Practice Nurse Specialist

Job Summary

The successful candidate will work at Southview Medical Practice to enhance nursing services within the practice. The practice nurse will undertake a range of nursing assessments and provide appropriate care/treatment in conjunction with GPs, and practice nurses or independently as appropriate for the need, according to practice policy, protocols, etc. The practice nurse will strive to improve standards of care and be involved in identifying practice population needs.

Main Duties of the Job

Professional Responsibilities:

• Assist GPs to help deliver effective implementation of management of patients with chronic diseases as detailed by the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
• Contribute to the development of policies/protocols/guidelines within the practice.
• Aid the practice team with implementation of new initiatives in the delivery of chronic disease management services.
• Formulate reports as required for the practice manager and/or senior nurse.
• Support the implementation of evidence-based guidelines in conjunction with the practice nursing team.
• Encourage the development of integrated services within Primary Care to include integrated practice-based teams and multidisciplinary working.
• Promote the continuing professional development of yourself and other nurses & HCAs within the practice.
• Recognise the opportunities for working in partnership with the Primary Health care team.

Leadership

• Provide professional and managerial support to, health care assistants and review and monitoring of patients within primary care.
• Offer guidance and support to health care assistants to improve standards of care if needed.
• Participate in chronic disease management clinics within the practice if asked and only after appropriate training, & provide practical assistance and professional advice to achieve minimum standards of care.
• Provide clinical input where required alongside practice nurses, particularly newly appointed nurses and GPs, to assist in skill development and sharing of best practice.
• Delegate to others, with appropriate skills, knowledge, and competence.
• Encourage nursing practice in line with relevant evidence-based research.
• Act as a resource to the general public, patients within the healthcare system, and their families, carers, and various healthcare professionals.

Clinical

• Work alongside Health Care Assistants to help develop their skills.
• Support the practice in achieving quality indicators and targets of the GMS contract and any relevant National Service Frameworks.
• Perform basic nursing duties: venepuncture and ECG.
• Undertake wound care/management/dressing techniques.
• Undertake male, female, and family planning assessments, give advice, and refer patients appropriately.
• Perform cervical screening and promote breast awareness.
• Undertake accredited training in specific chronic disease management as/or if required. Diabetes, respiratory, epilepsy, CHD, etc. following appropriate training.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the practice diseases registers.
• Provide advice on lifestyle issues, assist, and support patients in changing their unhealthy behaviours and refer appropriately.
• Provide an adult and childhood immunisation service working to Patient Group Directions.
• Deliver travel health advice NHS only.
• Recognise the signs of child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse, addictive behaviours, suicidal tendencies, and is aware of local, referral procedures.
• Ensure that current evidence-based approaches to patients are standard practice.
• Apply infection control measures when collecting and handling of laboratory specimens, disposing of waste materials, dealing with blood and body fluid spillages, and report and treat sharps injuries.
• Undertake first aid and management of emergencies, burns, haemorrhage, hypo/hyperglycaemic emergencies/asthma attacks.
• Undertake annual training and demonstrates 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/support to health care professionals within the Primary health care team.
• Following identified training needs, participate in training and facilitation of other practice nurses & 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 healthcare, 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 programmes.
• Take responsibility for personal development and education, including in-service training.
• Direct, supervise, and help mentor nurses and healthcare 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 & NMC.
• Participate in an annual appraisal.

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 audit 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.

Competence

• 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 Nurse Manager in the first instance.

Registered Health Professional

• All employees of Southview Medical Practice who are required to register with a professional body, to enable them to practice within their profession, are required to comply with their code of conduct and requirements of their professional registration.

Supervision

• Where the appropriate professional organisation details a requirement in relation to supervision, it is the responsibility of the post holder to ensure compliance with this requirement. If you are in any doubt about the existence of such a requirement, in the first instance, advice should be sought from the Nurse Manager.

Risk Management

• It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of Southview Medical Practice that they fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions, and reporting of all incidents, near misses, and hazards.

Records Management

• As an employee of Southview Medical Practice, you are legally responsible for all records that you gather, create, or use as part of your work within the Organisation (including patient health, financial, personal, and administrative), whether paper-based or on computer. All such records are considered public records, and you have a legal duty of confidence to service users (even after an employee has left the LHB). You should consult the Practice Manager if you have any doubt as to the correct management of records with which you work.

Health and Safety Requirements

• All employees of Southview Medical Practice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable the practice to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.

Flexibility Statement

• The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is therefore not a precise catalogue of duties and responsibilities. The Job Description is therefore intended to be flexible and is subject to review and amendment in the light of changing circumstances, following consultation with the post holder.

Confidentiality

• All employees of Southview Medical Practice are required to maintain the confidentiality of members of the public and members of staff in accordance with Southview Medical Practice policies.

Equality

• Southview Medical Practice will take all practicable steps to ensure that staff are recruited, managed, developed, promoted, and rewarded on merit, and that equal opportunities are given to all staff. Each employee is responsible for his or her own professional and personal behaviour, and there is a requirement of all staff to conduct themselves in a manner which does not cause offence to another person.