General Practice Nurse

Tower Family Healthcare; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Bury St Edmunds is looking for a Practice Nurse to deliver high-quality nursing services within professional boundaries. Responsibilities include chronic disease management, vaccinations, and collaboration with the general practice team. Candidates must have at least 5 years of nursing experience, with a focus on primary care, and demonstrate excellent clinical and communication skills. The role offers an opportunity to contribute to patient care and work with a diverse clinical team.

Benefits

Support for clinical development

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years post registration nursing experience is required.
• At least 3 years recent primary care/community nursing experience.
• Demonstrate evidence of experience within clinical practice.

Responsibilities

• Deliver practice nursing services to the practice population.
• Administer vaccinations and immunizations as per guidelines.
• Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations.

Skills

Chronic disease management

Communication skills

Clinical skills relevant to practice nursing

IT Skills

Education

Registered first level nurse MSc or equivalent with current registration

Accredited LBC Cytology

Tools

EMIS clinical system

Job description

You will be responsible for the delivery of practice nursing services to the practice population. You will deliver care within your professional boundaries demonstrating competence in all aspects of primary care nursing duties including chronic disease management, cervical cytology, vaccinations and immunisations, sexual health and contraception, screening, basic wound care and health promotion.

You will demonstrate safe, clinical decision making and expert care and will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy, procedures, future practice strategy and provide clinical leadership as required.

You will work under the clinical supervision of the GPs/Nurse Practitioners/ Practice Nurses/ and line management of Tower Family Healthcare to help deliver the key elements of the PMS contract.

In summary the practice nurse role is to assess, implement and evaluate programmes of care across the practice population whilst working within the scope of professional practice of a registered nurse and practices autonomously within defined areas of practice and established protocols.

Main duties of the job

• ChronicDisease Management: undertake chronic disease management monitoring clinics (eg asthma, diabetes, CHD, COPD, CKD, hypertension, dementia, RA checks) in line with QOF guidelines.
• Vaccination& Immunisations: administer injections under individual prescriptions, or patient group directions such as; providing adult and childhood immunisation service, depo-provera injections, travel vaccinations, school leaver boosters, flu/pneumonia, shingles, whooping cough, HPV, prostap/zoladex injections, B12 injections. Ensure safe storage, rotation, expiration and disposal of vaccines and drugs.
• HealthPromotion: smoking cessation advice, healthy eating advice, lifestyle advice (activity, exercise, alcohol), health checks, weight management,
• SexualHealth: giving advice as appropriate, pill checks, coil check, family planning advice, sexual health, breast awareness, incontinence, menopause, HRT checks and refer to the GP as appropriate.
• WoundManagement: perform basic wound care as appropriate such as removal of sutures, basic dressings, assisting the GP with minor surgery clinics and coil fittings
• Additional Practice Nurse duties may include: ear syringing, nail clippings, anticoagulation clinics, cryotherapy clinics, cervical cytology, health checks, BP/ABPM, height, weight, BMI, urinalysis, smoking status, chlamydia screening, MRSA swabs, ECG, venipuncture, oral GTT, new patient checks, spirometry with reversibility, inhaler instruction. May be required to undertake home visits.

About us

We are a large General Practice with four branches across Bury, Greater Manchester. We provide services to around 50,000 registered patients, a quarter of the population of Bury.

We are a forward thinking General Practice. We have a strong business plan and a clear focus on providing quality primary care at scale, along with innovative approaches to delivering care through new ways of working and digital transformation.

We are a training and teaching Practice committed to investing in clinicians of the future. We are also involved in cutting edge clinical research projects to discover and deliver better care that will really make a difference to patients in Bury and further afield.

Our clinical team is diverse including GPs and GP Assistants, Practice Paramedics, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses and highly skilled Health Care Assistants, working closely with a range of additional roles including an Acute Visiting Service and First Contact Physiotherapists.

To allow more time to care, our clinical team is underpinned by a very experienced team of receptionists and administrators, as well as a range of inhouse corporate functions covering themes such as HR, IT, finance, administration and management support and communications.

Job responsibilities

Administrationand Professional Responsibilities

Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team

Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients journal

Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date with accurate details recorded

Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care

Attend and participate in the practice meetings as required

Assist in formulation of practice philosophy, strategy and policy

To assist in seasonal and special projects as requested e.g. flu campaign

To be aware of responsibilities under the Date Protection Act

Managing of appointment system

Ensure total familiarity with all appointment systems, including regular and incidental variations

Book appointments and recalls, ensuring sufficient information is recorded to enable retrieval of the medical record

Monitor flow of patients into the waiting room, ensuring the appointment system accurately reflects the arrival of patients

Monitor effectiveness of the system and report any problems or variations to the IT Lead(s)

InfectionControl

Maintain high standards of infection control at all times, protecting patients, self and colleagues. This includes appropriate maintenance of the clinical equipment and stock. (Check and monitor equipment eg storage, cleaning schedule, fridge temperature checks, emergency trolley and drug store checks, expiry date checks).

