Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

To provide nursing services to the practice population including chronic disease treatment, screening and advice within the professional competence of the post holder. The post holder will work at all times to the Code of Conduct, as set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Patients will be seen for:

Administration of injections

Childhood & travel immunisations

Dressings and minor injuries

Chronic disease management

The practice nurse will also:

Assist medical colleagues in the carrying out of minor surgical procedures and the fitting of contraceptive devices

Provide telephone advice for patients and refer as appropriate to other members of the team

Take part in other appropriate patient care as requested (for example the need to chaperone medical colleagues during intimate examinations)

Phlebotomy is usually carried out by the HCAs/phlebotomists but, depending on demand or sickness, there will be a need to see patients for venepuncture

Chronic Disease Management and Health Promotion

To undertake chronic disease management and health promotion operated by the practice. This will depend on the skills of the post-holder.

The areas may include:

General assessment and lifestyle advice eg for patients with obesity and mental health problems

Assessment and ongoing checks for Hypertensive patients

Annual reviews for patients with cardiovascular disease

Annual reviews for patient with diabetes

Annual review for patients with asthma and COPD

Cervical cytology

Minor Surgery Procedures

Wound management

Other appropriate work linked to the Quality and Outcome Framework

Personal Development

To understand own responsibilities and accountability on the delivery of care

To maintain individual professional nursing standards and encourage the same within the rest of the team

To participate in Clinical Governance activities and engage with educational opportunities

To take part as appropriate in professional development and programmes of clinical supervision or mentorship.

To participate in the planning and implementation of change within own area of responsibility

Team Working

To work appropriately with other members of the nursing team to ensure good patient care, adherence to protocols and procedures and implementation of change when necessary

To attend meetings as appropriate. This may include clinical, practice, nurse and prescribing meeting as well as protected learning events

To work with other team members to ensure the implementation of the Quality & Outcomes Framework

Service Delivery

To contribute to the function of the practice nurse team. This will include planning for and providing nursing cover for holidays, study leave and sickness.

To ensure correct use of medical equipment, report problems and ask for training if needed

To take on responsibilities within the nursing team. These may include but are not limited to:

Checking the medical bag

Infection Control measures for the whole Practice

Health & Safety tasks

Stock checks

Checking and review of medical equipment in rooms

Ordering and maintaining stocks of drugs and supplies

Other appropriate tasks

To undertake any task commensurate with the role

Qualities & Attributes

Essential

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality and Information Governance
• Ability to use own judgement
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work in a changing environment
• Able to use own initiative

Knowledge/Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Perform Wound dressings, cytology, baby Immunisations & adult injections.
• Knowledge and understanding of current national developments and trends in health care and practice development
• Demonstrate ability to assess risk management protocols
• Understand strategies for quality assurance and audit
• Computer literate

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registration

Experience

Essential

• Essential
• Experience of working in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
• Experience of dealing with the public and patients
• Experience of multi-skilled approach to Chronic Disease Management
• Demonstrate performance on the Quality & Outcomes Framework

Desirable

• Experience of working in general practice

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).