Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

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

Primary Responsibilities

a. Undertake the establishments 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.

b. Health promotion and screening: including cytology, routine and childhood immunisations.

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

d. Venepuncture, ECGs and routine observations.

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

f. Complex wound and ulcer care.

g. Undertaking the removal of sutures/clips.

h. Annual reviews and management of chronic diseases, including asthma, COPD, hypertension and diabetes.

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

j. Providing oral contraceptive pill checks.

k. Ascertaining smoking status and advising on cessation.

l. Chaperoning and assisting patients who are being examined by another clinician

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

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

o. Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

p. Report any safeguarding issues concerning children or vulnerable adults

q. Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Secondary Responsibilities

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

b.Ordering of health support materials

c.Stock replenishment abd rotation as required

d.Support and participate in shared learning within the practice.

e.Participate in audits as indicated.

f.Report all near misses or adverse incidents to the appropriate person in the practice.

g.Attend significant event audit meetings

h.Demonstrate a continuous improvement approach to your clinical care.

i.Complete opening and closing procedures in accordance with the duty rota.

Other Requirements

Essential

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

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse

Desirable

• Post graduate diploma or degree (Primary Care)

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

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 ongoing 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, 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
• 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
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Experience with clinical risk management

Desirable

• User of SystmOne patient record system

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).