Apply infection control measures within the practice according to practice, local and national guidelines.

Communication

Communicate clearly and effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication

Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and externally to sustain a high standard, professional approach.

Attend and contribute to practice and primary care team meetings.

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.

To uphold confidentiality of patient records and practice information.

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality and meets practice expectations

Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines, QOF guidance and evidence-based care

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation

Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required

Evaluate patients response to healthcare provision and the effectiveness of care

Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation

Actively participate in the practice significant event procedures. Ensure learning and actions from significant event reviews are implemented and reviewed.

Safeguarding: Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients safeguarding health procedures and local guidance

Leadershippersonal and professional development

Takeresponsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model.

Undertake mentorship for more junior staff, assessing competence against set standards. Support staff development in order to maximise potential.

Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice

Support and contribute to the teaching of nursing staff/ medical students/ GP registrars and administration staff as appropriate

Work with the partners and practice manager in planning and implementing changes within the area of care and responsibility

Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards

Participate, undertake and support annual staff appraisal. Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate ensuring clinical portfolio, continued professional development and registration fit for purpose

Teamworking

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and working with the GP Partners, Practice Manager and nursing team exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working

Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence

Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need

Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery

Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care

Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the practice management team

Specialrequirements for the post

An ability to use your own judgement, resourcefulness, common sense and local knowledge, to respond to patients enquiries and requests while adhering to practice limitations

An understanding and acceptance of your own capabilities and awareness of your own limitations

Ability to work without direct supervision and determine your own workload priorities

Basic keyboard and computer skills

Flexibility of working hours

Communication

Communicate clearly and effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication

Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and externally to sustain a high standard, professional approach

Attend and contribute to practice and primary care team meetings

Contributionto the implementation of services

Apply practice policies, standards and guidance

Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect your own work

Participate in audit where appropriate

Confidentiality

Has been acquired by you during, or in the course of your employment, or has otherwise been acquired by you in confidence

Is related to patients including their identity, personal information and all of their medical records

Belongs to, or is held by Tower Family Healthcare whether stored electronically or otherwise and all details of Tower Family Healthcare's premises, information, assets, internal communications, intellectual property, technical systems, projects, operating procedures and finance

Relates particularly to Tower family Healthcare, or that of other persons or bodies with whom we have dealings of any sort; and has not been made public by, or with our authority

Shall be confidential, and (save in the course of our business or as required by law) you shall not at any time, whether before or after the termination of your employment, disclose such information to any person without our prior written consent. A breach of this clause may be treated as gross misconduct leading to summary dismissal and / or criminal proceedings.

Managinginformation

Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information

Review and process data using accurate Read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes

Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases

Understand responsibility of self and others to the practice regarding the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act

Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information to the team

Equality and diversity

You will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognizes 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-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered first level nurse MSc or equivalent with current registration
• Accredited LBC Cytology
• ECDL
• Mentor/teaching qualification Teaching certificate
• Clinical supervision training and experience

Experience

• Minimum 5 years post registration nursing experience
• At least 3 years recent primary care / community nursing experience
• Demonstrate evidence of experience outlined within clinical practice section of job description
• Audit
• Home visit assessment of patients
• Sexual Health including fitting / removal of IUCD and LAC
• Minor Surgery

Skills

• Clinical skills & competency relevant to the practice nurse role.
• Communication skills written and verbal
• Communication of difficult messages to patients and families
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Clinical examination
• IT Skills
• Teaching and mentorship in clinical setting
• Change management
• Participate in the care of equipment

Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge and management of patients with long term conditions/chronic diseases
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience of the practice nurse role
• Patient group directions and associated policy
• Ability to identify priorities on health in the area
• Local and national policy / Wider health economy
• EMIS clinical system

Other

• Full UK driving licence business use
• Reliability & commitment to team working
• Highly motivated
• Flexible and responsive to change week/evening /weekend working
• Team player
• Willingness to undertake further training
• Demonstrates the ability to value the opinion of others
• Ability to work within a pressurised environment maintaining a safe, high standard of quality care
• Ability to work across boundaries
• Ability to undertake stock control

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.