Registered Nursing Associate

Job responsibilities

The post-holder is a Nursing Associate and provides fundamental nurse-led care to the community

The Nursing Associate works alongside a team within general practice and is an integral part of the general practice team. The principal task is to support registered nurses to enable them to be able to focus on the more complex clinical care of patients.

This job description and person specification is based on:

The Royal College of Nursing RCN Standards of proficiency for nursing associates

RCN guidance RCN position on the role and scope of practice of the Nursing Associate

Employing Nursing Associates lists information and resources for employers and emphasises that nursing associates should aim to meet the same standards of behaviour and conduct as nurses and midwives and adhere to the same Code of conduct

This organisation must ensure that the post-holder has access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual to provide general advice and support on a day-to-day basis. Further information on clinical supervision can be sought within the organisations Clinical Supervision Policy.

The following are the core responsibilities of the Nursing Associate in delivering health services:

a. Deliver high quality, compassionate care while undertaking specific clinical and care tasks under the direction of a registered nurse (or other registered care professional) with a focus on promoting good health and independence

b. Provide high-quality holistic and person-centred care to individuals

c. Provide routine care to patients as required in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

d. Provide wound care, dressings and other clinical tasks as required

e. Work as part of the MDT to provide and monitor care, under direct or indirect supervision and ensure delivery of nursing associate duties

f. Improve the safety and quality of care at every opportunity

g. Contribute to the delivery of integrated care

h. Work with a supervisor to take responsibility for developing own clinical competence, leadership and reflective practice skills within the workplace and enable you to deal effectively with the difficult issues that people present

i. Provide support and supervision to training nursing associates, healthcare assistants, apprentices and those on learning assignments/placements as required

j. Support registered nurses to enable them to be able to focus on the more complex clinical care

k. Develop relationships across the MDT to support the integration of the role across health and social care including primary care, secondary care and mental health

l. Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient health records ensuring that clinical data is appropriately recorded with SNOMED codes

m. Perform and record clinical observations such as blood pressure, temperature, respirations and pulse including appropriate coding

n. After undertaking additional training, provide flu vaccinations, ECGs and venepuncture and other relevant clinical tasks as required and in line with the competencies of the role

o. Promote health and wellbeing to all patients, for example undertaking the NHS health check

p. Provide wound care (ulcer/Doppler etc.) to patients

q. Provide support during minor operations as required

r. Advise patients on general healthcare and promote self-management where appropriate, including signposting patients to personalised care colleagues and local community and voluntary sector services

s. Communicate proactively and effectively with all MDT colleagues, attending and contributing to meetings as required

t. Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children

u. Process pathology results as required

v. Enhance own performance through continuous professional development, imparting own knowledge and behaviours to meet the needs of the service

w. Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

x. Attend a formal appraisal with your manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed

y. Contribute towards public health and screening programmes, including immunisations and vaccinations

z. Support and deliver health promotion and wellbeing programmes including any opportunistic delivery

aa. Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area

bb. Be an integral part of the general practice team, working in each practice and across the PCN, as well as supporting the wider multi-disciplinary team

cc. Recognise boundaries of practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred

dd. Demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems

ee. Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements on behalf of the PCN

ff. Support in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events

gg. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programme

There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels

Wider responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Nursing Associate has the following wider responsibilities:

a. Support the delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives enhancing service delivery and patient care

b. Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner

c. Work to, and understand PCN and practice and departmental policies

d. Act as a chaperone

Duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to clinical colleagues
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to communicate with members of the public and health and care providers
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues

Desirable

• Good clinical system IT knowledge
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of providing and receiving complex, sensitive information
• Understand the importance of following procedures and treatment plans
• Chaperone experience
• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing (Making Every Contact Count)
• Ability to support, supervise, assess and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and healthcare support workers as required within the clinical setting

Other Requirements

Essential

• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for revalidation
• Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands

Desirable

• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality

Experience

Essential

• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision and as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate
• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
• Understanding of the scope of the role of the nursing associate in the context of the nursing and interdisciplinary team and the organisation and how the role may contribute to service development

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies / local policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person centred support in a non-judgemental way
• Understand the requirement for PSDs and associated policy
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion, and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk
• Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• Ability to work to key policies and procedures
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet
• Effectively utilise resources

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered nursing associate and on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register
• Meets the specific qualification and training requirements as specified in the Nursing Midwifery Standards of proficiency by having undertaken and completed the two-year Foundation Degree delivered by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved provider

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).