Practice Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Primary 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:

• Develop, implement and embed health promotion and well-being programmes
• Review and support patients living with long term health conditions such as learning disabilities, mental health problems, CHD, Asthma, COPD, Diabetes and Dementia.
• Identify, manage and support patients as risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on the patients health through health promotion.
• Provide wound care, to patients including assessment and management of lower limb vascular problems and compression therapy.
• Provide travel medicine services
• Implement vaccination programmes for adults and children
• Request and perform pathology services as necessary including venepuncture and cervical cytology.
• Provide routine nursing care to patients as required in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF
• Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with existing legislation
• Ensure clinical & administrative codes are used effectively
• Chaperone patients where necessary
• Assist GPs with minor surgery when required
• Prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately
• Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies
• Support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over the counter medicines (within own scope of practice)
• Liaise with external services / agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)
• Delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and the task is within the scope of practice of the individual)
• Support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies
• Understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Secondary Responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the practice nurse may be requested to:

• Monitor and ensure the safe storage, rotation and disposal of stock
• Support junior members of the nursing/HCA team, providing guidance when necessary
• Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
• Support and participate in shared learning within the practice
• Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate
• Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach i.e.DATIX

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Strong IT skills
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
• Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving & analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

Desirable

• EMIS user skills
• Experience with audit
• Experience with clinical risk management

Personal Qualities

Essential

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

Other

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Occupational Health Clearance
• NMC registration

Experience

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of working as a practice nurse or community nurse
• Experience of chronic disease management

Clinical Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Wound Care / Removal of sutures & staples
• Chaperone procedure
• Understands the importance of evidence based practice
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Understands the requirement for PGDs and associated policy

Desirable

• Venepuncture
• Travel medicine
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Asthma
• CHD
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse

Desirable

• Post graduate diploma or degree (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).

Employer details

Employer name

Park Medical Centre

Address

Shavington Avenue

Chester

CH2 3RD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.parkmedicalchester.co.uk/

---