Job responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION FOR
GENERAL PRACTICE NURSE
Job Title General Practice Nurse
Hours of duty 22-24 hours per week
Responsible to Clinically: Doctors and Nurse
Practitioner
Generally Practice Manager
Job Summary
This post requires the post holder to deliver general
practice nursing service to the patient population. This care must be of a high
standard and delivered within the boundaries of the professional code of
conduct, as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and will focus
on supporting patients and their families with all aspects of health and
well-being, through monitoring of long term conditions, health prevention and
screening initiatives. The post holder must be able to work collaboratively
with all members of the general practice team and other disciplines within the
Multi-Disciplinary Team. He/she must understand the necessity for supporting
the delivery of policy and procedures and provide nurse leadership as required.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical practice
Assess, plan,
develop, implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and well-being,
and prevent any adverse effects on health and well-being.
Identify and manage, as appropriate, treatment plans for
patients at risk of developing long-term conditions and be able to implement
and evaluate these plans according to the needs of the individual
Prioritise health problems and enable the patients to recognise
and manage complex, urgent and emergency situations, including initiation of
effective emergency care.
Support patients in adopting health promotion strategies
that encourage them to live healthily, and encourage principles of self care
Recognise the need and deliver opportunistic health
promotion where appropriate.
Provide clear information and advice on prescribed and
over-the-counter medications and regimes, side effects and interactions. Also
be aware of evidence based non-pharmacological regimes and treatments.
Assess the care of patients with complicated and
uncomplicated wounds and be knowledgeable about the treatment options available
and their effectiveness.
Assess and manage patients presenting with minor illnesses
or injuries using up to date treatments and drug therapies where appropriate.
Support and advice women requesting information relating to
family planning issues carry out assessments for repeat prescriptions or
administer other treatments in line with the local Patient Group Directions.
Support and manage the health care needs of women presenting
for cervical cytology screening.
Recognise and assess patients with mental health needs and
refer to the appropriate professional, in line with the National Framework
(NSF) for Mental Health
Implement and administer vaccinations and immunisation
programmes for both adults and children, and give appropriate education about
post vaccination management and complications.
Give advice and support to patients travelling abroad and
administer relevant vaccinations and immunisations in accordance with local
Patient Group Directions.
Educate patients regarding the reasons and rationale of
current immunisation and vaccination programmes
Provide individualised care to patients with respiratory
conditions, enabling them to manage exacerbations in order to reduce the
necessity for hospital attendance.
Liaise with outside agencies and representatives in order to
maintain current awareness of health related issues.
Communication
Utilise and demonstrate effective and sensitive
communication styles to ensure that patients are fully informed and consensual
to treatment.
Communicate effectively with patients and their carers who
are receiving bad news
Demonstrate effective communication with patients of
different levels of understanding, cultural backgrounds, disabilities and
language barriers by recognising the need for alternative communication
methods.
Utilise communication skills to assist with the safe
adherence to prescribed treatment regimes.
Act as an advocate when communicating patients viewpoints
to others.
Maintain and promote effective communication links with all
members within the practice and recognise when conflict resolution needs to be
implemented, and by whom.
Assist the process of seamless care by referring patients to
the appropriate agency using agreed referral pathways.
Quality service delivery
Recognise and work within own level of competence and
professional code of conduct at all times.
Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of
patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a safe and
professional manner so as to maintain and promote quality.
Deliver care that is evidence based using recognised
guidelines and guidance to enhance quality care delivery and ensure fitness to
practice measures are met.
Regularly assess effectiveness of care delivery through self
and peer reviews, benchmarking and formal evaluation.
Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating quality of
care, implementing improvements as required.
Be receptive to patients responses to the quality of care
they receive and be prepared to change practice accordingly.
Participate in shared learning, both in and out of house.
Participate in reviewing patients complaints, clinical
incidents and near miss events and provide feedback as appropriate.
Understand and apply the legal policies relating to the
identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults being aware of
statutory health procedures and local guidance.
Team working
Understand own role
and need for development.
Work as a responsible and effective team member, supporting
others and implementing new ways of working to enhance the overall functioning
of the team.
Delegate clearly and appropriately, considering competence
and capability of delegate.
Prioritise workload and ensure time-management strategies
are incorporated in own day to day practice.
Accept delegation from others as and when appropriate.
Work effectively with others and participate in team
activities that improve morale and patient care delivery.
Be prepared to be flexible with covering absence of other
nurses.
Ensure that effective communication is maintained in order
for other team members to allocate and organise the work load appropriately.
Management of risk
Manage and assess risks ensuring adequate measures are in
place to protect patients and staff.
Monitor work areas to ensure they are free from hazards and
conform to health, safety and security legislation and policies.
Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and
other drugs.
Undertake mandatory and statutory training.
Apply infection control measures according to local and
national guidelines.
Ensure that all policies relating to risk management are
current, accurate and correctly implemented.
Utilising information
Use all available form of technology to aid the management
of planning, implementing, monitoring, presenting and communicating information.
Process data using accurate Read codes in order to ensure
easy retrieval for monitoring and auditing purposes.
Carry out internet searches using library databases for
access to information for patients.
Understand responsibilities relating to the Freedom of
Information Act.
Learning and development
Act as a mentor to junior staff enabling them to deliver
high standards of care.
Disseminate learning and information gained to other members
of the team in order to share good practice and keep others informed of current
and future developments.
Keep records of learning and learning needs and undertake
appropriate study or training to meet these needs.
Attend regular learning and training sessions, evaluate
their effectiveness and feedback any relevant information.
Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families
and colleagues in a conducive environment.
Ensure that a professional demeanour is conducted at all
times, regarding dress codes and appropriateness of behaviour towards patients,
their families and carers and members of the staff and other inter-professional
personnel.
Equality and diversity:
Identify discrimination and take action to promote diversity
and quality of opportunities and enable others to do so.
Adhere to local chaperoning policies.
Act as a role model in good practice relating to equality
and diversity.
Accept the right of individuals to accept their own care
providers
Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality
health care.