Job responsibilities
Job Title: PRACTICE NURSE -
Accountable to: Lead Nurse on clinical issues and the Practice Manager on
all other issues.
Daily Supervisor: Self-managed Lead Nurse, Drs or Practice Manager for
exception management.
Overall Job Objectives:
To be an effective member of a team providing comprehensive nursing
services to the patients of the Practice: Also:
a. Ensuring that patients are dealt with in a caring and efficient manner
whilst meeting the Practice aims and values in relation to the assigned
duties and responsibilities.
b. Ensuring that the General Practitioners (GPs) and all Healthcare
Professionals are given appropriate support as set out in the following
detailed description of duties, to enable them to fulfil their duty of care for
their patients.
c. Ensure both practice and patient confidentiality is maintained at all
times. This applies to all activities taken. Confidentiality is essential at all
times. No information about the patients, either medical or personal, may be
disclosed to persons other than those employed by or attached to the
Practice and for whom such information is relevant. Additionally, no
information about Practice affairs may be disclosed to outside parties or
other members of the Practice team without the express permission of the
GPs or the Practice Manager.
Liaison and communication
Communicate effectively with other team members, patients and carers
The nature of the job involves contact by telephone or in person with a
wide range of people and organisations.
Internal Medical, nursing, reception and clerical staff at both surgeries.
District Nurses, Health Visitors, Midwives and any others that arise from
time to time.
Description of Duties:
The job entails a wide range of detailed duties which may change from time
to time in line with government regulations and the ongoing development
of the Practice and its patients. The following sections set out the key
duties, but the job holder may be asked by the GPs, Lead Nurse or the
Practice Manager to undertake other duties from time to time to ensure the
smooth running of the Practice. Any such additional duties will be within the
established skill levels related to the defined role.
Patient contact and services
These may be face to face contact or by telephone:
o Dressings, ongoing management of wounds, leg ulcers dopplers etc
(with referral to a GP/more experienced nurse where appropriate)
o Childhood immunisations in accordance with NHS guidelines and
policy which may vary from time to time
o Vaccinations as required; to include advice on recommended
vaccines, health and hygiene management as appropriate
o Vaccinations for foreign travel: to include advice as appropriate
o Giving general health advice and health promotion
o ECGs
o Blood Pressure checks
o Venepuncture.
o Family Planning
o Urinalysis
o Chronic illness management clinics according to practice/national
protocols (dependent on experience)
o Smears
o Removal of sutures/clips
o Assisting with fitting of IUCD/IUS
o New Patient checks
o Undertaking and recording new patient health checks in accordance
with NHS requirements.
o Ear examination and onward referral to microsuction
Administration and professional responsibilities
o Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of
the practice team
o Ensure accurate, timely notes of all consultations and treatments are
recorded in the electronic patient record (EPR)
o Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required
for research, teaching and audit
o Attend and participate in practice meetings
o Ensuring the reception team has the appropriate information to book
appointments with the nurses.
o Ensuring rooms are stocked with appropriate equipment and medical
disposables.
o Ensuring nurse equipment is serviceable and suited for purpose
o Bringing to the attention of GPs, Lead Nurse and Practice Manager
the possible need for new or different equipment
o Ordering and storage of vaccines
o Identifying personal training needs
o Advising on nursing issues and development of the Practice and its
changing role within the primary care
Training and personal development
Training requirements will be assessed by annual appraisal and will be in
accordance with practice requirements. Personal development will be
encouraged and supported by the Practice. It is the individuals
responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments.
o Participate in the education and training of students of all disciplines
and the induction of all members of the Practice staff where
appropriate
o Maintain continued education by attendance at courses and study
days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development.
Ensuring revalidation requirements are met
Equality
The post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients,
carers and colleagues to include:
o Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights,
interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures,
policies and current legislation
o Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, cares
and colleagues
o Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is
non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities
and rights
Quality
The post holder will strive to maintain high quality standards within the
practice and will:
o Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
o Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions,
either directly or under supervision
o Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and
team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and
enhance the teams performance
o Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients
needs
o Effectively manage own time, workload and resources