Practice Nurse

Blackhall and Peterlee Practice has an exciting opportunity for a Practice Nurse to join our team. We are looking for an enthusiastic, caring, and motivated professional with excellent clinical, organisational, and communication skills, who has the ability to work autonomously. The successful candidate will provide high-quality nursing care, with diabetes management as a key priority, alongside wider chronic disease management. Ideally, experience and confidence in delivering diabetes reviews, patient education, and ongoing management plans is desirable. Additional responsibilities include cervical cytology, immunisations, wound care, health promotion, and minor illness treatment.

Main duties of the job include:

• Conduct chronic disease management clinics, including diabetes, asthma, COPD and hypertension
• Perform cervical cytology and sexual health advice
• Administer vaccinations and immunisations, including childhood and travel vaccines
• Provide wound care, including dressings and suture removal
• Conduct health checks and screenings
• Manage minor illnesses and injuries providing treatment and advice
• Assist with minor surgical procedures and perform ECGs

Health Promotion:

• Provide lifestyle advice, including smoking cessation, weight management and dietary advice.
• Support patients in managing their long-term condition through education and self-care advice.

Administration and Professional Responsibilities:

• Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records of all consultations and treatments using the practice's clinical system, SystmOne
• Participate in clinical audits and contribute to the practice's QOF targets
• Assist in the development and implementation of practice policies and protocols
• Attend and participate in practice meetings as required
• Restocking and maintenance of clinical areas and consulting rooms
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post

Confidentiality:

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 and Safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others' health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health and Safety Policy and Infection Control Policy.

Equality and Diversity:

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

Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment.

Communication:

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will apply practice policies, standards and guidance.

Person Specification:

• Demonstrable interpersonal skills and communication skills
• Evidence of problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Understanding the importance of evidence-based practice
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of Infection Prevention Control
• Understand the requirement for PGDs, PSDs and associated policies

Experience:

• Experience of working in accordance with the UKCC code of professional conduct
• Experience of working in a GP practice or in a primary care setting
• Experience of dealing with patients independently on a one-to-one basis
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Independent travel is essential along with the ability to work effectively as part of a team to assist the practice in providing an excellent standard of patient care.
• Chronic disease management, specifically Diabetes.
• Knowledge of SystmOne.

Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse RN with current NMC registration
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Full driving license holder
• Cervical cytology qualification
• Childhood immunisations and travel vaccination.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.