Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Main Duties General

Responsible for attending to patients who need to be seen by a health care professional; treating patients and advising people in respect of their continuing nursing care needs.

To priorities the needs of patients accordingly making any necessary referrals for investigations in the appropriate manner.

To maintain a safe and effective level of practice and to bring any concerns of deficits in training to the attention of the senior nurse / duty doctor so these can be addressed.

Responsible for own practice and must ensure that limitations are always acknowledged.

Maintain confidentiality at all times, ensuring that patients issues are only discussed with appropriate colleagues.

On completion of training and education, where required, aspects incorporated into the role according to Practice business needs will include:-

Clinical

Vaccinations and Immunisations:

Undertake and deliver all immunisation and vaccination programmes in line with the Practices contracted and commissioned services.

Administer injections under an individual prescription or Patient Group Direction.

Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.

Work as part of the wider Practice team to advise and work with administrative staff on immunisation programmes and to ensure targets are met.

Assist in the promotion of Public Health related immunisation programmes, including seasonal flu campaign and other promotions as they occur.

Ensure the cold-chain policy is adhered to in the management of vaccines and undertake vaccine fridge temperature data logging and recording.

Order vaccines and ensure stock levels are appropriate for the safe delivery of immunisation programmes.

Undertake Immunisations and Vaccination update training as required.

Wound Management

Perform wound care using aseptic technique

Undertake uncomplicated, non-complex dressings

Suture and clip removal.

Assist clinicians undertaking minor surgery procedures.

Cervical Screening & Womens Health:

Advise patients on the national and local cervical cytology and mammography screening programmes.

Undertake a programme of cervical cytology sampling under supervision until competent.

Promote breast self-awareness, demonstrate breast self-examination and provide supporting literature.

Advise patients about reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and make appropriate referrals.

Take swabs for microscopy as directed.

Offer health promotion/lifestyle advice to patient

Cardiovascular Disease:

Contribute to the implementation of the National Service Framework

Contribute to the maintenance of the Practice CHD register

Advise patients on lifestyle management and drug compliance for reducing the risk factors of:

oHypertension

oAngina

oMyocardial infarction

oCerebrovascular accident

Infection control:

Support patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.

Apply infection control measures according to local and national guidelines, including:

oUniversal hygiene precautions

oThe collection and handling of laboratory specimens

oSegregation and disposal of waste materials

oReporting and treatment of sharps injuries

oDealing with blood and body fluid spillages within own clinical area

oSupporting colleagues in sound, evidence based infection control measures

Experience

Essential

• Experience of chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures

Desirable

• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients
• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
• Nurse prescriber
• 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
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Well developed IT skills
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

• Experience of using Systmone
• Womens Health
• Chronic disease management
• 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

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).