Practice Nurse

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated and enthusiastic Practice Nurse, with a current NMC registration to join our team at Compass House. This is a permanent contract of 34-38 hours per week. The working pattern would be three to four days, 8am to 6pm, including a Friday, and Enhanced Access cover until 8pm on a Tuesday evening on a rota basis. We are based in a fantastic purpose-built Centre in Brixham, have a growing list size of 15,000+ patients. We are rated Outstanding by CQC and have achieved Investors in People Gold award.

Main duties of the job

Working in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct, the post-holder will provide assessment, treatment, screening, health education services and advice to patients.

About us

Compass House is a dynamic, forward-thinking practice and we are seeking a nurse with a similar outlook to join us in developing our exciting plans for the future. We have an excellent support team, high patient satisfaction scores and low staff turnover, offering a rewarding environment.

Job responsibilities

• REPORTS TO: Nurse Manager
• HOURS: 34-38 hours per week

Job summary:

Working in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct, the post-holder will provide assessment, treatment, screening, health education services and advice to patients. The post-holder will work with reference to practice agreed protocols and guidelines, providing nursing treatments to patients both independently and in participation with nurse colleagues and general practitioners. The post-holder will have the required level of training and competence and will work within patient group directions where these are available. A nurse with prescribing qualifications will use them appropriately.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Managing chronic disease
• Identifying significant abnormalities
• Diagnosis, monitoring and development of individual management plans; agreeing these as appropriate with the patient and other health professionals
• Therapeutic monitoring
• Checking compliance with and adherence to appropriate treatments using a holistic patient‑centred approach
• Recognising abnormalities
• Identifying the impact of treatment and implementing or recommending changes as appropriate.
• Wound Care and management
• Assessing routine wounds including trauma
• Assessing and prescribing to support good wound management in complex situations (e.g. use of Doppler technique)
• Identifying significant abnormalities
• Obtaining appropriate information using a lifestyle questioning approach and identifying appropriate health promotion issues
• Working with patients to develop a management plan where health problems or potential health problems are identified
• Recognising issues and gathering sufficient information to refer (e.g. drugs; domestic violence; child protection; vulnerable adults; senior patients; social problems)
• Health screening
• Recognising issues and gathering sufficient information to refer (e.g. women's and men's health, sexual health, older people)
• Undertaking monitoring tasks (e.g. smears) and providing advice as appropriate
• Providing in‑depth monitoring and advice as appropriate to the level of the post‑holder’s specialty and working with the patient in deciding on management plans.
• Travel health
• Administering injections and providing guidance in accordance with guidelines
• Identifying problems
• Provision of specialist and evidence‑based support to the team.
• Immunisation (adult and child)
• Working with patients with more complex immunisation issues.
• First contact
• Working independently or alongside the general practitioner and making decisions/recommendations as appropriate.
• Treatment Room Duties
• Venepuncture
• ECG
• Minor operations
• Assisting the general practitioner and/or undertaking some simple procedures
• Providing routine ear care
• Dealing with more complex problems and prescribing if appropriate.
• Being proactive in the identification of Carers
• Mental health
• Communicating with key workers
• Administering appropriate prescribed therapies and monitoring for side effects.

Special requirements for the post

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• An ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness, common sense and local knowledge, to respond to patients enquiries and requests while adhering to practice limitations
• An understanding and acceptance of one's capabilities and awareness of own limitations
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Basic keyboard and computer skills
• UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes

Person Specification

• Qualifications: NMC Registration
• Experience: A demonstrable commitment to professional development. Involvement in implementing and using protocols and clinical guidelines. Working in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct. Multi‑skilled approach to Chronic Disease Management. Experience of working in Primary Care.
• Knowledge and Skills: Effective communication and interpersonal skills. Knowledge and understanding of current national developments and trends in health care, quality assurance and practice development. Clinical skills as part of Practice Nurse duties.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.