GP Practice Nurse in Stalybridge

REPORTS TO: PRACTICE DIRECTOR (ADMINISTRATIVE); GP PARTNERS (CLINICAL)

SALARY: HIGH BAND 6 OR EARLY BAND 7 DEPENDING ON THE EXPERIENCE

START DATE: ASAP

PERMANENT APPOINTMENT (First 12 months probationary period)

JOB SUMMARY

To be responsible for the delivery of good quality General Practice Nursing to the practice population. The focus of the role is both the delivery of evidence-based practice for patients presenting with a long-term condition, and the provision of preventative health care to the practice population. As an autonomous practitioner, the nurse is responsible for the care delivered, demonstrating critical thinking and skills in clinical decision-making in the management of patients. They will work collaboratively within the General Practice team to meet the needs of patients, support the delivery of policy and procedures, and provide nurse leadership as required. Good communication is extremely important within the Practice, with patients and with outside agencies, and you will be expected to help ensure that everyone who comes into contact with it holds the Practice in high regard. Absolute discretion is required in protecting patients' confidentiality.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Will be in charge of QOF and deliver maximum possible results.
• Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate treatment programmes that promote health and well-being.
• Assess, plan, implement, evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with known long-term conditions.
• Proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition.
• Work with other health care professionals to diagnose, monitor, manage and treat long-term conditions.
• Review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and Practice policies.
• Work with patients to support adherence to prescribed treatments.
• Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.
• To be competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation and attend regular update sessions.
• Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote them to live healthily, and apply principles of self-care.
• Support and manage health needs of women presenting for family planning and cervical cytology consultations.
• Advise on breast self-awareness, demonstrating breast self-examination and provide supporting literature where required.
• Give basic knowledge on peri-menopausal symptoms and make appropriate referral.
• Advise on the increased peri and post-menopausal risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.
• Advise on basic incontinence management and make referral where appropriate.
• Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children.
• Understand the medico-legal principles of informed consent.
• Advise, support and, where appropriate, administer vaccinations for patients travelling abroad and ensure safe storage, vaccine stability, rotation and disposal of vaccines.
• Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting with aural conditions.
• Demonstrate safe & proficient use of instruments for aural toilet.
• Meet the needs of patients presenting for opportunistic wound care.
• Undertake opportunistic screening.
• Carry out new patient checks.
• Undertake opportunistic blood tests after discussion with the GP.
• Assist GPs in minor surgery when health care assistant is away.
• Offer smoking cessation advice individually in opportunistic consultations.
• Support infection control measures within the Practice, and educate colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.
• To be able to give basic advice and appropriate referral on issues covering testicular cancer, family planning and sexual health for men.

DELIVERING A QUALITY SERVICE

• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC.
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Prioritise, organise and manage own and others workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
• Deliver care as an individual and team according to NICE guidelines and evidence-based care.
• Assess effectiveness of care delivery for the nursing team through peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation.
• Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required.
• Evaluate patients' response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care.
• Support and participate in shared learning across the Practice and wider organisation.
• Participate in the management and review of patient complaints, and identify learning from clinical incidents and near-miss events utilising a structured framework.
• Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery.
• Participate in the performance monitoring of the nursing team, providing feedback as appropriate.
• Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance.
• Work within policies regarding family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour, and refer as appropriate.
• Work in conjunction with the complex care nurse and care-coordinators appointed by the primary care network.
• Take part in research activities under supervision of the GPs.

INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

• Applies infection control measures within the Practice. This includes:
• Being the infection control lead of the practice.
• 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 body fluid spillage.
• Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.

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 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.
• Reporting potential risks identified.

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 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 manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.