Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
• Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality
• Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care
• Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation
• Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities
• Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required
• In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate
• Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care
• Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation
• Use a structured framework (eg root-cause analysis) to manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events
• Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery
• Monitor and develop the performance of the GPN team in accordance with local policies
• Approve the performance of the team, providing feedback as appropriate
• Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance

Leadership personal and people development

• Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role mode
• Support staff development in order to maximise potential
• Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice
• Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services
• Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of work
• Enlist support and influence stakeholders and decision-makers in order to bring about new developments in the provision of services
• Lead the GPN team and ensure support structures are in place for the smooth running of the practice
• Take a lead role in planning and implementing changes within the area of care and responsibility
• Work with practice management to ensure sufficient staff of appropriate ability, quality and skill-mix are available to meet current and future service delivery, that selection and recruitment processes are effective and that equality of treatment of the team incorporates quality HR principles and processes
• Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards
• Maintain effective communication with those responsible for the overall commissioning and procurement process
• Maintain active involvement in the planning and processes of practice-based commissioning or similar initiatives
• Market the role of the advanced nurse practitioner in general practice

Team working

• Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time
• Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working
• Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence
• Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need
• Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team
• Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
• Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care
• Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the practice management team
• Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success

Management of risk

• Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
• Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines
• Ensure appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs. Oversee the monitoring, stock control and documentation of controlled drug usage according to legal requirements where appropriate
• Apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines
• Advocate for policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all
• Interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice

Managing information

• Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information
• Review and process data using accurate Read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes
• Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases
• Understand responsibility of self and others to the practice and primary care trust regarding the Freedom and Information Act

Learning and development

• Undertake mentorship for more junior staff, assessing competence against set standards
• Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (eg courses and conferences)
• Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate
• Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

Equality and diversity

• Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
• Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture
• Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights
• Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies
• Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice
• Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care
• Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care

Experience

Essential

• At least 2 years recent primary and community nursing experience
• Nurse-led management of minor illness, minor ailments and injuries
• Nurse-led triage
• Compiling protocols and clinical

Desirable

• Working with community development initiatives
• Health-needs
• assessment

Experience

Essential

• At least 2 years recent primary and community nursing experience
• Nurse-led management of minor illness, minor ailments and injuries
• Nurse-led triage
• Compiling protocols and clinical

Desirable

• Working with community development initiatives
• Health-needs
• assessment

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Self-directed practitioner
• Highly motivated
• Flexibility
• Enthusiasm
• Team player
• Ability to work across boundaries

Desirable

• Good IT Skills and ability to work with EMIS, ICE and Docman

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered first level nurse MSc or equivalent
• Relevant nursing/health degree
• Clinical supervision training and experience
• Extended/independent nurse

Desirable

• Community nursing specialist qualification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• 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).

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).