Nursing Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

East Lindsey Primary Care Network is made up of 8 member practices, this a population of 64,000 patients. Our geography is spread from as far north as North Thoresby and south to Coningsby and to the west into West Lindsey.

The post holder is a Nursing Associate registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. They are required to act within their professional boundaries, supporting and working alongside a multi-disciplinary team within general practice and a Primary Care Network (PCN).

The post holder will contribute to providing nursing care to patients registered in the GP practices within the PCN.

The post holder will work within Practices and also a PCN NA role with focus on assuming a lead role in specified areas within the PCN DES Contract such as EHCH.

Work with the qualified nurses to deliver individual treatment packages with an emphasis on collaborative care that focuses on recovery and the need to work towards discharge where appropriate. The post holder will work with other members of the Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) to both organise and facilitate care appropriate to the individual needs of the patient.

Role and Responsibilities

1. PRIMARY DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clinical duties (see attached Appendix 1, these samples may vary depending on practice needs)

• Work as part of a designated clinical and care team delivering care that focuses on the direct needs of the individual and their family.

• Support people to improve and maintain their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing, promoting health and preventing ill health.

• Develop understanding of all elements of the nursing process and be able to assist the practice nurse in the ongoing assessment, planning, management and evaluation of care.

• To recognise changes in the patients condition which require the intervention of others and understand when to refer to the practice nurse and other senior practitioners for reassessment of patient care.

• To perform procedures as detailed within the NMC standards for proficiency for Nurse associate to meet the nursing needs of the patients and their care.

• To work within the NMC code of professional practice, and within policies, procedures and guidelines of the Practice.

• To have a willingness to undertake additional skills and training dependant on practice requirements.

• To ensure high standards of nursing care are given and maintained.

• To act and raise concerns when standards are not being maintained following Practice policy and procedures.

• To act as an advocate for the patient and the family, including promoting and protecting their interests, privacy and rights, equality and inclusion.

• To be involved in PCN initiatives to improve patient safety and care.

1. Other Duties

• Have demonstrated the proficiency to administer medications/immunisations and undertake annual training.

• To be aware of and adhere to Practice policies relating to the control, storage and administration if drugs/immunisations.

• Recognise and work within the limits of their competence.

• Be responsibility for own continuing professional development and performance, including identifying own development needs and maintain own portfolio in accordance with study requirements.

• To communicate with the Practice Nurse and Practice Manager and collect data in order to participate in the smooth running and organisation of the practice.

• To support the nursing team in risk assessment and minimisation. Ensuring incidents, complaints and near misses and reported and investigated as per practice policy.

• To establish and maintain effective communication, both verbally, written and relationships with the multi-disciplinary team.

• To recognise, prevent where possible, and manage areas of conflict, reporting to the Practice Manager if unable to resolve.

• Actively participate in benchmarking clinical practice along with other areas.

• Contribute to and participate in programmes of audit, including utilising results in practice.

• Responding to Safeguarding concerns by reporting as per practice policy.

• To use and safeguard equipment in a competent manner and ensure it is in good working order.

• To be flexible in working pattern to help meet the needs of the practice.

• Participate in regular practice supervision and where appropriate practice assessment of the non- registered support workforce, TNAs, newly registered NAs and pre-registration nursing graduates.

• Participate annually identifying, developing and agreeing your own development plan with your line manager through the appraisal process.

• Comply will all practice policies, procedures and protocols.

• Maintain professional conduct including appearance at all times

1. Communication and relationships

• To engage in positive relationships with patients/carers/families and other staff based on respect and within appropriate boundaries.

• To act in a professional capacity at all times.

• To be able to set therapeutic limits with patients, carers or relatives.

• To be able to communication with the patient about care planning risk assessment needs.

• Communicate complex and sensitive information verbally and in writing.

• Actively contribute during handovers to meet the care needs of patients.

• Actively contribute to staff meetings

• To be able to confidently and accurately convene patient information in the role of an associate nurse for MDT meetings.

• To be able to articulate an understanding of MDT structures and members roles.

• To formulate care plans under the supervision of registered staff.

• To communicate risk issues as they arise to ensure safe care.

• To communicate concerns relating to patient behaviour or mental state to other members of the multidisciplinary team

1. Other Responsibilities

• The role will be broad in nature and will cover all aspects of working with the public and patients with Primary Care setting.

• Examples are as follows:

• Working with patients and families who have Long Term Conditions.

• Patients and families of patients with Learning disabilities.

• Sexual health services.

• Patients who have conditions associated with inequalities in health.

• Patients and families who have emotional difficulties.

1. CONFIDENTIALITY

The post holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients, their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the PCN 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 PCN may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the employing practices policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

1. HEALTH & SAFETY

The post holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the PCN employing practices Health & Safety Policy.

1. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

The post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues to include

• acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with the practice procedures and policies and current legislation.

• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

APPENDIX 1

Sample Duties and Responsibilities

• Treatment room duties in line with competency e.g. basic wound care, suture/clip removal, ECG, phlebotomy, urinalysis.

• Monitoring of long-term conditions/annual review QOF related with complex patients being referred to registered nurse.

• Administration of injections and vaccinations including flu, pneumonia, shingles and B12.

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

• Administering of medication in accordance within regulatory guidelines for Nurse Associates.

• Cervical screening following public health guidance on training requirements.

• Low level referrals such as social prescribing, smoking cessation, and weight management.

• Ensure infection prevention and control guidelines are adhered to.

• Monitor patient outcomes including escalation of interventions, when necessary, recognise abnormalities and be aware of the appropriate action to take.

• Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.

• Check compliance with and adherence to appropriate treatments using a holistic patient centred approach.

• Use of interpreting and translating services.

• Chaperoning duties.

• Be responsible for the maintenance of equipment and stock control: including refrigeration, vaccine ordering, single use equipment, general treatment room equipment and stock emergency drugs and equipment.

• Vaccine cold chain storage, monitoring and recording.

• Maintain accurate records in line with practice policy and NMC guidelines using appropriate computer software.

• Communicate effectively with other members of the practice team and wider primary care network providing input and support to colleagues in the treatment and care of patients.

• Co-operate and participate as required in any research projects within the practice.

• Participate in practice audits, quality improvement activities, service assessment and service redesign.

• Take responsibility for a lead area.

• Participate in the development of practice policies: procedures and guidelines where appropriate.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Nursing Associate Registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Experience

Desirable

• Experience of working in 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).

Employer details

Employer name

East Lindsey Primary Care Network

Address

The New Coningsby Surgery

20 Silver Street

Coningsby

Lincoln

LN4 4SG

Employer's website

http://www.elpcn.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)