Pont Newydd Medical Centre
Job Description
Practice Nurse – Band 5
Reports To
GP Partners & Senior Practice Nurse - Clinically
Practice Manager – Administratively
Job Summary
The purpose of the post is to deliver safe, high quality primary care nursing services. Working within the NMC Code of Conduct the post holder will delivery primary healthcare interventions to the practice population.
Key responsibilities
Clinical Care Delivery – General
· Working within guidelines and protocols, undertake and record
· Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for laboratory analysis
· Temperature, pulse and respiratory rate
· Weigh, height, waist circumference and Body Mass Index
· Measurement of legs for compression hosiery.
· ECG’s, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
· Near patient testing e.g. blood glucose and INR
· Measurement of airway function (peak expiratory flow rate)
· Obtain venous blood samples from individuals for investigations
· Administer medications by injection with the appropriate legal authorisation.
· Recognise health promotion opportunities and give brief, focused lifestyle advise using motivational interviewing techniques which may include
- Alcohol screening
- Smoking cessation
- Weight management
- Sexual health
· Undertake initial assessment of patients presenting with wounds, working within expertise to manage independently or refer to other services as necessary.
· Remove wound closure materials including sutures, clips and staples.
· Take samples for the cervical screening programme according to the recognised standards.
· Provide ear care including the removal of cerumen and provide education and advice.
· Administer vaccines to adults and children according to the UK immunization schedule.
· Provide a pre-travel health service including administration of vaccines an advice after undertaking appropriate risk assessment.
· Administer prescribed therapies such as contraceptive injections, vitamin B12, recognising side effects and contraindications.
· Disseminate test results to patients and counsel them accordingly
· Develop and follow referral pathways for patients with specialist needs.
Long Term Conditions
Assist nurse-run long term condition clinics:
· Cary out clinical measurements and near patient testing for patients with Diabetes, Asthma and COPD in line with NICE guidance and Quality and outcome Framework indicators which may include
- Blood sugar monitoring
- Assessment of feet with appropriate risk stratification
- Pulse oximetry
- Peak expiratory flow rate
- Teaching inhaler technique
- Assessment of breathlessness
· Regognise signs and symptoms that may indicate undiagnosed long term conditions e.g. poor wound healing, winter cough in smokers and also factors that may indicate mental health problems and use relevant referral pathways
· Point of care testing for INR (supervision, not responsible for dosing)
Quality assurance / service support
· Participate in quality improvement and innovations e.g. audit, research, significant event analysis and contribute to development of protocols and new services.
· Attend in-house meetings and contribute to development of the nursing service where appropriate wider practice systems.
· Participate in ongoing supervision and mentorship of unregistered health care staff, nursing students, medical students and junior nurses including mentorship for preceptor programmes and contributing to revalidation needs of nurse colleagues.
· Attend in-house and external training events and contribute to continuing education of unregistered health care staff by identifying learning opportunities.
Personal/professional development
· Complete statutory training/ update and mandatory training as defined by the practice.
· Complete skills specific training and regular updating.
· Participate in an annual individual performance review maintaining a record of own personal and professional development. To continuously reflect on and improve practice.
· Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance. Identify gaps in knowledge and skills and how further learning can enhance delivery of nursing service.
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 & Safety Policy, to include:-
Using personnel security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines. Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks. Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills. Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way, free from hazards. Reporting potential risks identified.
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, team members and other health care workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organization. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential. Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, health care 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.
Equality & Diversity
The post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues to include:-
· Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people’s 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 patient, carers and colleagues. Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.
Additional Information
All team members are expected to comply with statutory requirements and the Pont Newydd Medical Centre’s employment policies while carrying out their work. The post is one of continual development and the postholder will be encouraged to develop their skill and capability. Accordingly, the range of duties and responsibilities outlined above may change from time to time to reflect the changing needs of Pont Newydd Medical Centre.
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