Practice Nurse

Main Responsibilities : To assess the needs of patients, providing appropriate care/treatment in conjunction with the GP, or independently, as appropriate. Refer to colleagues or other agencies as appropriate. Provide the full range of practice nursing services, including venepuncture, ECG measurement, blood pressure measurement, urinalysis, vaccinations, swabs, health checks, assessment of risk factors, lifestyle advice, weight management, smoking cessation, ear care, suture removal, wound care, family planning, etc. To manage the care of patients with long term conditions. This may include organisational responsibility for specific disease areas. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment plans for patients either with or at risk of developing a long term condition which meets identified needs and promote health and well-being. Select appropriate tests for patients, and interpret and act on results where appropriate. Support effective treatment and prescribing by working with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments, reviewing medication for therapeutic effectiveness, and providing information and advice (including over-the-counter medication) on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions. Educate and support patients as needed, including adopting healthy lifestyles, appropriate self-care for minor illness and following care plans for long term conditions. Provide a sexual health service where appropriate. Provide a minor illness service. Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care. Organise and/or run initiatives, including contacting patients, to improve uptake of screening, vaccinations or other services and support the achievement of targets (e.g. under the Quality and Outcomes Framework and other commissioned services). To maintain accurate and contemporaneous records to relevant professional standards/guidelines.

Other Responsibilities

Assist the partners and lead nurse in planning and developing new nursing services as required. Assist when required the lead nurse ensuring nursing guidelines, policies and other documents (including PGDs) are up-to date Assess, advise on, implement, monitor and ensure the quality of enhanced services as requested. Participate and support with the implementation of induction programmes for new nursing staff. Assist in assessing competence of clinical staff where required, including in-house certification of staff where appropriate (e.g. Healthcare Assistants). Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice. Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and training as necessary to update skills and knowledge. Participation in the educational and training events and meetings of the Practice. Participation in the induction of new staff, students and other attached professionals as necessary. Support the nursing team by providing routine and unplanned cover across all sites when required.

NB

This job description is not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to perform other duties. These may vary from time to time but will not change the remit of this post. Should substantive changes in the range of work become necessary these will not be carried out without consultation with the post holder.