Practice Nurse

Job 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:

1. To act as the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead and to work to the IPC Policy providing audits, training, support and evidence of compliance to the service manage
2. To produce the IPC annual statement in conjunction with the service manager
3. To develop, implement and embed an effective care management programme for the frail and housebound patients registered at the service
4. To assess the needs of patients ensuring the provision of healthcare is appropriate, incorporating evidence-based practice
5. To develop, implement and embed health promotion and wellbeing programmes
6. To implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease patients that promote health and wellbeing
7. To identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects to patients health
8. As required, to provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF
9. As required, to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions
10. To prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice
11. To review patient medications to enhance compliance
12. To provide guidance to patients in the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications regarding side effects and dosages
13. To co-ordinate the provision of travel medicine services
14. To request pathology services and process pathology results as required
15. To oversee the provision of chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as necessary, referring patients to secondary/specialist care as required
16. To maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
17. To ensure read codes are used effectively by all members of the nursing team
18. To ensure the appropriate maintenance and use of chronic disease registers
19. To develop, implement, embed and participate in well person clinics
20. To ensure compliance with the practice chaperone policy
21. To assist GPs with minor surgery when required
22. To prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately
23. To support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies
24. To recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs
25. To implement vaccination programmes for adults (and possibly children at a later stage)
26. To support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the-counter medicines (within own scope of practice)
27. To liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)
28. To delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)
29. To support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies
30. To understand service and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately
31. To deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate
32. Health checker screening and sign posting responsibilities on patient arrival In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Practice Nurse may be requested to:
33. Develop and review audit protocols and process for the service, effectively utilising the audit cycle
34. Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the partners
35. Support all members of the nursing team, providing guidance when necessary, conducting appraisals and training needs analyses as required
36. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
37. Support and participate in shared learning within the service in order to improve patient care
38. Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate
39. Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)
40. Coordinate the nursing team rota, ensuring sufficient staff are available to meet patient needs
41. Lead the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients
42. Support the service team with the reviewing and implementation of service policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
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• Experience of chronic disease management
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• Experience of working autonomously
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• Experience of infection prevention and control measures

Desirable

• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• .
• Experience of quality initiatives, i.e., benchmarking

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• .
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• .
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• .
• Good interpersonal skills
• .
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• .
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

Desirable

• Strong IT skills
• .
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Other Requirements

Essential

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

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)

Desirable

• Mentor or teaching qualification
• .
• Post graduate diploma or degree (Chronic Disease Management)
• .
• Nurse prescriber

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• .
• ECGs
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• Venepuncture
• .
• New patient medicals
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• Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• .
• 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
• .
• Chaperone procedure
• .
• Immunisations (routine and travel)
• .
• Chronic disease management
• .
• Spirometry

Desirable

• Travel medicine
• .
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• .
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• .
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena
• .
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies

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

Desirable

• Motivated, forward thinker
• .
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• .
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations
• .
• 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).