Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Within agreed protocols provide nursing services, treatments and health screening to patients in participation with General Practitioners or independently

Undertake the establishment of clinics; plan, assess, interpret, implement and evaluate care of specific groups of patients, or those with special conditions, including specialist management of chronic disease, following agreed protocols

Manage the collection and dispatch of pathological specimens, including blood samples, cytology, urine tests etc. and other swabs

Advise patients on general health care and minor ailments with referral to general or nurse practitioners as necessary

Assist other clinicians and general practitioners in the emergency management of patients

Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children

Advise, support and administer vaccinations where appropriate for patients travelling abroad

Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting with aural conditions

Providing complex wound and ulcer care

Undertaking clip and suture removal

Providing oral contraceptive pill checks

Ascertaining smoking status and advising on cessation

Performing and recording of blood pressure, temperature, pulse, height, weight, BMI measurements and ECGs

Administrative and professional responsibilities

Ensure recording of rooms/fridges as per practice protocol and monitoring vaccine storage

Ordering of health support materials

Stock replenishment and rotation as required

Clinical Governance

Demonstrate a continuous improvement approach to your clinical care

Participate in audits as indicated

Report all near miss or adverse incidents to the appropriate person in the practice

Attend significant event audit meetings

Training and role development

Attend the induction sessions on joining the practice

Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to keep up-to-date with evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a Personal Development Plan (PDP) utilising a reflective approach to practice.

Undertake as required a variety of research and analysis tasks associated with the improvement of clinical care, medical diagnosis and treatment where appropriate

Promote and support a learning culture within the practice and assist in clinical instruction, mentoring and supervision of other learners that may periodically be attached to the practice

Contribute to regular multi-disciplinary and or practice educational meetings

Work closely with other clinical staff and administrative managers in the setting up and/or improving of practice systems for monitoring/measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets

Provide additional services to the practice that meet the needs of the population

Undertake additional training where necessary to provide these enhanced services

Awareness of and compliance with all relevant practice policies/guidelines, e.g. administering/prescribing medications (if relevant), confidentiality, data security and protection, health and safety, annual QOF Assessment of the Practice / local initiatives

Meet timescales/deadlines for audits and written returns to ensure that the Practice meets quality standards

Professional

Maintain your professional registration and license to practise as applicable to your role, working within the latest applicable codes of professional conduct

Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by the practice

Demonstrate clinical leadership

Pro-actively promote your role within the practice

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information, from any source, is to be regarded as strictly confidential

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Administration

Fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes in accordance with relevant standards

Work in accordance with internal administrative systems relating to but not limited to the management of clinical data

Send and receive written information on behalf of the practice relating to the physical and social welfare of patients

Work closely with other clinical staff and administrative managers in the setting up and/or improving of practice systems for monitoring/measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets and work to deliver the NHS contract pertinent to the practice including the terms of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and locally enhanced services

Ensure that all practice policies are fully implemented

Support, contribute to, and participate in external inspections

Special Working Conditions

The post holder is required to travel independently between sites, patients homes and to attend meetings etc.

The post holder will have contact with bodily fluids i.e. wound exudates, urine, blood, etc whilst in clinical practice and must take precautions as required to minimise the risk of infection/contamination using personal protective equipment (PPE) Vulnerable Adults, Children and Young People

All members of staff have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people in all relevant areas of their work. This will include timely attendance at relevant training events and compliance with the practices policies Health and Safety

Comply at all times with the practice Health and Safety policies by following agreed procedures and policies for safe working and reporting incidents

Comply with all applicable legislation and regulatory guidelines Equality and Diversity

Co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to support equality of employment

Treat all co-workers, patients and visitors in line with the practices equality and diversity policies Communication and working relationships

Establish and maintain effective communication pathways with all practice staff and visiting clinical team members including the community nursing teams.

General

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account developments within the practice.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as a practice, community or acute nurse
• Experience of chronic disease management

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment

Other Requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health Clearance
• NMC registration

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Polite and confident
• Flexible and cooperative
• Motivated, forward thinker
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• Commitment to on-going professional development
• Effectively utilises resources
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Wound Care / Removal of sutures & staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• Chaperone procedure
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Womens health (Cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• Understands the importance of evidence based practice
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Understands the requirement for PGDs and associated policy

Desirable

• Travel medicine
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Asthma
• Spirometry
• CHD
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Strong IT skills
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
• Use of patient record keeping system
• Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving & analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Experience with clinical risk management

Desirable

• User of SystmOne patient record system

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse

Desirable

• Post graduate diploma or degree (Primary Care)

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).