Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Primary key responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse in delivering health services:

a. Support the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and work to the IPC Policy

b. Consult with patients and their families to undertake assessments of patient need

c. Support in the long-term condition management within the organisation, including being involved with quality improvement and assurance initiatives

d. Support an effective care management programme for the frail and housebound patients registered with the organisation

e. Support public health and screening programmes, including immunisations, vaccinations, and cervical screening and also provide opportunistic health promotion advice

f. Support population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access

g. Provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

h. Support new-to-practice nurses and other healthcare professionals within the organisation

i. Teach and advise patients and their families on how to manage their condition

j. Participate in clinical audits and research projects and implements changes as required, including supporting with the development, and updating of practice protocols/guidelines and procedures locally

k. Work within national and local protocols where these exist

l. Recognise the boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred

m. Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements

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

o. Participate 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

p. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes

q. Support the practice to deliver homeless clinics

r. Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

s. Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation

t. Attend a formal appraisal with their 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

u. Support on public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics)

v. Provide travel advice services

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

x. Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation ensuring that SNOMED CT codes are used effectively

y. Contribute to practice targets (QOF, etc.), complying with relevant guidance

z. Maintain chronic disease registers and implement an effective call/recall system

aa. Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times

bb. Chaperone patients where necessary

cc. Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

dd. Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients, etc.)

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 Practice Nurse has the following wider responsibilities:

a. Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the partners

b. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

c. Support and participate in shared learning in order to improve patient care

d. Support with the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients

e. Support in the coordination of the nursing team rota

Experience

Essential

• Broad knowledge of general practice and experience of working as a Practice or Community Nurse
• Experience with chronic disease management
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of infection prevention and control measures
• Experience of managing elderly and housebound patients

Desirable

• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking
• An appreciation of the NHS landscape including the relationship between individual organisations, PCNs and the commissioners

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Experience of Practice Nurse skills including wound care, ECG, venepuncture, immunisations, new patient medicals and womans health (cervical cytology, contraception etc.)
• Request pathology tests and process the results, advising patients accordingly
• Understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice
• Ability to promote best practice regarding nursing matters
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understand when to refer to GPs
• Good clinical system IT knowledge and an ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people by telephone, email and face to face
• Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
• Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP surgeries, QOF and enhanced service
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient

Desirable

• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena and knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Knowledge of national standards that inform general practice (NSF NICE guidelines)

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified registered Nurse
• Has evidence of working at the relevant level of practice as described in the Primary Care and General Practice Nursing Career and Core Capabilities Framework

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• Family planning qualification

Personal qualities

Essential

• Understand the requirement for PGDs 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
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal and organisational skills
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies/local policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Effective time management (planning and organising)

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

Other requirements

Essential

• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health clearance
• Meet the requirements and produce evidence for professional revalidation
• Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role
• Flexibility to work outside core office hours

Desirable

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

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).