Practice Nurse

Job summary

We have a new, exciting opportunity to join our existing clinical team.

Working 20+ hours per week as a member of the practice multidisciplinary team, the post holder will ensure nursing services are delivered effectively to the entitled patient population.

The Practice Nurse will be involved in a number of clinical areas such as infection prevention and control, health promotion, chronic disease management, as well as actively supporting the practice management team in the reviewing and delivery of clinical policy and procedure.

Main duties of the job

The Practice Nurse is responsible for delivering high-quality, evidence-based nursing care, including chronic disease management, health promotion and preventative care. Duties include assessing, treating and supporting patients with long-term conditions such as diabetes, COPD and asthma; providing child and adult immunisations, travel vaccinations, cervical screening and wound care; managing pathology requests and results; and supporting patients with medication and health-related needs.

The role involves maintaining accurate clinical records and disease registers, identifying and appropriately referring patients requiring specialist, mental health or external support, and contributing to safeguarding and clinical emergency procedures.

The Practice Nurse also supports GPs with minor surgery, works collaboratively with the wider clinical team, delegates appropriately within scope of practice, and provides opportunistic health promotion and wellbeing advice.

About us

We are a small friendly team based in Seaton Carew, we are also part of Hartlepool Network. Our team consists of 2 GP Partners, 2 salaried GPs, 2 Nurses, 2 Healthcare Assistants and a team of administrators and Practice Management.

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Practice Nurse. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

a. Develop, implement and embed health promotion and well-being programmes

b. Implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for chronic disease patients

c. Identify, manage and support patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on patients health

d. Provide routine nursing care to patients as required in accordance with clinical-based evidence, NICE and the NSF

e. Provide wound care (ulcer/Doppler etc.) to patients

f. Provide immunisations (childhood, seasonal etc) to patients

g. Provide travel medicine services

h. Request pathology services as necessary

i. Provide Cervical Cytology screening

j. Process pathology results as required

k. Provide chronic disease clinics, delivering patient care as necessary, referring patients to secondary/specialist care as required, in particular Diabetes, COPD and Asthma clinics

l. Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation

m. Ensure read codes are used effectively

n. Maintain chronic disease registers

o. Chaperone patients where necessary

p. Assist GPs with minor surgery when required

q. Prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

r. Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies

s. Recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

t. Implement vaccination programmes for adults and children

u. Support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over-the-counter medicines (within own scope of practice)

v. Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

w. Delegate clinical responsibilities appropriately (ensuring safe practice and that the task is within the scope of practice of the individual

x. Support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

y. Understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately

z. Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 1. Registered Nurse (Nursing and Midwifery Council)
• 2. Post graduate diploma in chronic disease management
• 3. Experience of working in general practice
• 4. Experience of chronic disease management
• 5. Experience of working autonomously
• 6. Experience of infection prevention and control measures

Desirable

• 1. Nurse prescribing
• 2. Family planning qualification