Experienced Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse. The Practice Nurse provides skilled nursing care to the patients of the practice, including screening, assessment and treatment within the guidance of practice protocols. Also they evaluate the outcome of nursing care given within the practice. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

a.Support the Lead Nurse in the delivery of practice nursing services making patients the priority, as required:

• Wound care
• Injections
• Venepuncture
• Suture/ clip removal
• Immunisations- childhood, Adult
• travel and travel advice
• Cervical smears
• Contraception and Sexual health
• To assist with minor surgery

b.Support the Lead Nurse as the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) to work within the guidelines of the IPC Policy providing audits, training, reporting, support and evidence of compliance correcting hazards and risks liaising with and reporting to the Deputy Practice manager

c.To provide lifestyle advice on healthy eating, alcohol reduction, exercise and smoking cessation for coronary heart disease prevention in accordance with agreed practice protocols

d.Ensure the resources which includes ordering and maintenance of equipment and instruments, as correct storage of vaccinations (maintaining cold chain), drugs and all clinical stock used in the practice. To support and produce the IPC annual audit in conjunction with the Lead Nurse

e.Follow practice guidelines to implement and embed an effective care management programme for the frail and housebound patients registered at the practice

f.To assess the needs of patients ensuring the provision of healthcare is appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice, working part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver safe and high quality care

g.To implement and embed health programmes and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease patients that promote health and wellbeing

h.To identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects to patients health e.g. care treatment and referrals as appropriate

i.As required, to provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the BTS

j.As required, to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions

k.To review patient medications to enhance compliance

l.To co-ordinate the provision of travel medicine services, as required

m.To request pathology services and process pathology results, as required

n.To oversee the provision of chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as necessary, referring patients to secondary/specialist care, as required

o.Act as a mentor for the junior staff and HCAs, assessing competences against set standards, as required

p.To maintain accurate clinical records to ensure read codes and templates are used effectively

q.To ensure the appropriate maintenance and use of chronic disease registers, supporting the team and GP practitioners to promote health improvements and prevention.

r.To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy

s.Maintain up to date skills and knowledge, awareness of professional issues at an advanced level and maintaining a Personal Development Plan

t.To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

u.Support health screening programmes and of health priorities and screening objectives and programmes.

v.To recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

w.Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA), Significant Event and Complaint reports

x.To initiate vaccination programmes for adults and children

y.Support the nursing and practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring compliance to legislation changes and updates

z.To support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the-counter medicines (within own scope of practice/knowledge)

aa.To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

bb.To maintain clinical responsibilities appropriately ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual, i.e. minor surgery, travel / Flu clinics etc.

cc.To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

dd.To understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately

ee.Support the Lead Nurse to meet patient needs in conjunction with administrative duties i.e. stock checks and ordering, PNL, Breast screening, etc.

ff.To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
• 5+ years in general practice

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
• Nurse prescriber
• Completed or working towards formal infection prevention and control training
• Family planning qualification

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• New patient medicals
• Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• 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
• Chaperone procedure
• Womens health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Chronic disease management in [list as appropriate]

Desirable

• Travel medicine
• Spirometry
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures

Desirable

• Experience of working with a nursing team in a primary care environment
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., bench marking

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).