Practice Nurse (6 - 12 Month's Temporary Contract)

To assist medical personnel in the care of practice patients to include treatment, preventative care, screening and patient education and health promotion.

Main duties of the job:

• Venesection for defined range of blood tests or where clinically appropriate.
• General nursing duties where appropriate, management of continued care and pathway treatments for chronic disease patients.
• Administration of vaccines and immunisations according to government/NHS guidelines to appropriate groups.
• Assessing minor illness patients and where appropriate discussing suitable treatments with the patients.
• Efficient running of Cervical Cytology Programme according to training and qualifications.
• Taking of cervical cytology test and vaginal swabs, where appropriate, according to the latest guidelines.
• Referral for further examinations where necessary.
• Offer well woman advice and record accordingly.
• Maintain accurate results records.
• Support the Health Care Assistants carrying out NHS health checks, record blood results and offer/signpost patient to any further follow up health promotional support depending on blood results.
• Provide information and advice on the appropriate vaccines and prophylaxis, dosage and schedules for travellers according to Public Health England and Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) guidelines.
• Administer travel vaccines according to the above guidelines and offer travel health advice.
• Provide chronic disease management reviews to patient groups as agreed with Partners according to practice protocols.

About us:

We are currently a five-partner dispensing Practice, with support from 2 Salaried GP, in a rapidly growing small market town. We enjoy good working relationships, within an active Primary Health Care Team, and we provide Medical Services to our local Community Hospital, St Monica's. Our Partnership provides General Medical Services (GMS) to a population of 8105. Almost half of this population inhabits outlying villages and farms. The Practice is also responsible for the medical care of the residents of nursing and residential care homes within the area, as well as caring for a significant number of patients with learning difficulties and physical handicaps, living in community units within the area.

The Practice is located at the edge of the town, looking onto community grasslands and the Cleveland Hills, with both patient and staff parking on-site. We have an excellent working relationship with the Community Team, which includes District Nurses, Midwife, Community Matron, Health Visitor, and Social Services, who are based locally.

Job responsibilities:

PRACTICE NURSE RESPONSIBLE TO: Working under the direction of the Partners, within specified guidelines, and the Nursing Staff Manager. Responsible to the Practice Manager on points of personnel and administration.

OBJECTIVE: To assist medical personnel in the care of practice patients to include treatment, preventative care, screening and patient education and health promotion.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: All duties will be carried out according to training and continuous professional updates will be expected.

NURSING DUTIES:

• Venesection for defined range of blood tests or where clinically appropriate.
• General nursing duties where appropriate, management of continued care and pathway treatments for chronic disease patients.
• Administration of vaccines and immunisations according to government/NHS guidelines to appropriate groups.

HEALTH SCREENING AND PROMOTION:

• Efficient running of Cervical Cytology Programme according to training and qualifications.
• Taking of cervical cytology test and vaginal swabs, where appropriate, according to the latest guidelines.
• Referral for further examinations where necessary.
• Offer well woman advice and record accordingly.
• Maintain accurate results records.
• Support the Health Care Assistants carrying out NHS health checks, record blood results and offer/signpost patient to any further follow up health promotional support depending on blood results.
• Provide information and advice on the appropriate vaccines and prophylaxis, dosage and schedules for travellers according to Public Health England and NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (H&NY ICB) guidelines.
• Administer travel vaccines according to the above guidelines and offer travel health advice.
• Provide chronic disease management reviews to patient groups as agreed with Partners according to practice protocols.
• Family planning advice services, including annual checks, Depo-Provera injections, and assistance with IUCD and contraceptive implant fitting when the Health Care Assistant is not available.
• Offer smoking cessation services or signpost appropriately.

ADMINISTRATION:

• To maintain accurate contemporaneous records of all duties and consultations by entering quality data on computerised medical records, using suitable templates and Read Codes.
• To process accurate data for post payment verifications of any items claimable under any Enhanced services or Additional services as part of GMS Contract.
• Maintain supplies of equipment necessary to fulfil nursing duties.
• Maintain supply of vaccines and their appropriate records and cold chain storage.
• Advise patients with regards to their results and advise any further actions or ongoing care.
• Maintain effective liaison with other agencies and staff concerned with patient care and all other disciplines within the practice, with appropriate regard to confidentiality.

CLINICAL AUDIT:

• Assist in maintenance of accurate chronic disease registers using appropriate codes/templates/protocols, in liaison with IT Co-ordinator, Practice Manager and other clinical staff.
• Take appropriate action on audit findings, in liaison with other clinical staff.
• Identify further areas for clinical audit and work with other clinical staff and Practice Manager to implement, where appropriate.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

While seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and 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. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

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 & Safety Policy, to include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines.
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY:

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

• Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

QUALITY:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

COMMUNICATION:

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES:

The post-holder will:

• Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance.
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
• Participate in audit where appropriate.
• Comply with safeguarding training requirements as set out by employment terms and any relevant professional and national bodies.
• Take prompt and timely action when there are any welfare or safeguarding concerns.
• Form appropriate relationships with those they care for and maintain professional boundaries in their work.
• Work within organisational policies, procedures and guidance.
• Be committed to demonstrating the organisations values and behaviours in their work.

PROFESSIONAL REGULATION/MANDATORY TRAINING:

Is personally responsible ensuring that Nursing Midwifery Council registration is continually maintained. Attended/undertake mandatory training at recommended intervals. To work in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council 'The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates.' To maintain up to date indemnity insurance arranged by Practice Manager as part of the practice insurance. The post holder will have the appropriate level of child protection and adult safeguarding knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with child protection and adult safeguarding policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

It is essential for the successful candidate to have a proven background in a General Practice setting; Registered Nurse on the NMC Register. Experience of a broad range of chronic disease management, cervical screening, travel vaccinations and child immunisations. The ability to deal with patients presenting with a wide range of medical issues. Demonstrate patience and empathy, so you can gain the trust of patients with a variety of health issues. Demonstrate excellent communication and listening skills, so you can work with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Highly desirable: Prescribing and/or Minor Ailments. Completed modules in Diabetes and COPD/Asthma, Spirometry, or other chronic disease management. Ability to interpret simple to complex blood test results. Qualified student mentor.

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.