Diabetes Nurse
Job Description
Job summary
Due to the retirement of our diabetes nurse, we are looking to appoint a friendly and knowledgeable diabetes nurse to join our surgery team. Our current diabetes nurse is the diabetes lead for the practice and autonomously manages the 450 patients on our diabetes register. We therefore require a nurse with a diploma in diabetes who can take on this role and provided the knowledge and skill in this evolving speciality.
We are looking for someone who can work 16 hours per week ideally on the following days:
Tuesday 8.30am 5pm (8 hours)
Friday 8.30am 5pm (8 hours)
We offer a competitive hourly rate of pay, inclusion in the NHS pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme, free parking and a kind and caring team to work with.
Our pay will be between £38,000 - £42,000 (full time equivalent) and there will be a 3-month training and probationary period.
Our closing date is Sunday 16th March and we are hoping to undertake interviews week commencing 24th March however if we receive enough suitable applications, we may close the advert to allow for an earlier interview date.
Main duties of the job
To undertake autonomous nurse led clinics to manage, assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions for patients presenting with new or existing diabetes (type I and II), gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes or those patients with an undifferentiated diagnosis. A diploma and experience in diabetes management is therefore essential.
The nurse will also undertake foot checks, blood tests and screening of patients with diabetes supporting patients with this condition to help them safely manage and control their diabetes going forward.
To keep their nursing skills up to date, the nurse will also support the nursing team with treatment room duties such as dressings, cervical screening, vaccinations and immunisations, ECG's and phlebotomy.
About us
We are small semi-rural practice with a growing population of 7,400 registered patients and 450 diabetic patients. Our boundary area mainly covers the villages of North Common, Oldland Common, Cadbury Heath, Warmley, Longwell Green, Willsbridge, and up to Bitton. We have a clinical team of GPs and a Nurse Practitioner and nursing staff as well as a clinical pharmacist and physiotherapist, a Practice Manager, Assistant Practice Manager and admin support staff.
Our practice ethos is very much continuity of care, support and good team working. We are proud to say that in 2023 we were rated second in Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire in the National Patient Satisfaction Survey. This is down to the hard work of the entire practice team. We have a team of fantastic and dedicated staff who complement each other in their knowledge, skills, and experience. We get together socially to encourage friendships and to bring the team together. We are fortunate to have a lovely garden at the front of the practice so in the summer we often have lunch outside. We also support charitable work with an annual practice sponsored walk and other events.
We operate from a converted farmhouse which has plenty of free parking for staff. All consulting rooms are situated on the ground floor and there is a small dispensary next to reception. Upstairs houses admin rooms, the staff room and kitchen, plus a room for meetings and training.
Job responsibilities
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
Diabetes chronic disease management
- To operate autonomous nurse led clinics to assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions for patients presenting with diabetes, pre-diabetes or undifferentiated diagnosis
- Undertake clinical nursing practice at an advanced level using knowledge, within scope of competence, to deliver holistic care to people accessing primary healthcare services
- In collaboration with other members of the practice team, lead the planning and delivery of diabetes services, promoting integrated and seamless pathways of care
- Undertake foot checks, blood tests and screening on patients with diabetes
- Undertake home visits for patients with diabetes as required
- Refer patients directly to other services/agencies as appropriate to help manage their diabetic control/care
- Provide assessment, screening treatment services and health education advice to patients found to be pre-diabetic
- Undertake pathological specimens and investigatory procedures as required
- Provide support and mentorship to other colleagues within the practice who are undertaking a diabetes diploma
- Provide safe, evidence-based, cost-effective, individualised patient care referencing current NICE guidelines for diabetes
- Be the practices lead on the diabetes indicator of QoF and any IIF indicators relating to diabetes
- Help the practice to achieve its quality targets (QoF/IIF/PCN) to sustain the high standards of patient care and service delivery
- Develop and set up new patient services and participate in initiatives to improve existing patient services
- Undertake health promotion events at the practice providing education to patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes
- Initiate insulin therapy if qualified to do so. If not, work towards achieving this qualification within an agreed timescale
ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
Family planning
- Advise patients on available methods of contraception
- Perform annual reviews on patients using oral contraception
- Assist the GPs with family planning clinics
- Teach patients on risk of STD and refer as necessary
Womens health
- Undertake cervical screening
- Advise and promote national cervical cytology and mammography screening programmes
- Promote breast self-awareness
- Perform a annual HRT reviews following agreed practice protocols
Travel health advice
- Administer travel vaccinations (Malaria prophylaxis and bite avoidance)
- Offer travel advice on food and water hygiene, sun protection and first aid
General treatment room duties:
- Act as a chaperone when needed
- Administer routine adult injections (flu, Covid, pneumonia, prostate, testosterone, B12, shingles etc)
- Administer routine childhood injections (baby immunisations, flu, teenage etc)
- Monitoring blood pressure and hypertension management
- Perform ECGs
- Undertake phlebotomy and INR testing
- Request pathology tests: urine culture, swabs and blood tests
- Undertake wound care management
- Assess and undertake ulcer care and dressings
- Perform Doppler testing
- Remove sutures and clips
- Assisting with minor surgeries, coil/implant fittings/removals
- Undertake ear irrigation after assessing patients
- Advise patient about safe ear care
Mental health
- Recognise and be aware of referral mechanisms for vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviours
- Recognise psychological needs of patients presenting with depression or suicidal tendencies
This job description is not exhaustive and is considered as a guide only and will be subject to change in consultation with the post holder
ADMINISTRATION AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team
- To maintain comprehensive, accurate and contemporaneous computerised records of all consultations and contacts with patients and when appropriate written or printed records
- Ensure QOF and Ardens templates are completed accurately
- Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice
- Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports and audit
- Restocking and maintenance of clinical areas and consulting rooms
- Attend and participate in practice/nursing meetings as required
- Lead diabetes team meetings
- Work collaboratively with colleagues within and external to the practice
- If it is necessary to expand the role to include additional responsibilities, full training will be given
TRAINING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:
- Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal and will be in accordance with practice requirements. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the Practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments in line with NMC Revalidation and mandatory training
- Participate in an annual appraisal as per the practices appraisals policy
- Monitor the effectiveness of their own clinical practice through the quality assurance strategies such as the use of ...
