Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

The nurse will work under the direction of the management team to provide nursing services, including treatment, screening, preventative care, education, and advice in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct.

The nurse will be expected to supervise our Nursing Assistants performing the following duties: -

Venepuncture, urine testing, weight and diet checks, BP checks, ECG recording and any other nursing assistant duties.

The nurse may also have to perform the above nursing assistant duties as part of her nursing role and to provide cover for holidays and sickness.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Supervision and performance of Nursing Assistant and Health Care Assistant duties as explained above.

2. Work within national and local protocols where these exist

3. Injections as prescribed by the GP/AP or under patient group directions following appropriate training. These include childhood immunisations, vitamin b12, travel vaccinations, influenza, pneumonia, and herpes zoster following training.

4. Cervical cytology screening, after appropriate training.

5. Basic treatment room duties to include removal of sutures, dressings, wound care, change of ring pessaries etc.

6. Perform chronic disease management under supervision following appropriate training and support.

7. New Registration Health Checks.

8. CVD Health Checks.

9. Over 75 Health Checks.

10. Review of patients on the practice mental health register, dementia register and learning disability register following appropriate training.

11. Support public health and screening programmes, including immunisations and vaccinations

12. Embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access

13. Ensure maintenance of equipment including emergency equipment and stock levels in participation with the Practice Manager and colleagues.

14. Ensure and maintain cleanliness and safety of working areas.

15. Ensure clinical and hazardous waste generated is disposed of in the correct manner in line with COSHH guidelines.

16. To assist in minor surgical procedures.

17. Ensure accurate recording of consultations/treatments on medical records and practice computer system.

18. Liase with other members of the PHCT and work as integral member of the PHCT. Take part in the PHCT meetings.

19. Develop role in line with QOF, IIF and CQC requirements.

20. Basic family planning reviews following appropriate training.

21. Assist in the training of other staff members including pre-registration student nurses and HCAs.

22. Be up to date with the NMC revalidation process.

23. Interpretation of test results and taking appropriate action, with support from other members of the health care team.

24. Ability to communicate to a high standard both verbally and non-verbally.

25. Be able to work both remotely, utilising digital nursing software, undertake telephone consultations, face to face consultations and home visits following appropriate training.

26. Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children

27. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes

28. Attend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed.

29. Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics)

30. Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times

The nurse may be asked to take on additional duties, following appropriate training and support, as identified later, and within the scope of the role.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
• Has evidence of working at the relevant level of practice as described in the Primary Care and General Practice Nursing Career and Core Capabilities Framework

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Family planning qualification

Experience

Essential

• Broad knowledge of general practice and experience of working as a Practice or Community Nurse
• Experience with chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients

Desirable

• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
• An appreciation of the NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Experience of Practice Nurse skills including wound care, ECG, venepuncture, immunisations, new patient medicals and womans health (cervical cytology, contraception etc.)
• Request pathology tests and process the results, advising patients accordingly
• Understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice
• Ability to promote best practice regarding nursing matters
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understand when to refer to GPs
• Good clinical system IT knowledge and an ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people by telephone, email and face to face
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP surgeries, QOF and enhanced service
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient

Desirable

• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena and knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Knowledge of national standards that inform general practice (NSF NICE guidelines)

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/local policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet

Other requirements/ wider responsibilities

Essential

• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for professional revalidation
• Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality
• Flexibility to work outside core office hours

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).