Practice Nurse - St Helens Medical Centre

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

Wound Management

Perform wound care, undertake dressings including leg ulcers.

Assist with minor surgery.

Screening

Undertake screening: BP checks, height, weight, BMI, urinalysis, smoking status, ECGs.

Phlebotomy.

Request pathology tests, e.g urine culture, swabs, bloods.

Health Promotion

Support patients attempts to change unhealthy behaviour by providing advice on healthy eating, smoking cessation, increasing activity/exercise, safe limits on alcohol consumption.

Actively promote public health campaigns, e.g flu and pneumococcal vaccination programmes

Refer as appropriate.

Undertake annual chronic disease management reviews where appropriate.

Test Results

Discuss/advise test results as appropriate.

Vaccinations and Immunisations

Provide an adult and childhood immunisation service.

Administer injections under an individualised prescription or Patient Group Direction.

Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.

Ear Care

Ear examinations to assess for wax or infection.

Advise patients about safe ear care.

Infection Control

Support patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.

Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines, including universal hygiene precautions, the collection and handling of laboratory specimens, segregation and disposal of waste materials, decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment, reporting and treatment of sharps injuries, dealing with blood and body fluid spillages.

Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of treatment rooms.

Emergency Management

Be competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques. Maintain competency by attending regular training updates (every 12-15 months).

Child Health/Child Protection

Recognise the signs, symptoms and categories of child abuse and understand the importance of recognition, observation, documentation, and communication.

Be cognisant with child health procedures, statutory local procedures, and points of referral.

Have knowledge of other practitioners and agencies roles

Understand basic legal issues around child abuse.

Mental Health

Recognise and be aware of appropriate referral mechanisms for family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour.

Recognise psychological needs of patients presenting with depression or suicidal tendency.

Family Planning

Advise patients on available methods of contraception and refer as appropriate.

Womens Health

Advise on reducing risk of sexually transmitted diseases and refer appropriately.

Offer health promotion/lifestyle advice.

Advise on basic incontinence management and refer appropriately.

Other requirements

Essential

• NMC registration

Desirable

• Knowledge of SystmOne
• Flexibility to work outside core hours if ever required

Behaviours

Essential

• Smart, polite, and confident
• Planning and organising
• Ability to perform under pressure
• Adaptability
• Using initiative
• Team working
• Self-motivated
• Flexibility
• Confidentiality

Experience

Desirable

• Experience working in primary care
• Experience of working as a Practice Nurse
• Chronic disease management

Clinical Knowledge

Essential

• Wound care
• Venepuncture
• ECGs
• Removal of staples/sutures
• Ability to request pathology tests e.g urine culture, swabs, bloods etc.
• BP checks
• Immunisations and vaccinations (adult and child)
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance
• Understanding of infection prevention and control measures
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Ability to understand work within own scope of practice and understand where onward referrals are needed.
• Understand the importance of evidence-based practice.

Desirable

• Womens Health (Cytology and contraception etc)

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (Written and Oral)
• IT skills & keyboard skills
• Time Management and the ability to work to deadlines
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to understand the needs of the patient
• Good telephone manner
• Empathetic in distressing situations
• Interpersonal skills
• Committed to professional development
• Good team player

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse

Desirable

• Post graduate diploma (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).