Job responsibilities

Job Description

Job Title -Practice Nurse

Contract -Permanent, Part-time

Hours -Part-time hours negotiable for the right candidate

Clinical Line Manager -Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Accountable to -Practice Manager (administratively) and Advanced Nurse Practitioner (clinically)

Job Summary

The Practice Nurse will work as an integral member of the practice multidisciplinary team, providing high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to our patient population.

The post holder will undertake a varied range of Practice Nurse duties, working within their individual scope of practice and level of competence. We recognise that applicants may have different levels of previous primary care experience, and appropriate clinical support, supervision and training will be provided to enable the successful candidate to develop their skills within the role.

The Practice Nurse will contribute to preventative healthcare, immunisation programmes, health promotion, long-term condition management, women's health, wound care and other treatment room services.

The post holder will work closely with our GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, GP Assistants and wider practice team to provide safe, effective and patient-centred care.

For candidates newer to general practice, we are committed to supporting the development of the knowledge, skills and competencies required to become a confident and autonomous Practice Nurse.

Primary Responsibilities

The exact duties undertaken will reflect the post holder's training, experience and demonstrated competencies. The post holder will:

• Assess patients' nursing needs and provide appropriate evidence-based care.
• Provide routine treatment room nursing care.
• Contribute to health promotion, disease prevention and wellbeing programmes.
• Support the management and monitoring of patients with long-term conditions, appropriate to their level of training and competence.
• Recognise changes or concerns in a patient's condition and appropriately escalate or refer to a GP, ANP or other healthcare professional.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records and use appropriate SNOMED CT coding.
• Work in accordance with practice policies, clinical guidelines, Patient Group Directions (PGDs), Patient Specific Directions (PSDs) and professional standards, as applicable.
• Support the Infection Prevention and Control Lead and participate in IPC procedures, audits and good practice.
• Provide opportunistic health promotion and preventative healthcare advice.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to clinical emergencies.
• Recognise safeguarding concerns and act in accordance with practice and local safeguarding procedures.
• Liaise appropriately with members of the multidisciplinary team and external healthcare services.
• Work within the NMC Code and own professional scope of practice, seeking advice and support where appropriate.
• Maintain and develop clinical competence through training, supervision, reflection and continuing professional development. Practice Nurse Job description

Clinical Duties

The following reflects the range of services provided by our nursing team. Duties undertaken by the post holder will depend upon their existing qualifications, skills and competencies and will develop over time with appropriate training and support.

Immunisations and vaccinations

• Childhood immunisations
• Seasonal influenza vaccinations
• COVID-19 vaccinations
• RSV vaccinations
• Shingles vaccinations
• Pneumococcal vaccinations
• Other adult immunisations in accordance with national vaccination programmes
• Travel health assessments, advice and vaccinations
• Working safely under relevant PGDs and PSDs

Long-term condition management

• Supporting the monitoring and review of patients with long-term conditions
• Undertaking appropriate observations, tests and assessments
• Providing lifestyle and health-promotion advice
• Escalating or referring patients appropriately where clinical concerns are identified
• Developing further long-term condition management competencies according to the needs of the practice and the post holder's development

Women's health

• Cervical screening, where appropriately trained and competent
• Administration of Depo-Provera and other prescribed treatments within competence and appropriate authorisation
• Providing health promotion and preventative healthcare advice

Treatment room and general nursing care

• Wound assessment and management
• Dressings
• Removal of sutures and staples
• Doppler assessments, where appropriately trained
• Venepuncture
• ECGs
• Routine observations and health checks
• Administration of prescribed injectable medicines, including Decapeptyl and Prolia, in accordance with appropriate authorisation and competency
• Other treatment room procedures appropriate to the Practice Nurse role

The successful candidate is not expected to already be competent in every area listed above. Duties will be agreed according to individual experience and competence, with training and development supported where appropriate.

Additional Responsibilities

The Practice Nurse may also be required to:

• Participate in and contribute to clinical audit and quality improvement.
• Participate in reviewing and implementing nursing protocols in conjunction with the GP Partners and clinical team.
• Participate in shared learning within the nursing team.
• Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care.
• Keep clinical practice up to date and respond appropriately to national policies and initiatives.
• Participate in reviews of significant events and near misses.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team and development of patient services.

Professional Responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Maintain current NMC registration and meet the requirements for nurse revalidation.
• Work in accordance with the NMC Code and within their individual professional scope of practice.
• Maintain appropriate continuing professional development.
• Complete mandatory training as required by the practice.
• Identify their own learning and development needs and participate in relevant training.
• Participate in shared learning within the team and, where appropriately experienced, support the development of colleagues.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with information governance requirements.
• Promote equality, diversity, dignity and respect for patients, carers and colleagues.
• Comply with practice policies relating to health and safety, infection prevention and control, safeguarding, confidentiality and security.
• Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with colleagues across the multidisciplinary team.
• Prioritise and manage their workload effectively and seek clinical support where required.

Chillington Health Centre is committed to supporting learning and development, and the successful candidate will be supported through the practice induction programme and ongoing development within the role.

General

The duties listed above are not intended to be exhaustive. The job description may be amended following consultation with the post holder to reflect the development of the role, the organisation and the individual.

All duties must be undertaken within the post holder's level of competence and professional scope of practice, with appropriate support or supervision sought where required.

Clinical knowledge and skills

Essential

• Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs

Desirable

• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• Womens health (cervical cytology, contraception, etc.)
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Chronic disease management
• Spirometry
• Willingness to develop knowledge and understanding of PGDs, PSDs and medicines administration relevant to the role
• Chaperone procedure
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Awareness of public health issues within the local area

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
• 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

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)

Other requirements

Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• ability to work effectively as part of a team and, where competent, autonomously within own scope of practice
• Good interpersonal skills
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Clear, polite telephone manner

Desirable

• Strong IT skills

Experience

Essential

• Willingness and ability to undertake training and develop additional Practice Nurse competencies according to the needs of the role

Desirable

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

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).