Practice Nurse

Job Summary

The Practice Nurse will be responsible for a number of clinical areas such as infection prevention and control, health promotion, well woman and man clinics, as well as actively supporting the practice management team in the reviewing of clinical policy and procedure.

Key responsibilities

Clinical practice

To provide high quality patient care and treatment at all times

Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate treatment programmes that promote health and well-being

To promote and participate in monitoring a safe, therapeutic and comfortable environment

Work with other health care professionals to monitor, manage and treat long-term conditions in line with national and local policies and practice needs

To take responsibility for the safe storage and administration of drugs and equipment

To participate in setting and monitoring standards using evidence passed practice to ensure effecting and safe care

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote patients to live healthily, and apply principles of self-care

Support and manage health needs of women presenting for family planning and cervical cytology consultations

Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children

Advise, support, and administer vaccinations where appropriate for patients travelling abroad

Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting with aural conditions

Meet the needs of patients presenting for opportunistic wound care

Communication

Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication

Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues

Delivering a quality service

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality

Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care

Participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the practice

Collaborate on improving the quality of health care in partnership with other clinical teams, responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate

Evaluate the patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care

Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation

Participate in the management and review of patient complaints, and identify learning from clinical incidents and near-miss events using a structured framework (eg root-cause analysis)

Participate in the performance monitoring review of the team, providing feedback as appropriate

Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance

Work within policies regarding family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour, and refer as appropriate

Team working

Understand own role and scope, and identify how this may develop over time

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working

Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within own practice

Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery

Participate in team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care

Participate in and support local projects as agreed with the practice management team

Management of risk

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines

Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs

To undertake mandatory and statutory training requirements

Apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines

Organisational

To maintain accurate records and data using the EMIS WEB clinical computer system

Review and process data using accurate Read codes to ensure accurate retrieval for monitoring and audit processes

Manage information searches using patient databases, for example, the retrieval of relevant information for patients on their condition

To provide reliable and up to date information to support consultations/patient conditions

Understand all aspects of Data Protection, Confidentiality and the responsibility of self and others regarding the Freedom of Information Act

Record and report all significant events and clinical incidents

Maintain established reporting, communication and documentation

Maintain current NMC registration adhering to NMC code at all times.

Learning and development

Act as mentor to health care assistants, student nurses and student nurse associates if appropriately qualified

Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments

Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate

Make effective use of internal and external learning opportunities within and outside the workplace, evaluating their effectiveness and feeding back relevant information

Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

Equality and diversity

Identify patterns of discrimination, take action to overcome this, and promote diversity and quality of opportunity

Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture

Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights

Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies

Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice

Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care

Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care

Maintain and respect the privacy, dignity and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues at all times

Support the diversity, equality and rights of patients in line with practice policy and procedure.

To behave in a manner which is non-judgemental, respectful and welcoming to all patients and visitors to the practice at all times

Health & Safety

Maintain a healthy and safe working environment in line with national, local and practice policy, procedure and guidelines

Maintain an awareness of safe practice and assessment of risk.

 

 

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse
• Recognised qualification to diploma level or above
• A demonstrable commitment to professional development

Desirable

• Clinical supervision training and experience
• Mentor/teaching qualification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge and understanding of current national developments and trends in health care, quality assurance and practice development
• Assess and develop risk management protocols
• Implement strategies for quality assurance and quality audit
• Evidence of innovative practice
• Computer literate
• Clinical skills childhood immunisation, cervical screening, ear care, phlebotomy
• Knowledge of Patient Group Directives and associated policy
• Change-management skills and ability to support patients to change lifestyle
• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• IT skills
• Awareness of Clinical Governance issues in Primary Care

Desirable

• Experience of working with new technologies in health care practice
• Understanding of clinical coding in general and Read coding in particular
• Understanding of the health needs assessment process
• Experience of EMIS WEB, DOCMAN and abtrace
• Travel Vaccinations
• Experience of teaching and mentorship in a clinical setting

Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Able to demonstrate enthusiasm to developing nursing skills
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Pleasant and articulate
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work in a changing environment
• Able to use own initiative

Other

Essential

• Able to demonstrate enthusiasm to developing nursing skills
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Pleasant and articulate
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work in a changing environment
• Able to use own initiative

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 2 years post registration experience
• Involvement in implementing and using protocols and clinical guidelines
• Experience of audit
• Experience of working in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
• Experience of EMIS WEB Clinical Systems
• Experience of multi-skilled approach to Chronic Disease Management (Long Term Conditions)
• Experienced in phlebotomy, ECGs, Dressings, Compression management, and injection skills.

Desirable

• Experience managing chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma and COPD.
• Experience in spirometry and FENO testing and interpretation.
• Clean driver's licence with access to a car to facilitate home visits.
• Experience of working within the general practice or community setting.

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).