Practice Nurse in Whitstable

Whitstable Medical Practice is seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and patient focused Practice Nurse to join our friendly and expanding Practice Nursing team. We are committed to delivering high quality care to our 44,500 patients across three sites: Estuary View Medical Practice, Chestfield Medical Centre and Whitstable Medical Centre. The successful candidate must be able to work flexibly across all three sites, as required.

Contract: 12 month fixed term contract (maternity cover)

Hours: 23 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday - 8:00 - 13:30, Tuesday - 8:00 - 18:30

Main duties of the job: The main duties will include assessment and treatment of patients. You will also need to be a team player, have a flexible approach, excellent communication and decision making skills. Newly qualified nurses will be considered. Salary will be dependent on experience. The NHS pension is also offered.

About us: Whitstable Medical Practice is a forward thinking single practice Primary Care Network (PCN) GP Practice based across 3 sites in Whitstable. There are 23 equity partners looking after over 45,000 patients. We pride ourselves on our innovative approach to Primary Care. We are a training practice and run various in house contracts including Cataract surgery, Ultrasound, Dermatology, Physical Therapies and Audiology together with further community contracts, a Day Surgery Suite and an Urgent Treatment Centre with Digital x-ray.

Job responsibilities: The practice nurse will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care. The practice nurse should demonstrate safe, clinical decision making and expert care for patients within general practice. They will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.

• To provide basic and higher levels of nursing care as needed for patients.
• To provide care for wounds, ear irrigation, venepuncture, ECGs and 24 hour ECG/BP equipment etc.
• Dealing with patients as they present routinely or as emergencies, assessing patients individual needs and treatment or referring as appropriate.
• Immunisations and vaccinations.
• Helping with guidance and training of student nurses.
• Accurately recording all results on the computer and ensuring familiarity and understanding of the requirements of the GMS/PMS contract.
• Assisting with meeting QOF targets.
• Being familiar with emergency equipment and procedures, maintaining a high standard of safety at all times with regard to checking equipment and drugs and restocking and servicing as necessary.
• Being familiar with local infection control procedures.
• Being aware of Treatment Room protocols and taking part in their regular updating.
• Ensuring that patients are treated with due regard to privacy and confidentiality.
• Liaising with nurse colleagues and doctors where necessary.

The list of duties is not exhaustive, and may change as demand dictates. At times the nurse may be called upon to do extra cover at holiday times, for example, or occasionally extra immunisation campaigns will be needed, for example during the flu season. The nurse is accountable for their own actions at all times according to the code of conduct laid down by the NMC. The nurse must recognise the importance of not working beyond their own scope of training or competence; if unsure how to deal with a situation or medical problem you must seek the help of a more senior colleague, Doctor or Practice Manager, whichever is more appropriate. As the nurse develops their skills it may be appropriate with the Lead Nurse, to appraise their performance, using the current career pathway as a guide recognising the nurse may progress towards becoming a more skilled practitioner. This may include running clinics such as diabetes, asthma, CHD, family planning, smear taking, minor illness, INR and spirometry.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: Registered General Nurse with current NMC registration. Newly qualified Nurses will be considered.
• Experience: Competency in basic nursing duties required for the role, specific nursing skills/qualifications, experience of INR, family planning, cervical cytology, immunisation, travel clinic and chronic disease management, knowledge of EMIS.
• Skills and Abilities: Good decision making, communication and organisation skills, excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with people at all levels, good IT skills to enable accurate recording of consultations, committed to ongoing development, adaptable and flexible to work additional hours including extended access hours, ability to work under pressure, a team player, enthusiasm and energy, understanding of chronic disease presentations, understanding of vaccinations and immunisations for children and adults.

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.