Practice Nurse in Carnforth

Main duties and responsibilities

Chronic disease management

• The postholder will

• Independently assess, monitor and review patients with chronic diseases and long-term conditions
• Undertake structured reviews in line with current guidance, local pathways and practice protocols
• Monitor symptoms, clinical observations, medication, test results and disease control
• Recognise deterioration or changes in a patients condition and take appropriate action
• Escalate or refer patients to a GP or other clinician where required
• Support patients to understand and self-manage their conditions
• Provide health promotion, lifestyle and preventative care advice
• Develop and review personalised care plans where appropriate
• Support practice recall systems and contractual requirements, including QOF
• Maintain accurate coding and clinical records
• Contribute to the development and improvement of chronic disease services
• The conditions managed will depend on the postholders qualifications, experience and demonstrated competence.
• Treatment room duties
• The postholder will undertake treatment room duties within their competence, including:
• Administering prescribed injections and medicines
• Providing routine immunisations and vaccinations
• Supporting seasonal and national vaccination programmes
• Assessing and treating wounds
• Applying and changing dressings
• Removing sutures and clips
• Undertaking relevant clinical observations and diagnostic procedures
• Obtaining specimens and carrying out point-of-care testing where required
• Providing cervical screening where appropriately trained
• Delivering care under Patient Group Directions or other appropriate legal authorisation
• Maintaining vaccine cold-chain requirements
• Managing treatment room equipment, supplies and stock
• Following infection prevention and control procedures
• Travel health

• Where appropriately trained and competent, the postholder may

• Undertake individual travel health risk assessments
• Review vaccination histories
• Provide evidence-based travel health advice
• Recommend and administer appropriate travel vaccinations
• Provide advice on malaria prevention and other travel-related risks
• Recognise when specialist advice or onward referral is required
• Travel health experience is desirable but is not essential.
• Clinical care and patient safety

• The postholder will

• Deliver safe, compassionate and evidence-based care
• Work within the NMC Code and their professional scope of practice
• Obtain informed consent and respect patient dignity, privacy and choice
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent or deteriorating patients
• Seek advice when a clinical situation is outside their competence
• Follow practice policies, clinical protocols and national guidance
• Administer and record medicines safely
• Report incidents, near misses and clinical concerns
• Participate in significant event reviews and shared learning
• Recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns
• Communication and multidisciplinary working

• The postholder will

• Communicate clearly, sensitively and professionally with patients, carers and colleagues
• Adapt communication to meet individual patient needs
• Work collaboratively with GPs, the Advanced Nurse Practitioner, nursing, dispensary, reception and administration teams
• Work closely with the District Nursing Team and Western Dales PCN team based on site
• Liaise with Social Prescribing Link Workers, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, First Contact MSK Physiotherapists, Clinical Pharmacists and Mental Health Practitioners
• Participate in relevant clinical, nursing, practice and multidisciplinary meetings
• Provide clear clinical handovers and referrals
• Support continuity and coordination of patient care
• Manage difficult or sensitive conversations professionally
• Promote a positive and respectful team environment
• Independent working

• The postholder will

• Plan and manage their own clinics and workload
• Prioritise care according to clinical need
• Use clinical judgement to make safe decisions
• Work within agreed professional and clinical boundaries
• Recognise their limitations and seek advice appropriately
• Respond flexibly to changes in workload and service requirements
• Work at either practice site where required
• Leadership and team development
• Depending on experience and agreed responsibilities, the postholder may:
• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to the nursing team
• Assist with the coordination and development of nursing services
• Promote consistent standards of clinical care
• Support the induction, supervision and development of colleagues
• Assist with competency assessment and training
• Identify service pressures, risks and training needs
• Contribute to the review of clinical policies and procedures
• Support implementation of new clinical guidance and service changes
• Promote learning and continuous improvement
• Leadership experience is desirable but is not essential.
• Clinical records and confidentiality

• The postholder will

• Maintain accurate, clear and contemporaneous clinical records
• Record assessments, advice, care plans and treatments appropriately
• Use agreed clinical codes and templates
• Maintain patient and organisational confidentiality
• Comply with UK GDPR, data protection and information governance requirements
• Access and share information only where professionally and lawfully appropriate
• Report any confidentiality or information security concerns
• Infection prevention and control

• The postholder will

• Follow practice infection prevention and control policies
• Apply standard precautions and use personal protective equipment appropriately
• Maintain safe and clean clinical environments
• Clean and decontaminate equipment appropriately
• Dispose of clinical waste and sharps safely
• Report infection prevention and control concerns
• Participate in relevant audits and training
• Quality, governance and professional development

• The postholder will

• Participate in clinical audit and quality improvement
• Support the practice in meeting contractual, regulatory and professional requirements
• Contribute to significant event analysis and shared learning
• Identify and report clinical or organisational risks
• Contribute to the development of practice protocols
• Participate in mandatory training, appraisal and performance review
• Maintain current NMC registration and meet revalidation requirements
• Take responsibility for maintaining their professional competence
• Keep up to date with relevant clinical guidance and legislation
• Maintain an appropriate continuing professional development portfolio
• Support students or other learners where appropriately experienced
• Health, safety and equality

• The postholder will

• Follow practice health and safety, fire safety and lone-working procedures
• Use clinical equipment safely and only where trained and competent
• Report hazards, accidents and near misses
• Treat patients and colleagues fairly, respectfully and without discrimination
• Support equality of access to practice services
• Recognise individual patient needs and make reasonable adjustments where appropriate
• General responsibilities

• The postholder will

• Work flexibly to meet the reasonable needs of the practice
• Work at the Kirkby Lonsdale and Hornby sites where required
• Comply with practice policies and procedures
• Attend relevant practice meetings and training
• Maintain professional standards of conduct
• Promote the values and reputation of Lunesdale Surgery
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the role

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post and is not exhaustive.

It may be reviewed following discussion with the postholder to reflect changes in service requirements, guidance or legislation.

• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
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