Job opportunities

MAIN PURPOSE

• To provide nursing care by assisting the clinical team in all tasks as trained at the direction of the senior nurse
• To allow effective communication between patients, carers, doctors and other primary care staff
• To adhere to the strictest confidentiality when handling medical records and other information pertaining to patients and staff
• To undertake some administrative duties when required, such as stock & stores ordering

 

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may vary under the direction of the Senior Nurse and Practice Manager depending on workload and staffing levels and may include the following:

Primary Nursing Duties

• Conducting health checks for new patients
• Perform smears and cervical Cytology
• Perform Anti coagulation testing & monitoring
• Providing wound and ulcer care
• Undertaking suture and clip removal
• Performing ECGs
• Performing doppler assessments
• Carrying out compression bandaging
• Measuring blood pressure, temperature and pulse
• Measuring height, weight, BMI and blood sugar levels
• Ascertaining smoking status
• Providing venepuncture and phlebotomy services
• Taking peak flow readings
• Undertaking urine testing
• Conducting routine immunisations including routine childhood immunisations
• Chronic disease management (Diabetes, learning disabilities, CHD Asthma/COPD)
• Undertaking opportunistic screening for diabetes
• Providing treatment during hypo/hyperglycaemic emergencies
• Assisting in providing emergency treatment for asthmas attacks
• Assisting GPs in minor surgeries
• Assisting in fittings of intra-uterine devices
• Administering therapeutic injections e.g. Prolia, Zoladex, prostap & any other injections requested by secondary care

 

 DUTIES WITHIN THE CLINICAL TEAM

• Ensuring that specimens are passed on to the pathology service
• Recognising changes in patient observations and taking appropriate action
• Advising patients with regards to healthy lifestyle choices
• Providing dietary advice for healthy eating and the recommended limits for alcohol consumption
• Offering travel health advice and ensuring patients are given appropriate immunisations
• Administering medications on prescription if required and according to Practice protocol/SOP
• Formulating specific wound management plans for patients
• Acting as patient chaperone when needed
• Applying infection control measures including safe disposal of waste materials, handling laboratory specimens, decontamination of instruments, dealing with body fluid spillages and reporting needlestick and other injuries
• Attending regular anaphylaxis and resuscitation training and demonstrating sufficient competency in other emergencies such as stroke, haemorrhage or infarction
• Assisting in seasonal clinics such as the annual ‘flu campaign and monitoring vaccine storage
• Maintaining awareness of child health procedures and points of referral
• Recognising indicators of child abuse and family violence, referring appropriately
• Recognising indicators of substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring appropriately
• Recognising the needs of patients with depression or at risk of suicide, referring appropriately
• Maintaining knowledge of contraceptive choices, emergency contraception and pregnancy, referring appropriately
• Offering advice on the causes and avoidance of sexually transmitted infections
• Advising & performing cervical cytology screening
• Promoting breast cancer awareness, self-examination and providing accompanying literature
• Promoting men’s health including testicular self-examination, prostate disease,  vasectomy and sexual health
• Ensuring stock replenishment and rotation

 

OTHER DUTIES

• Maintaining and restocking leaflets and notices within the waiting room areas and reordering materials and literature
• Communicating effectively with a wide range of people, whether face-to-face, over the telephone or via email
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness and keeping the working environment free from hazards
• Attending and participating in regular Practice staff meetings and assisting in policy making
• Ordering vaccinations and other pharmaceuticals as required
• Maintaining knowledge of developments in the NHS and keeping up-to-date with public health news
• Attending annual appraisal meetings and keeping a written self-development plan
• Maintaining familiarity with the appointment and repeat prescription system, including ensuring sufficient patient information is recorded
• Offering administrative support, including ensuring the computer system is up-to-date with all consultations
• Organising own work schedule and taking responsibility for prioritising workload
• Participating in educational activities and in-house training by sharing skills and knowledge with colleagues
• Maintaining professional development as well as personal objectives, by taking part in organised study days and self-directed learning
• Cooperating with audits and Practice research
• Liaising with healthcare agencies if necessary
• Promoting the full range of Practice services to patients
• Maintaining knowledge of and adhering to the NMC Code of Conduct

 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Health and safety considerations must be adhered to as follows:

Maintaining a thorough understanding of health and safety protocol for oneself and others

• Using security systems within the Practice as instructed
• Identifying potential risks within the Practice environment and undertaking to minimise such risks
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge and training of health and safety guidelines
• Understanding and utilising appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining hygiene in work areas and keeping the premises free from hazards
• Immediate reporting of potential risks as identified

 

CONFIDENTIALITY AND DIVERSITY

• In the undertaking of the duties outlined above the post-holder may have access to sensitive information relating to patients, carers and Practice staff. This must be kept strictly confidential at all times.
• Patients seeking information from the Practice do so in confidence and as such have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
• Practice policies and procedures relating the protection of personal and sensitive data must be adhered to at all times and only divulged to authorised persons.
• The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients in a manner that is consistent with Practice policies and legislation

• The privacy, dignity and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues must be respected

• The post-holder should behave in a manner which is welcoming, non-judgmental and respectful of the circumstances and rights all of all visitors to the Practice

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

The post-holder will participate in any training programme deemed appropriate by the Senior Nurse & Practice Manager, which may include:

• An annual individual performance review, to include the contribution a record of own personal and professional development and discussing targets for the future
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills to other members of staff when required
• Attending any external training course thought appropriate to the role

MAINTAINING QUALITY

The post-holder will strive to:

• Effectively prioritise own time and workload
• Alert colleagues to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by making suggestions for areas of improvement
• Work constructively with individuals in other healthcare organisations to meet patients needs

• Communicate problems effectively with other team members and work together towards a solution

 

CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRACTICE

The post-holder will be expected to:

• Maintain and apply Practice policies and seek to uphold standards

• Discuss Practice policies with other members of the team and seek to implement new services and quality standards where appropriate

• Participate in audit when required