Practice Nurse

• Chronic disease management (Asthma/COPD, Diabetes, CHD, Hypertension)
• Contraception
• Cytology
• Wound Care/Doppler
• Travel Health
• ECG's
• Venepuncture
• Routine immunisation/Childhood Immunisation

• Registered General Nurse with evidence of current NMC registration
• Diploma in chronic disease management e.g. Respiratory, Diabetes, CHD and willingness to work towards any not yet obtained
• Qualifications/signed competencies in the activities listed below and a willingness to work towards any not yet obtained

• Provide a high quality, safe and supportive environment for patients, meeting their identified physical and psycho-social needs within the scope of individual accountable practice.
• Work within Practice guidelines, policies, protocols and procedures reporting outcomes to appropriate clinical staff so standards of care can be monitored and improved where necessary. This includes adhering to the following agendas: infection control, equality and diversity, health and safety.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, carers, relatives and members of the multidisciplinary team ensuring information is shared appropriately and confidentially so patient needs are met in accordance with NHS directives and safeguarding policies (DH 2003; DH 2010).
• Protect and maintain patient records to the agreed Practice standard and in accordance with professional record keeping standards (NMC 2009).
• Administer medicines in accordance with a non-medical prescribing framework, patient specific direction or patient group direction in accordance with the standards for medicine management (NMC 2007).
• Organise, manage and prioritise own workload ensuring care of patients is paramount.
• Develop the role by using evidence-based practice and continuously improving own knowledge as defined in the PREP handbook (NMC 2011) and revalidation guidelines.

• Chronic disease management: Respiratory Disease (Asthma/COPD), Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Hypertension Management Applicant should hold diploma(s) or be willing to train
• Assist in/perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff and GPs
• Contraception
• Cytology
• Wound care / ulcer care / Doppler
• Travel Health
• Removal of Sutures
• New Patient Medicals / Urinalysis
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• Routine immunisations / Childhood immunisations
• Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician
• Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs
• Other tasks will include
• Maintaining and cleaning equipment used by the nurses and GPs
• Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms, including stocking and rotating items as required
• Ordering of vaccinations to maintain stock levels
• Participation in administrative systems in the Practice
• At all times there will be a need to maintain accurate records
• Attend and participate in any Practice meetings when required.
• On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visits
• Mentorship of nurses and HCA
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post

• A willingness to undertake additional courses, training and education to meet the needs of the position; this includes attendance at on and off-site meetings and some study during non-working hours.
• A willingness to adapt working practice to meet changing practice and service development.
• Flexibility of working across sites when required.
• Performance is monitored on an ongoing basis and formally appraised annually.

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder will have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role
• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)
• Reporting potential risks identified
• Waste management, including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection.

• Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

• 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

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate.

Essential

• Able to provide high standards of care.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work within a team and independently.
• Time management skills.
• Able to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability.
• Punctuality and reliability.
• Able to work autonomously.