Training Nurse Associate

Job responsibilities

Primary Care Networks (PCN) are groups of GP practices working closely together - along with other healthcare staff and organisations - providing integrated services to the local population. Sunderland has 6 PCNs who use a city wide approach to strengthen communities and reduce inequalities in health.

Job Role/Purpose

The role of the Training Nursing Associate is to work with the multi professional team and the Practice Nurse to assess, plan, organise and deliver clinical care in line with service and patient needs, as agreed with supervising clinicians

The training nursing associate has a breadth of knowledge across the lifespan and across the fields of nursing, providing holistic and person centred care and support of people of all ages and in a variety of settings. The training nursing associate works independently under the leadership of the practice nurse, working within the sphere of nursing care and within all aspects of the nursing process (Health Education England 2018) Nursing associates are equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours relevant to employment as a nursing associate with work to a nationally recognised Nursing and Midwifery Councils code of conduct (NMC) and must meet the NMC standards of proficiency.

The following criteria identify the core components of the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of the nursing associates:

Carry out Chronic Disease Management annual reviews delegated by the Practice Nurse or senior colleague

Monitor and support the Practice Nurse with the management of patients with long-term conditions/chronic diseases, using a holistic patient centred approach

Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by the Practice Nurse and GPs

Be able to take vital signs and observations and identify signs of improvement, report any deteriorations or concerns, e.g. pulse, blood pressure, respirations, oxygen saturations, peak flow, spirometry, blood glucose levels, ECG, assessing nutrition and hydration

Perform Cervical smear screening

Administer medications as prescribed and in accordance with NMC standards e.g. via nebuliser or injections using sub-cutaneous or intramuscular route under Patient Specific Directions

Following agreed protocols with referral to Practice Nurse or GPs as appropriate assist in the assessment, planning, development implementation and evaluation of programmes to promote health and well-being and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being

Deliver opportunistic health promotion using opportunities such as new patient medicals and NHS health checks

Document consultations accurately and appropriately, according to NMC guidelines

Ensure awareness of statuary and local clinical adult and children safeguarding protection procedures, including systems of referral. Ability to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse/neglect

Ensure infection prevention and control guidelines are maintained

To be responsible for providing the appropriate nursing evidenced based care of an allocated group of patients

Be an accountable professional who is responsible for their actions, working in line with NMC standards of proficiency

Recognise and work within the limits of their competency

To work as part of multidisciplinary team using resources efficiently

To deliver quality care to patients and to work effectively within the nursing team

To be competent in carrying out a variety of clinical procedures

Key Duties/Responsibilities

Clinical Duties

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 (2018) 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 what 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

Professional 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

To provide mentorship to students, new starters and trainee nurse associates encouraging an effective learning environment

To provide support and supervision to Health Care support workers to promote their learning and development within the role

To receive delegated duties from senior colleagues, accepting those that fall within their individual competency level, adhering to the NMC Delegation and Accountability tool (NMC Code 2018)

To delegate appropriately to other team members

Recognise and work within the limits of their competence

To responsibility for own continuing professional development and performance, including identifying own development needs and maintain own portfolio in accordance with re-registration 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

Participate in research programmes utilising agreed research findings to enhance the patient and their families experience

Actively participate in benchmarking clinical practice along with other areas

Contribute to and participate in programmes of audit, including utilision of 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 supervision

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 time

Ensure maintenance of Professional Registration

Other Responsibilities

Health and Safety

To comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

To take responsibility for his/her own health and safety and that of other persons who may be affected by his/her own acts or omissions

Equality and Diversity

To carry out at all times his/her responsibilities in line with Practice policy

Risk Management and Clinical Governance

To work within the Clinical Governance Framework of the practice, incorporating Risk Management and all other quality initiatives

Confidentiality

To maintain confidentiality of information relating to patietns, staff and other users of the services in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations including outside of work environment. Any breach of confidentiality may render the individual liable of dismissal and/or prosecution

General

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, within the bounds of his/her own competence

The post holder is expected to be flexible and accommodating, following consultation, in terms of any changes to operating times in the future

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrate a range of Clinical Skills
• Aware of accountability of own role within the primary care team
• Understanding the role of the Nurse Associate role within General Practice
• Understand requirements for NMC professional revalidation
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working

Desirable

• Experience of management of patients with long term conditions and health promotion
• Understanding of local and national primary care issues
• Knowledge in health promotion strategies
• Experience in EMIS Primary Care Clinical system
• Experience of Primary Care/GP Practice

Values

Essential

• Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
• Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
• Helps and co-operates with colleagues
• Pro-active and takes responsibility
• Willing to learn, open to change
• Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can
• Takes pride in themselves, their appearance, their role and where they work

Qualifications

Essential

• Active registered Nursing Associate
• NMC registration
• Nursing Associate Foundation Degree
• GCSE Grade A-C in Maths and English or skills level 2 Maths and English or equivalent

Desirable

• Certificate in chronic disease management
• Phlebotomy
• Post registration qualification e.g. cytology, immunisation and vaccination training

Other

Essential

• Flexibility
• Enthusiasm
• Team player
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Positive Role Model

Physical Skills, Effort, Emotional Effort

Essential

• Physical skills
• Fitness to do the job
• Able to work within manual handling policy
• Able to undertake immunisations and handle medical equipment, undertake dressings (dexterity/manipulation)
• Physical effort
• When using manual handling procedures
• Able to cope and work rotating shift patterns as required to gain an overview of care delivery
• Must be able to travel undertake occasional visits
• Emotional effort
• Able to deal with occasional exposure to distressing circumstances, or highly emotional events
• Able to cope with occasional exposure to aggressive behaviour

Requirements due to working environment

Essential

• Deal with hazard such as bodily fluids on a daily basis
• Frequent short periods of concentration required daily both planning work and service delivery e.g. implementing care programmes, taking smears

Motivation and Skills

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information
• Competent time management and organisation skills. Able to plan and organise own time cope with last minute changes
• Willingness to mentor
• Car driver

Desirable

• Good IT skills
• Work effectively independently and as a team member
• Ability to work flexibly
• Ability to recognise own limitations and act accordingly
• Willingness to learn new skills
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality

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).