Practice Nurse in Bedlington

The Gables Medical Group, located in Bedlington, is delighted to offer a rare opportunity for a part-time practice nurse to join our team on a fixed-term contract for 1 year (to cover maternity leave). We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic team player who can demonstrate a high standard of clinical excellence and knowledge. You will be expected to work closely as a team of practice nurses, nursing associate and health care assistants alongside a proactive, friendly, multidisciplinary team. The post is based on 24 hours fixed term contract for 1 year.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will provide comprehensive assessment, screening, treatment services, and health education advice to patients.
• They will provide nursing services for the Practice, delivering nursing care in collaboration with general practitioners or independently in line with agreed protocols.
• Responsibilities include undertaking general and condition-specific health screenings, administering immunisations in accordance with current guidance, offering advice on after-effects and travel health.
• The role involves regular reviews of patients with chronic conditions, essentially Diabetes, providing evidence-based advice and seeking further clinical guidance where required.
• The post holder will contribute to the administrative and professional functions of the Practice, maintaining accurate clinical records, completing required documentation, and supporting data collection for reports.
• They will attend relevant meetings, contribute to policy development and protocol formulation, support the education and training of students and staff, and maintain effective liaison with internal and external agencies.
• Ongoing professional development through courses and study days is an essential requirement of the role.

Clinical Responsibilities:

• Assess, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programmes to promote health and well-being, and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being.
• Implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition.
• Identify and manage, as appropriate, treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition.
• Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent, or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.
• Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that encourage them to live healthily, and apply principles of self-care.
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion.
• Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side effects, and interactions.
• Assess and care for patients presenting with uncomplicated wounds.
• Support and advise women requesting information relating to family planning needs.
• Recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with the National Framework (NSF) for Mental Health.
• Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children.
• Assist senior practitioners in providing minor-surgery sessions if required.
• Provide chaperone service.
• Carry out blood tests and urine tests when required.

Maintaining, Monitoring & Updating Computer Database and Management of Medical Records & Practice Audits

• Ensure that the practice clinical database is updated promptly and accurately with information relating to patient records, as required for clinical accuracy and for practice recording requirements under IM&T protocols, QoF, IIF, and enhanced services.
• Respond to alerts on records.
• Participate in the collection and collation of statistics towards the preparation of practice reports, performance monitoring, and audits.
• Participation in patient satisfaction audits.

Practice Organisation

• Attendance at practice team meetings, significant event audit meetings, annual complaint audit meeting, and others as deemed necessary.
• Initiate and participate in the formulation and implementation of new protocols, policies, and procedures to aid and improve administrative organisation and the provision of services to patients.
• Ensure that the Practice complaints system is adhered to at all times.
• Awareness of and compliance with all relevant Practice policies/guidelines, e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety.
• Maintain current CPR and anaphylaxis certification, child safeguarding training and any other mandatory training as required.

Professional Development

• Participate in an annual performance review under agreed headings.
• Engage in appropriate educational activity to maintain clinical competence and performance.
• Attendance and participation in educational meetings in the Practice and externally.

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. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

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.

Equality and Diversity:

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

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice.

Communication:

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team.

This job description may be subject to change from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Practice.