider health economy
• Knowledge or experience in Audit participation and CQC Compliance
• Mentor/teaching qualification

Skills

Essential

• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families
• Change management skills and ability to support patients to change lifestyle
• Negotiation and conflict
• IT Skills
• Uses own initiative
• Independent and team work
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Ability to collect, analyse and interpret data and to use that information to promote good patient care

Desirable

• Clinical Skills cervical cytology, immunisation and vaccination, ear care, minor surgery, travel health, BLS, Spirometry, childhood immunisations
• Experience of using Emis Web, Docman, ICE, INR Star, IQCQC toolkit, Intradoc.

Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• An understanding , acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload
• Evidence and ability to grasp new concepts and work on a self-directed basis
• Able to work under pressure in a changing environment
• Ability to self-direct/motivate, organise and prioritise own workload
• Empathy for the health care / public service environment
• Enthusiastic, adaptable, innovative, forward looking
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Strategic thinking with vision
• Personable, hardworking, reliable and resourceful
• Get on well with people at all levels

Other

Essential

• Flexible to work at desired times including late evenings, weekends and bank holidays to cover a 7- day operation.
• IT skills
• Car Driver

Desirable

• Clean Licence

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).