Practice Nurse

• Fully competent and experienced in all general treatment room duties including venepuncture, performing ECGs, suture removal, ear irrigation, assisting with minor surgery
• Provide a holistic approach to wound management and implement wound care in line with current evidence based guidelines
• Offer advice about childhood and adult vaccinations and ensure vaccines are administered under patient group directions
• Running NHS Healthchecks and health promotion programmes, facilitating change by providing holistic assessment and lifestyle advice on diet, smoking, alcohol intake and exercise
• Management of hypertension
• Offer a holistic approach to travel health by providing comprehensive advice to patients prior to travel including; vaccinations and medicines, safe sex, food hygiene, sun protection
• Able to document consultations according to NMC guidelines
• Ability to recognise signs and symptoms of child abuse
• Perform a holistic assessment of patients attending for cervical cytology smear tests
• Assessing problems presented opportunistically by patients, dealing with minor injuries
• Ensures awareness of statutory and local clinical protection procedures, including systems of referral
• Able to recognise and manage anaphylaxis according to current UK guidelines
• Able to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation according to current UK guidelines
• Ability to obtain and document informed consent (either verbal or written)
• Ensure infection control guidelines are maintained
• Ability to monitor and manage maintenance of stock and equipment to include refrigeration and emergency equipment
• Contribute to the assessment of service needs
• Assist patients to identify their health needs
• Contribute a nursing perspective to the practice development plan
• Manage and organise individual patient consultations
• Aware of identification and reporting procedures related to professional standards
• Attend and participate in any Practice meetings when required
• Ensure effective relationships and communications with the PHCT and other agencies
• Support the Practice clinical governance agenda
• Identify changes to clinical practice that are required to implement evidence-based guidelines
• Identify personal development and training needs in conjunction with the manager
• Participate in clinical supervision
• Support others with their training and development needs
• To participate in continuing education and maintain a contemporary level of professional knowledge and skills
• Take reasonable care of his/her own safety and that of other persons who may be affected by his/her act or omission
• Co-operation with the practice to ensure all members of the team adheres to statutory regulations/policies and codes of practice and departments safety rules
• Offer innovative ways of working and opportunities to facilitate learning
• Facilitates a learning environment within the team
• Maintains a caring environment through the support of colleagues

Essential

• Experience of working in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct (2002) and The Scope of Professional Practice (1992)
• 12 months experience of working in Primary Care
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of a clinical system e.g. TPP SystmOne or EMIS
• Experience of Microsoft Office software

Desirable

• Knowledge of issues affecting General Practice

Essential

• RGN Qualification
• Current NMC Registration
• Cervical cytology qualification
• Foundation course in immunisation certificate

Desirable

• Ear irrigation certificate
• Travel health training certificate
• Contraception and sexual health qualification
• Long-term condition training certificates and experience
• Spirometry ARTP qualification

Essential

• Able to communicate complex strands of information to patients at an appropriate level of understanding
• Ability to demonstrate empathy
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Respond to verbal and non-verbal communication cues from patients and take appropriate action
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Essential

• A demonstrable commitment to professional development
• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexible approach to working hours
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality
• Ability to manage own time effectively and efficiently
• A smart, confident and respectful manner
• Ability to perform well under pressure
• Ability to use own initiative
• Ability to work as part of an integrate multi-skilled team
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Commitment to high levels of accuracy and contemporaneous data entry into patient medical records
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense