Practice Nurse

Job summary

Assisting medical personnel in the care of practice patients, to include treatment, preventative care, screening and patient education. A special interest in Diabetes is preferred.

Job responsibilities

Providing assessment, screening and treatment services and health education advice

Provision of nursing services for the practice, to include the delegation of duties to other practice nursing staff as appropriate

Provide nursing treatments to patients in participation with general practitioners or independently, meeting agreed protocols

Provide general and specific health screenings to practice patients (within agreed protocols) with referral to general practitioners as necessary

Advise patients on general health care and minor ailments with referral to GPs as necessary

Supplies and equipment treatment room and other areas

In participation with the practice manager, ensure the maintenance of equipment and stock levels relating to patient care

Pathological specimens and investigatory procedures

Following appropriate training, undertake the collection, storage and despatch of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs, smears etc. and ensure the cleanliness of any equipment so used. Perform any investigatory procedures requested by the GPs.

Administrative and professional responsibilities

Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team

Complete the annual infection control audit maintaining the practices high standards. Provide feedback to the practice team.

Ensure accurate notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes on the clinical computer system as appropriate

Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice

Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports

Attend and participate in practice meetings as required

Assist in the formulation of practice philosophy, strategy and policy and develop appropriate protocols

Maintain a notice board in the waiting area designated for patient health care education

Research projects

Co-operate and participate as required in any research projects within the practice

Student, staff education and training

Participate in the education and training of students of all disciplines and the induction of all members of practice staff with special responsibility for nursing staff

Liaison

Maintain effective liaison with other agencies and staff concerned with patient care and with all other disciplines within the practice, with appropriate regard to confidentiality Professional development Maintain continued education by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development

Confidentiality

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 may 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

Health & safety

The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport Management and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the practice including provision, ordering, availability and ongoing correct usage by staff Responsible for hand hygiene across the practice Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols across the practice Active observation of current working practices across the practice in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processes Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate. Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually) Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection Spillage control procedures, management and training Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance Maintenance of sterile environments Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Equality and diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of indivduals 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 that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, to include:

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

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

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

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

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

Contribution to the Implementation of Services

The post-holder will:

Apply practice policies, standards and guidance Discuss with other team members how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect their own work Participate in audits where appropriate Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in accordance with the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct and The Scope of Professional Practice Experience of dealing with the public/patients Experience of EMIS clinical system Experience of Microsoft Office software Competent in basic nursing duties required for the post Excellent communication skills Specific nursing skills / qualifications for any declared special interests

Desirable

Flexibility of working hours/ able to work at the desired times Experience of Primary Care Car driver/clean licence

Qualities and Attributes

Essential

Able to demonstrate enthusiasm to developing nursing skills An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities Ability to develop a lead nurse role Ability to work as part of a multi-skilled team Articulate in both spoken and written word Able to work under pressure Able to work in a changing environment Able to use own initiative

Qualifications

Essential

Registered General Nurse Appropriate Qualifications/Diplomas/Certificates for any declared special interests A demonstrable commitment to professional development

Desirable

Qualification in diabetes care

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