Primary Care Practice Nurse

Job responsibilities

PRACTICE NURSE JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Primary Care Practice Nurse

Hours of work: Negotiable

ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Managerially Accountable to: Nurse Manager

Clinically Accountable to: GP Partners

Professionally Accountable to: GP Partners & NMC

JOB PURPOSE

Undertake a range of nursing assessments and provide appropriate care and treatment in conjunction with GPs according to practice policy, protocols etc.

Strive to improve standards of care and be involved in identifying the practice population needs.

Chronic Disease Management is an essential part of the role as well as the mentoring of the Health Care Assistants.

Knowledge of the GMS contract, Quality and Outcomes Framework and LES/DES is a vital element of the post.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Professional Responsibilities

• Assist the GPs to help deliver effective implementation of the management of patients with chronic diseases as detailed by the Quality and Outcomes Framework.

• Support the implementation of evidence based guidelines in conjunction with the Practice Nursing Team.

• Encourage the development of integrated services with Primary Care to include integrated practice based teams and multidisciplinary working.

• Promote your own continuing professional development.

• Recognise the opportunities for working in partnership with the Primary Health Care Team.

Clinical

• Support the practice in achieving quality indicators and targets of the GMS contract and any relevant National Service Frameworks.

• Experience in Chronic Disease Management or willingness to undertake training.

• Undertake opportunistic screening when clinically required.

• Perform venepuncture and electrocardiography.

• Undertake wound care/management/dressing techniques.

• Perform cervical screening and promote breast awareness.

• Administer adult and paediatric injections under an individualised prescription or Patient Group Direction, ensuring safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.

• Provide advice on lifestyle issues, assist and support patients in changing their unhealthy behaviours and refer appropriately.

• Group Directions following appropriate training if required.

• Deliver travel health care including vaccinations and advice for patients, following appropriate training if required.

• Recognise the signs of child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse, addictive behaviours, suicidal tendencies and be aware of local referral procedures.

• Ensure that current evidence based approaches to patients are standard practice.

• Apply infection control measures when collecting and handling laboratory specimens, disposing of waste materials, dealing with blood and body fluids spillages and report and treat sharps injuries.

• Undertake first aid and management of emergencies.

• Undertake annual training and demonstrate competency in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques.

Research, Audit and Quality

• Encourage the development of a practice audit strategy and action plan for Primary Care.

• Contribute to the provision of equitable high quality services for patients in the locality.

• Help support the integration across Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Care Services.

• Maintain an interest in national research initiatives and disseminate appropriate information to health professionals if asked to do so.

• Ensure all care is evidence based using up to date validated literature.

• Contribute to research and development programmes where required to improve clinical practice.

Education and Training

• Provide professional advice and support to health care professionals within the Primary Health Care Team.

• Following identified training needs, participate in training and facilitation of other Practice Nurses and Health Care Assistants.

• Provide mentorship and guidance for Health Care Assistants.

• Participate in partnership programmes of awareness raising, detection and prevention of chronic diseases.

• Maintain a level of expertise in specific chronic disease management (when appropriate) and other pertinent areas of health care and seek to develop new and improved skills.

• Advise members of the public on the concepts of health promotion, education, prevention and protection.

• Seek out new knowledge of nursing and health by reading, enquiring and partaking in continuous education programme.

• Take responsibility for personal development and education including in-service training.

• Direct, supervise and help mentor Nurses and Health care Assistants in the clinical setting.

• Actively participate in multidisciplinary education and training.

• Monitor and maintain consistency of professional standards and take appropriate action if standards are not met.

• Maintain professional development by attending relevant courses and study days to keep abreast of current knowledge and developments.

• Abide by the legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice and record and maintain periodic professional registration with RCN and NMC.

• Participate in annual appraisal.

• Completing all mandatory training modules as specified by the organisation.

Quality

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.

• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions either directly or under supervision.

• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.

• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.

• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication

• Maintain communication and liaise with other disciplines across Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Care Services as and when necessary.

• Contribute to and work effectively within the Primary Care Team.

• Assist in clinical audits and the setting and monitoring of standards of care.

• Maintain accurate patient records.

• Advise and support other members of the team aiming towards common objectives.

COMPETANCE

You are responsible for limiting your actions to those which you feel competent to undertake. If you have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties you should immediately speak to the lead clinician in the first instance.

REGISTERED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

Maintain registration with the NMC and Medical Indemnity provided by the organisation.

SUPERVISION

Where the appropriate professional organisation details a requirement in relation to supervision, it is the ...