Practice Nurse

1. Working autonomously and using sound clinical judgement and knowledge to provide a wide range of nursing services within agreed practice protocols, guidelines (both local and national), PGDs and PSDs including the following areas: Contraceptive checks, family planning and sexual health advice, monitoring and administration. Cervical cytology programme once adequately trained. Investigations including swabs, urinalysis, venepuncture, capillary blood testing, BP measurement, 24hour BP monitoring, ECGs, assessing and dealing with results with appropriate onward referral to other members of the clinical team. Immunisations, including childhood, adult, travel, flu and any additional immunisation programmes, as directed. Care within the Local Enhanced and Direct Enhanced Service contracts including, D-dimer assays, Health Checks, Near Patient Testing, Prostate and PSA, Alcohol Monitoring, Post-Operative care, Minor Surgery and Minor Injury services. INR/Warfarin initiation and monitoring,
warfarin dosing service based on practice protocol, INR Star computer dosing program, ensuring safe patient management and appropriate onward referral if results are outside of safe levels. Wound assessment: provide care using appropriate dressing treatments to promote healing. Ongoing management assessing for progress or deterioration and acting on findings appropriately to promote healing and minimise discomfort and distress to the patient. Chronic disease monitoring and management in regular clinics which includes Diabetes, CHD, Stroke, Hypertension, Mental Health, Learning Disability, Peripheral Vascular Disease, CKD and Rheumatoid Disease, ensuring that patients with a change in condition or bloods/measurements outside of target range are dealt with appropriately through action or onward referral. To develop skills in the diagnosis, monitoring and ongoing management of patients with respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD and interstitial lung disease. To take an active role in
developing innovations to improve care and admission avoidance for this group of patients. Urgent care for patients who may be present at surgery with breathing difficulties such as asthma or COPD, or chest pain ensuring help has been summoned. Ear care and advice. 2. To continually improve the reputation of Market Surgery for its nursing services by: Meeting accepted standards of best practice. Working effectively and efficiently with clinicians, other staff, suppliers and community colleagues. Adhering to the approved infection control policy, using appropriate PPE, handwashing and taking an active part in clinical cleaning procedures and clinical checks to ensure a safe environment in which to provide patient care. Providing timely assessment of patients raising concerns and/or discussing symptoms during a consultation ensuring appropriate advice/feedback and/or onward referral to other members of the health care team. Recognising and reporting Safeguarding concerns for both adults and
children. Demonstrating effective time management, organising and prioritising regular workload within timings of clinics and accommodating urgent patients where needed. Recording all data in patient records in a timely manner as required by the NMC code using accurate read coding to allow audit and statistical assessment. Recognising barriers to effective communication in patients, such as altered perception, hearing loss, pain, fear and making allowances for this. Providing support and training to less qualified members of the nursing team and taking an active role in practical training of medical students and GP Registrars. 3. To alert the Nurse Manager, Doctors and/or the Practice Manager to any potential problems and to consider/suggest/take corrective action as and when required. 4. To read and follow all standard operating procedures, including CQC protocols, at all times maintaining the highest levels of service delivery to patients, doctors, staff and external
providers. 5. To read and follow the approved Information Governance policy, at all times maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality regarding patient, colleague and commercial information and to report any breach or suspected breach immediately. 6. At all times, to maintain the highest standards of behaviour, to comply with and follow practice policies, protocols and procedures e.g. health & safety, equality & diversity and to report any breach or suspected breach immediately. 7. To provide cover for members of the nursing team during periods of sickness and annual leave. 8. To undertake regular mandatory training and personal development, to keep PDP and professional registration up to date and to attend staff meetings. To achieve Level 2 in Safeguarding children training within 6 weeks of being in post. 9. To undertake any other activities that may from time to time be reasonably requested by the Nurse Manager, the Practice Manager or the
Partners. This job description is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder, agreement to such changes is not to be unreasonably withheld.