Practice Nurse in Haywards Heath

Looking for a supportive, happy, friendly working environment? Come and work at Newton's Practice. We’re looking for a part-time, registered Practice Nurse to join our team for 25 hrs per week.

Main duties of the job

Candidates will ideally have proven experience in a primary care setting and be responsible for consulting with patients in respect of their continuing medical and nursing needs. Candidates will be qualified with an up to date NMC registration, plus evidence of continual professional development. Applicants with little or no general practice nursing experience may be considered, and if successfully appointed will be supported to attend all necessary training in order to offer the full range of treatment room services as outlined in the Job Description, including immunisations, cervical screening, chronic disease management and wound care.

About us

Newtons Practice is an established, stable Partner run GP practice. We like to look after our staff and understand the importance of making Newtons a great place to work. We listen to our staff and actively encourage sharing of best practice and innovative ideas.

Job responsibilities

• Clinical Nursing Practice

• To work as an Autonomous Practitioner
• Diagnostic Testing, Screening and Health Promotion.
• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients.
• To provide general and specific health screening to the practice population (within agreed protocols), with referral to the GPs as necessary.
• To select, carry out and interpret results of specific tests within the agreed protocols of the practice, referring immediately when necessary.
• Undertake diagnostic blood tests, peak flow and ECG readings as required.
• Carry out New Patient checks as required.
• To assist in the provision of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Management activities including dietary advice, hypertension, asthma and diabetes in compliance with the NSFs and NICE Guidelines.
• To advise on breast awareness, family planning, hormone replacement therapy and take swabs and cervical smears where appropriate.
• Ensure patients views are taken into account in the decision making process.

• To administer to babies and adults immunisations as appropriate based on your clinical knowledge and judgement, preferably while a GP is present in surgery.
• To continually update your knowledge of the implications of immunisation and contra indications.
• To provide appropriate health advice and immunisation for travellers.
• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.

• Support patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.
• Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines.
• This includes: Universal hygiene precautions, The collection and handling of laboratory specimens, Segregation and disposal of waste materials, Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment, Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries, Dealing with blood and duty fluid spillages, Educate colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.

• To be competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques.

• Recognise the signs, symptoms and categories of child abuse.
• Understand the importance of recognition, observation, documentation and communication.
• Be aware of child health procedures, statutory local procedures and points of referral.
• Have knowledge of other practitioners and agencies roles.
• Understand basic legal issues around child abuse.

• To control admissions to own case/session list i.e., allow direct access by patients to consultation appointments.
• To provide telephone advice to patients as required.
• To maintain accurate patient records in notes and enter onto the computer.
• To collect data and participate in regular practice audit and research projects when required to support the clinical governance agenda.
• To liaise with the Nurse Lead / Assistant Practice Manager with regard to claims for and regarding the ordering of appropriate medical supplies and equipment.
• To log and dispatch specimens to the hospital.

• To maintain continuous professional development in keeping with the requirements of the practice.
• To participate in training of other personnel as appropriate, including unqualified staff.
• Actively participate in team meetings.
• Improve clinical practices through reflection.
• Identify and pursue own educational and professional development.
• To contribute to the preparation of the Practice and Professional Development Plan.

• Re-enforce the Partners ethos of providing a friendly, efficient and effective service throughout the practice.
• Preventing and detecting mistakes and eliminating any potential bad practice.
• Monitor and improve the levels of services we provide our patients.
• Communicating with the Lead Nurse / Assistant PM any concerns or difficulties that arise within the practice.
• Drafting and implementing clinical protocols within the practice.

• Ensuring commitment to the protection of both physical assets and confidential information from alarms, passwords and information.
• Ensuring that all activities are properly authorised and processed, checking entries on the computer are inputted correctly.

• Facilitate good communication systems within the practice with the use of computerised messages.
• Extrapolate information received by outside agencies and bring to the notice of all clinicians wherever necessary.
• Undertake all training and attend any computer data input and retrieval meetings deemed necessary by the Practice to manage the clinical system effectively.
• Collect data and participate in regular practice audit and research projects.
• Be available to deal with any patient query that may prove to beyond the ability of the medical receptionist.
• Ensuring that all formal complaints are passed onto the Assistant PM for immediate action.
• Be receptive to the involvement of our patient participation groups when appropriate and convenient to do so.

• Draw to the Lead Nurse attention, any preventative and protective measures deemed reasonable and implement if directed to do so.
• Refer to the Lead Nurse in the first instance when unsure of procedures.
• Monitor areas that may be failing and take appropriate action.
• Identify appropriate sources for further information and advice.

• An ability to prioritise and balance routine administrative tasks against important management issues of the surgery.
• Ability to contribute to future practice policies and growth.
• Ability to lead and motivate the team when asked.
• Minimise conflict between team members, referring to the Lead Nurse when necessary.
• Make balanced and appropriate decisions.
• Develop and Implement new ideas to improve performance.
• Communicate effectively with all GPs, clinical and administrative staff colleagues, and outside agencies.
• Perform in a cost effective manner to eliminate waste and to help the organisation to run economically.
• Working knowledge of clinical software.
• Basic knowledge of computer hardware.

This job description is intended as a guide to the main responsibilities of the post and not as an exhaustive list of duties and tasks. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to his/her grade, which is not listed above, at the direction of their manager.

Person Specification

• Qualities - Attributes

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense.
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities.
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team.
• Pleasant and articulate.
• Able to work under pressure.
• Able to work in a changing environment.
• Able to use own initiative.

• Registered General Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Evidence of working within the NMC code of Professional Conduct.
• Enhanced DBS check.
• Primary care experience.
• Immunisation and smear training advantageous.
• Experience of Chronic Disease Management.
• Good working knowledge of EMIS or similar clinical system.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of current national developments and trends in health care, quality assurance and practice development.
• Assess and develop risk management protocols.
• Implement strategies for quality assurance and quality audit.
• Experience of working with new technologies in health care practice.
• Understanding of clinical coding in general and Read coding in particular.
• Understanding of the health needs assessment process.

• 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.