General Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

Primary key responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

Clinical:

a. To work independently and accepting professional accountability within the scope of your clinical practice and expertise.

b. To assess the needs of patients ensuring the provision of healthcare is appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice

c. To implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease patients that promote health and wellbeing

d. Sign post effectively to other clinicians and agencies when appropriate

e. Promote health and well-being through the use of health promotion, health education and screening

f. Apply infection control measures in all areas of practice

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

h. Undertake clinics and offer focused lifestyle advice in line with local, national guidance and Quality Outcomes Framework indicators

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

j. To review patient medications to enhance compliance

k. Manage patients with Long term conditions

l. Diabetes

m. Assess primary and secondary cardiovascular risk

n. Asthma/COPD

p. Childhood vaccination

q. Administer Hormone injections

r. Adult immunisation including seasonal/flu vaccination

s. Cervical Cytology screening for patients eligible for the national screening programme

Communication:

a. Communicate effectively with patients/families/carers regarding information about their care and how results of tests should be obtained, considering differences in language, literacy and culture.

b. Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

c. Work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary general practice team and other external organisations.

d. To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

e. To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

f. Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records using the SystmOne computer system.

g. Be aware and comply with all data protection requirements

Personal / Professional

a. NMC registrations upholding professional standards of practice and behaviour.

b. Maintain confidentiality with regard to information pertaining to patients and staff.

c. Provide support and mentorship to colleagues in order to assist other to develop knowledge, skills and abilities.

d. Participate in continued professional development/training to ensure knowledge and competencies in all aspects of the role are maintained.

e. Complete all mandatory training

f. Monitor effectiveness of own practice by participating in peer review/reflective practice and ensure NMC revalidation requirements are met.

g. Promote a professional approach at all times by dress and attitude to patients and colleagues.

h. Attend and contribute to various Practice meetings as required. (Some of these are mandatory and the only reason for not attending will be annual leave, study or sick leave).

i. Facilitate a positive learning environment for students and staff, giving and receiving feedback in an open, honest and constructive way.

Secondary key responsibilities

In addition to the primary key responsibilities, the Practice Nurse may be requested to:

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

b. Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to improve patient care

c. Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate

d. Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events

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

Clinical knowledge and skills

Essential

• Clinical knowledge in the following:
• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• New patient medicals
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Womens health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• Travel medicine
• Hormone injections
• Chronic disease management awareness for:
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• CHD
• Asthma
• Knowledge of national standards that inform practice (eg QOF, NICE guidelines etc)
• Understanding of systems to gain understanding of the health needs of the practice population as they relate to Primary Care.
• Understanding of infection prevention and control measures in clinical practice
• Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies

Desirable

• COPD
• Spirometry

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse (Registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council)

Desirable

• Adult and child immunisation recently updated
• Cervical Cytology updated within last 3 years (registered)
• Accredited qualification in Diabetes care
• Accredited qualification in Asthma/COPD

Skills

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral)
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Strong IT skills, including clinical IT system user skills
• Good organisational skills

Desirable

• The ability to work under pressure

Experience

Essential

• Recent and relevant experience in primary care
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience in the management of patients with Long term conditions
• Proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of own clinic practice

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Polite and confident
• Flexible and co-operative
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations

Desirable

• Motivated, forward thinker
• Effectively utilise resources

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).