Practice Nurse

Job summary
We are looking to recruit a Practice Nurse, 24 hours per week over 3 days, to join our friendly and supportive team

To provide and maintain a high standard of nursing care for patients as well as providing nursing assistance to the doctors and other members of the primary healthcare team. The duties will include all tasks normally undertaken by an experienced RGN and in addition any roles agreed between the nurse and the doctors as appropriate having regard to current training and the NMC Code of Conduct.

Although the practice does not participate in extended hours there will be a requirement to offer morning and late afternoon appointments.

Main duties of the job
This varied role includes but is not limited to:

• new patient registration checks, wound care, phlebotomy, pathology requests, vaccinations, BP monitoring, ECG recording, spirometry, urinalysis, health checks and monitoring, chaperoning and assist our GPs with womens health clinics, childhood immunisations, administering injections, ear syringing
• Administrative and professional duties such as processing and management of laboratory samples, monitoring and recording vaccine/cold chain storage, ensuring all patient data is accurate, legible and up to date and that all administrative tasks relating to a patient care are completed to a high standard
• Practice duties such as ensuring all clinical rooms are fully stocked with the appropriate medical equipment and supplies, engaging and contributing to team/practice meetings and being professional towards patients and colleagues to ensure a good working environment
• Be responsible for upholding practice policies and standards by adhering to all confidentiality, quality, health and safety, equality and diversity guidelines
• Any other delegated duties considered appropriate to the post

About us
Ilkley & Wharfedale Medical Practice has grown and developed on the principles of combining high standards of modern medical care with a personal and friendly service to patients. The practice is based in the beautiful spa town of Ilkley and has a registered list size of 5,755 patients.

We pride ourselves on being a friendly and supportive team with a reputation for excellence. We value enthusiasm as well as experience and welcome applications from both experienced applicants and passionate self-starters. The Practice team is made up of 2 Partners and 3 salaried doctors supported by a comprehensive team of allied health professionals including our Practice Nurse and administrative staff. We are a training and teaching practice affiliated with the Leeds School of Medicine hosting Year 5, FY2s and GP Registrars.

Job responsibilities
Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by the GPs. These include

• Cervical screening
• IUD checks
• ECGs
• Urinalysis
• Childhood immunisations
• Administering Prostap, Zoladex and B12 injections
• Travel health advice and vaccinations under patient group directions and patient specified direction
• Venepuncture
• Ear syringing
• Wound care
• Removal of sutures
• Health promotion
• Smoking cessation advice
• Spirometry
• Chaperoning patients who are being examined by other clinicians
• Co-ordinating flu clinics
• Assisting GPs with minor surgery and coil fittings
• Looking after patients with chronic diseases including diabetes, asthma, COPD, hypertension and coronary heart disease.
• Follow agreed clinical protocols with referral to GPs as appropriate.
• A duty to inform GPs of potential problems or errors.
• Documenting consultations using READ codes and templates relevant to the Quality and Outcomes framework. Maintaining accurate up to date records.
• Ability to obtain and document informed consent.
• Able to recognise signs of child abuse.
• Able to recognise and demonstrate knowledge of the treatment of anaphylaxis according to current UK guidelines.
• Demonstrate an up-to-date knowledge of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation technique.
• Ensure infection control guidelines are followed.
• Maintaining and cleaning equipment used by nurses and GPs.
• Maintaining general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses rooms.
• Ordering stock for nurses and GP consulting rooms.
• Ordering of vaccinations to maintain appropriate stock levels and awareness and implementation of the cold chain process.
• Attend and participate in practice meetings when required.
• Effectively manage own time and workload.
• A set time allocated for domiciliary phlebotomy.
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post.
• Liaise with the Practice Manager and GP Partners re: Quality and Outcomes Framework.

Non-Clinical Responsibilities

• Assist patients to identify their health needs.
• Contribute a nursing perspective to the practice development plan.
• Manage and organise individual patient consultations.
• Aware of identification and reporting procedures related to professional standards.
• To attend staff meetings.
• Ensure effective relationships and communications with the PHE and other agencies.
• Support the practice clinical governance agenda.
• Identify changes to clinical practice that are required to implement evidence based guidelines.

Educational

• Identify personal development and training needs in conjunction with the manager.
• Participate in clinical supervision.
• Support others with their training and development needs.
• To participate in continuing education and maintain a contemporary level of professional knowledge and skills.

Communication
The post holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patents and carers.
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
• Co-operation with the practice to ensure all members of the team adheres to statutory regulations/policies and codes of practice and departments safety rules.
• Offer innovative ways of working and opportunities to facilitate learning.
• Maintains a caring environment through the support of colleagues.

Confidentiality
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 and Safety
The post holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health and Safety policy to include:

• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Taking the lead for infection control within the practice, supported by the GP partners and Practice Manager.
• 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 recognises the importance of peoples 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- judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.
• Achieving the right medical outcomes for disadvantaged patients (learning difficulties or mental health issues).

Personal/Professional Development
The post holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment such as training to include:

• Participation in an annual appraisal including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality
The post holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions either directly or under supervision.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve enhance the teams performance.
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.

Contribution to the Implementation Service
The post holder will:

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance.
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
• Participate in audit where appropriate.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Experience in Practice Nursing
• Post graduate nursing experience
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure
• Ability to deal with challenging situations
• Evidence of working within multi-disciplinary teams
• IT literate with key board skills
• Has an understanding of local and national issues influencing the delivery and development of health care

Desirable

• Consultation and history taking skills
• Experience with SystmOne or similar IT software
• Sense of humour

Other relevant factors
Essential

• Demonstrates well developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Organisational skills
• Demonstrates an understanding of Clinical Governance requirements
• Able to work in a changing environment
• A degree of flexibility within working hours
• Enthusiasm for learning and developing

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered General Nurse
• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Minimum of 3 years post registration experience
• Primary care experience

Desirable

• Family planning certificate
• Minor illness / Minor injury Cert
• Cervical smear taker
• Spirometry, asthma and diabetes qualification

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.