NURSE PRACTITIONER

The aim of the Vawas service is to provide a high level of personalised care to the elderly population within care homes and those patients living in their own homes. Their needs can be very complex and it is essential that the Vawas nurses, both ANP's and Nurse Practitioners work in conjunction with the aligned GP practice to provide and support the multi-disciplinary team as a whole. You will be required to work alongside GP's, Pharmacists, District Nurses and Care co-ordinators to carry out the Enhanced Health in Care Homes Specification.

HOURS: 21 - 25 hours per week

The

Nurse Practitioner (NP) will act autonomously within their professional scope

of practice providing care for patients face to face, telephone consultations

and visits to local care homes as part of the bigger Vawas (Vulnerable Adult

Wrap Around Service) team.

The postholder must hold an Independent Prescribing qualification.

The

postholder will operate within their own sphere of competence and agreed

acceptable limits of practice to provide expert professional clinical advice to

patients, carers and colleagues, ensuring clinical safety and excellence in

conjunction with the Advanced Nurse Practitioners within the team.

The Nurse Practitioner will need to prioritise and triage the needs of patients,

accordingly, making any necessary referrals for investigations in the

appropriate manner.

The postholder will use skills, knowledge and competencies as a

qualified Nurse Practitioner in order to be responsible and accountable for

managing patient caseloads for treatments, referral, admission and discharging

patients as appropriate.

Clinical Nursing Practice

as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver safe and high quality

care.

out clinical nursing practice at a nurse practitioner level using expert clinical

skills, critical judgements & knowledge to deliver appropriate and

safe care.

Delivery of care

in line with NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care

and treat patients, performing specialist assessment of their needs and

make referrals as necessary to other members of the primary and secondary

health care teams as appropriate.

Co-ordinate the

planning and delivery of care ensuring patients and carers/relatives are

involved.

needs and in accordance with latest evidence-based practice, national and practice

protocols and within the scope of qualified practice.

and manage acute and chronic conditions, including drug and non-drug based

treatment methods into a management plan.

Request

diagnostic investigations and interpret within agreed protocols e.g. x-ray,

blood tests, scans, etc.

diagnose and treat patients in care homes and their own home who require

medical attention and/or refer to appropriate agency.

patients to other members of the multi-disciplinary practice teams, secondary

care organisations and other organisations as necessary.

Care Management

Communicates confidential and sensitive

information to patients, relatives and carers in relation to their condition.

Provide highly specialised care advice

beyond the scope of normal Nursing practice e.g. care treatment plans, making

referrals as appropriate (including fast track referrals).

Contribute to local targets as set out

in the Vawas contract.

To monitor and meet care outcomes

against standards and recommend or initiate changes as necessary.

Health Improvement

Management of health screening

programmes and ensures other team members are aware of health priorities and

screening objectives and programmes.

Improve health outcomes for patients by

introducing new developments and can demonstrate them as reports and

presentations where appropriate.

Supports practitioners in reporting the

service population to promote health improvement and disease prevention.

Makes referrals to appropriate agencies

(statutory and voluntary) where necessary

Providing

Assessment, screening services, health education advice

These may include (but not

restricted to);

services for the Vawas service as appropriate

Administration

and professional responsibilities

Produce

accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation,

consistent with legislation, policies and procedures

administrative and professional responsibilities of the service team

notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients

notes

up to date, recording and/or amending accurate details

completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health

care and registration with the practice

in practice meetings as required

The VAWAS team currently comprises of 12 Advanced Nurse Practitioners and 2 Nurse Practitioner looking after elderly patients in approximately 60 care homes across Sedgefield and Easington.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Skills