Health Care Assistant (Primary Care)

JOB DESCRIPTION PRACTICE NURSE The content of this job description is designed to be inclusive of a broad range of tasks which may be performed by a Practice Nurse (PN). Practices should take note that they should seek guidance from their medical defence organisation about the responsibilities which can be delegated to a Practice Nurse at this grade for which the defence organisation will provide cover. The job description should then be edited accordingly and full training and assessment of competence undertaken and documented with the staff member. RESPONSIBLE TO The Lead PN is responsible in the first instance to the Partners and Practice Manager . PURPOSE OF JOB The purpose of the post is to provide nursing services to the patients of the practice. SCOPE OF JOB The PN will perform tasks prescribed and delegated by the GP Partners, working unsupervised to Patient Group Directions, agreed protocols, within an evidence base and within defined competencies. The PN will assess patients and plan, implement and review treatment programmes. The PN will have shared responsibility for supervision of lower grade members of the nursing team and the delegation of duties according to training and competence. KEY RELATIONSHIPS/CONTACTS Internal: Lead Practice Nurse Practice Nursing Team and Healthcare Assistants GPs Doctors in Training Practice Manager/Office Manager Administration and Reception Team Secretarial Team External: Patients, carers and relatives Practice suppliers (equipment, supplies and services) Community nursing team PCN CCG Social services The Practice Nurse will be responsible to the Partners on clinical matters and to the Practice Manager on non-clinical matters. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Patient care New patient health checks and NHS health checks Urine testing/analysis Blood pressure measurement/monitoring ECG Height, weight measurement Spirometry Oral glucose tolerance testing Removal of sutures Take pathology samples from patients for analysis (blood, sputum, urine etc) Travel clinic (vaccination, medication, malaria prophylaxis and avoidance, safe sex, food hygiene, health insurance) Assessment, management and treatment of conditions within competence and as delegated Wound care/dressings/tissue viability Ulcer care including Doppler assessment Scalds and burns management Minor injuries (sprains, bruising, cuts etc) Management of skin disorders Routine immunisations Pertussis immunisation for pregnant women Flu immunisation Pneumococcal immunisation Vitamin B injections Nebuliser use and care Asthma/COPD (chronic disease management) CHD (chronic disease management) Hypertension (chronic disease management) Diabetes (chronic disease management) Other chronic disease management/QOF activities Womens health/lifestyle advice and appropriate referrals Mens health/lifestyle advice and appropriate referrals Support and advice for patients in managing their own disease Contraception advice, safe sex advice Medicals Chaperoning Set up for and assist with: Minor surgery procedures including joint injections IUD insertion and removal Implanon insertion and removal The PN will refer to a supervising member of the clinical team/GP if deviation from the protocol is required, if unsure in any way, or where clinical judgement is required before proceeding. Drugs will be administered only on the basis of written and signed medical authorisation. Record keeping and administration Make accurate and contemporaneous records of all patient encounters in accordance with practice records protocols and coding protocols Accurately label and document patient samples and submit for collection and analysis. Contribute to nursing team record keeping (clinical, administrative, Health and Safety related records). Maintain skills in using patient appointment system. Maintaining a safe clinical environment General: The Practice Nurse will be aware of and comply with the practices Health and Safety Policy. This will include: Minimising risk to self and others in the workplace. Identifying and reporting hazards/risks and contributing to control measures. Adhering to all relevant policies including infection control and management of the cold chain Contributing to keeping the working area and patient areas tidy and free from hazards. Using protective equipment and clothing provided and in accordance with the practices policy. Handling specimens and clinical waste/sharps in accordance with practice policy. Applying correctly spill control and decontamination policies Ensuring sufficient supplies of all cleansing and infection control materials. Attending regular health and safety training. Specific: Record fridge temperatures, clean fridges, promptly report temperature variations from standard. Rotate stock according to date, maintain appropriate records and discard out of date stock in accordance with practice protocol. Prepare clinical areas between patients in accordance with infection control procedures including cleaning surfaces and equipment. Dispose of all clinical waste/sharps in accordance with practices infection control protocol. Clean/maintain all equipment in accordance with infection control and equipment maintenance policies. Take action to manage spills or decontaminate affected areas. Supplies management Check stock in all clinical rooms. Order replacement stock and restock clinical rooms. Order vaccines to maintain stock levels and store according to practice cold chain and storage policies. Submit monthly return to the Prescribing Pricing Authority (PPA) Maintain accurate stock records, including liaison with Practice Manager by providing order confirmations for invoice checking. Order most economic supplies available and use supplies with economy. Order and maintain stock of health information leaflets and keep displays up to date. Equipment maintenance and calibration Contribute to care and maintenance of equipment. Organise repair and regular maintenance and calibration of equipment, including equipment maintenance/checking/calibration log. Quality Provide services to the practices patient population to the highest possible standard. Work to agreed standards, monitor and maintain the standard of care offered. Take action if standards are not met (self or others). Contribute to clinical governance activities/clinical audit to ensure continual improvement of service delivery. Contribute to complaints responses/reviews, significant event, peer review and other shared learning activities. Support and mentor staff in training. Support the performance of team members including giving and receiving effective feedback. Communication Advise patients of the Practice Nurse role, its extent and limits. Appropriately advise and refer on patients if they require the services of a GP or other clinical team member. Communicate effectively, promptly and appropriately with patients and team members. Modify method of communication with patients to suit the situation, recognise problems/barriers and take action or seek help at an early stage when they arise. Communicate risk to patients and ensure proper consent gained where appropriate. Contribute to practice and nursing team meetings. Personal development The Practice Nurse will: Comply with NMC Code of Conduct and keep registration up to date, documented and checked in the practice on an annual basis. Participate in revalidation Undertake training needed to ensure competencies for delivering all responsibilities. Maintain awareness of current evidence-based approaches to patient care and update practice accordingly and in consultation with the team Attend and contribute to in-house training events. Take responsibility for own development including maintenance of a Personal Development Plan and record of learning, clinical supervision, staff appraisals, giving and receiving feedback, performance .management with the support and supervision of qualified staff Undertake regular mandatory training (child protection, vulnerable adults, basic life support, moving and handling etc). Confidentiality In the course of their duties, the Practice Nurse will have access to confidential information relating to patients, their carers and relatives and colleagues within and outside the practice. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business. All such information from any source whatsoever will be treated as strictly confidential. Information relating to patients, their carers and relatives and colleagues within and outside the practice and in relation to the practice as a business will only be shared in accordance with the practices Confidentiality Policy, the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act and in such a way that personal and sensitive patient-identifiable data is protected Equality and Diversity The Practice Nurse will comply with the practices Equality and Diversity Policy, including: Recognising the rights of patients, carers, relatives and colleagues and respecting their needs, beliefs, privacy and dignity Not discriminating against patients, carers, relatives or colleagues on the grounds of any of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 (or its amendments or later legislation)

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