Practice Nurse in Crewe

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and committed Practice Nurse with the desire to deliver a high quality of care and to continue the development of our well-established and well-regarded practice nursing team.

Main duties of the job:

• 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 registered practice nurse and in addition any roles agreed between the nurse and the doctors as appropriate, in particular the assessment and management of patients with chronic diseases according to areas of knowledge and responsibility.

About us:

We are a large, well-organised and friendly practice located in a purpose-built health centre in a semi-rural location in South Cheshire, with a patient list size of over 20,000 patients.

Job responsibilities:

• Undertake assessment and management of patients with chronic diseases according to areas of knowledge and responsibility.
• 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 a 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 for example urine culture, swabs.
• Offer a holistic approach to travel health by providing comprehensive advice to patients prior to travel including vaccinations and medicines, safe sex, food hygiene, sun protection.
• Able to document consultations according to NMC guidelines, at all times there will be a need to maintain accurate records.
• Obtain and document informed consent, (either verbal or written).
• Awareness of statutory and local clinical protection procedures, including systems of referral.
• Ability to recognise signs and symptoms of child abuse.
• Able to recognise, manage anaphylaxis in accordance with current UK guidelines.
• Able to perform Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, in accordance with current UK guidelines.
• Ensure infection control guidelines are maintained.
• Monitor and manage maintenance of stock (including vaccinations) and equipment to include 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.
• Aware of identification and reporting procedures related to professional standards.

Other tasks will include:

• The nursing team are responsible for maintaining and cleaning equipment used by the nurses and GPs.
• The nursing team are responsible for maintaining GP and Nurses rooms, stocking and rotating items as required.
• Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms.
• Chaperoning and assisting patients who are being examined by another clinician.
• Participate in any Practice meetings when required.
• On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visits.
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post.
• Identify changes to clinical practice that are required to implement evidence-based guidelines.

Personal/Professional Development:

• The post-holder will participate in any training programme offered by the Practice as part of this employment.
• The post holder will be required to undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
• 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, identifying training needs and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
• Participate in continuing education and maintain a contemporary level of professional knowledge and skills.
• Participate in clinical supervision.
• Support others with their training and development needs i.e. student nurses, peers.
• Attending staff meetings and practice team meetings.

Confidentiality:

In the course of 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 & 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. 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. Reporting of incidents as per practice policy.

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 recognises the importance of people's 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 non-judgmental respectful manner.

Quality and service improvement:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice. They will apply to Practice policies, standards and guidance. 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 team's performance. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients' needs. Effectively manage own time, workload and resources. 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. Communicate effectively with patients and carers. Recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. Ensure effective relationships and communications both internally and with the CCG, PCN and other agencies.

Safeguarding:

Be committed to and responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults-at-risk, children and young people and for ensuring that 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 and any breaches of the Act or of the confidential nature of the work of this post could lead to dismissal.

Travel:

The nature of your employment requires you to travel within a 10 mile radius of this address, to meet the needs of the business. Where you are required to use your own vehicle to carry out your duties, you must ensure that your vehicle is insured accordingly for business use.

The role of the Practice Nurse is an evolving one and it is anticipated that the post holder will be responsible and reasonably flexible in the interpretation of the above job description. This job description covers the main duties which the post holder will be expected to undertake. These duties may be revised from time to time following consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification:

• Experience of working in General Practice.
• Experience in Chronic disease management.
• Experienced in practice nurse treatment room duties.

Qualifications:

• V300 Nurse Prescriber.

Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of Emis clinical system.
• Good leadership skills.

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.