Practice Nurse in Crewe

The post holder is responsible for the delivery of general practice nursing to the whole practice population. They will provide and maintain a high standard of quality evidence‑based nursing care to meet the needs of patients, as well as providing nursing assistance to the doctors and other members of the primary healthcare team. The duties will include all tasks normally undertaken by an experienced RGN within a primary care setting and, in addition, any roles agreed between the nurse and the doctors as appropriate, having regard to current training. The post holder will use their own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense and show flexibility with regard to rotas and working patterns.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake assessment and management of patients with chronic diseases.
• Offer advice about childhood and adult vaccinations and ensure vaccines are administered under patient group directions.
• Run well‑person clinics and health promotion programmes by providing holistic assessment and lifestyle advice on diet, smoking, alcohol intake and exercise.
• Assess problems presented opportunistically by patients, dealing with minor illness.
• Perform a holistic assessment of patients attending for cervical cytology smear tests.
• Provide a holistic approach to wound management and implement wound care in line with current evidence‑based guidelines.
• Suture removal, wound care / ulcer care.
• Request pathology tests (e.g., urine culture, swabs).
• Offer a holistic approach to travel health by providing comprehensive advice to patients prior to travel, including vaccinations, medicines, safe sex, food hygiene, and sun protection.
• Document consultations according to NMC guidelines and maintain accurate records.
• Obtain and document informed consent (verbal or written).
• Be aware of statutory and local clinical protection procedures, including referral systems.
• Recognise signs and symptoms of child abuse.
• Recognise and manage anaphylaxis in accordance with current UK guidelines.
• Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation in accordance with current UK guidelines.
• Ensure infection control guidelines are maintained.
• Monitor and manage stock (including vaccinations) and equipment (including refrigeration and emergency equipment).
• Follow agreed clinical protocols with referral to Senior Nurses or GPs as appropriate.
• Contribute to the assessment of service needs.
• Assist patients to identify their health needs.
• Contribute a nursing perspective to the practice development plan.
• Manage and organise individual patient consultations.
• Be aware of identification and reporting procedures related to professional standards.
• Maintain and clean equipment used by nurses and GPs.
• Maintain GP and nurse rooms, stock, and rotate items as required.
• Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms.
• Chaperone and assist patients being examined by another clinician.
• Participate in any practice meetings when required.
• Undertake home visits when required.
• Accept any other delegated duties appropriate to the post.
• Identify changes to clinical practice required to implement evidence‑based guidelines.

Personal / Professional Development

• Participate in any training programme offered by the practice as part of the employment.
• Undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
• Participate in an annual individual performance review and maintain a record of personal and professional development.
• Identify training needs, demonstrate skills, and share learning with peers.
• Participate in continuing education to maintain contemporary professional knowledge and skills.
• Participate in clinical supervision.
• Support others with their training and development needs (e.g., student nurses, peers).
• Attend staff meetings and practice team meetings.

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information related to their health and other matters. They 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, as well as information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source must be regarded as strictly confidential and 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 assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others' health, safety and security as defined in the practice health & safety policies. They will identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake such activities in a way that manages those risks, use training to update knowledge and skills, and apply appropriate infection control procedures. Work areas will be kept tidy and safe, free from hazards, and incidents will be reported as per practice policy. Potential risks identified will be reported and addressed.

Equality and Diversity

The post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples’ rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies and current legislation. They will respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues and behave in a non‑judgmental respectful manner.

Quality and Service Improvement

The post holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice by applying practice policies, standards and guidance, alerting other team members to issues of quality and risk, self‑assessing performance, contributing to the effectiveness of the team through reflection, and making suggestions for improvement. They will work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients’ needs, manage own time and resources, and participate in audit where appropriate.

Communication

The post holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to communicate effectively with other team members, patients and carers. They will recognise peoples’ needs for alternative communication methods, respond accordingly, and maintain effective relationships and communications both internally and with external agencies such as CCG, PCN and others.

Safeguarding

Be committed to and responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults‑at‑risk, children and young people, ensuring they are protected from harm.

Data Protection

All members of staff are bound by the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018; any breach could lead to dismissal.

Travel

The role may require travel within a 10‑mile radius of the practice. Where the post holder uses their own vehicle, they must ensure it is insured for business use.

The role of the practice nurse is evolving; it is anticipated that the post holder will be responsible and reasonably flexible in the interpretation of the above job description. This description covers the main duties expected, which may be revised from time to time following consultation with the post holder.