Practice Nurse Job Description Responsible To: Clinical GPs Administration Practice Manager Job summary: To provide nursing services to patients of the Practice, including treatment, screening and advice within the professional competence of the postholder, in accordance with the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct. Key Tasks: To provide nursing treatments to patients in participation with General Practitioners and/or independently to agreed protocols. To provide general and specific health screening to the practice population with referrals to GPs as necessary. To advise and treat patients on general health care and minor ailments with referral to GPs as necessary. To maintain supplies and equipment used. To maintain accurate records and statistics, both computer based and paper based as necessary. Job Responsibilities: Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff and GPs Cytology Wound care / ulcer care/Doppler Removal of Sutures New Patient Medicals/Urinalysis Travel Clinic Asthma/Peak Flow Readings/Spirometry Venepuncture Hypertension Management Ear syringing Routine immunisations/Childhood immunisations Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician Assisting GPs with coil fittings Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs Contraception Reviews Chronic Disease Reviews Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate Other tasks will include: Clean and sterilise equipment Maintaining and cleaning equipment used by the nurses and GPs Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms Ordering of vaccinations to maintain stock levels Participation in administrative systems in the Practice At all times there will be a need to maintain accurate records A duty to advise senior nurses of potential problems or errors within a range of assigned tasks Attend and participate in any Practice meetings when required. On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visits Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post 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, 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 confidential. Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons, in accordance with practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Health & Safety The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control Policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to): Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process, including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements Management and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the practice including provision, ordering, availability and ongoing correct usage by staff Active observation of current working practices across the practice in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum once annually) Maintenance of sterile environments Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Equality and diversity The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues by: 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-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Personal/Professional development: The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include: Participation in an annual individual performance review, 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 and enhance the teams performance Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs Effectively manage own time, workload and resources 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 patients and carers Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly Contribution to the implementation of services: The post-holder will: Apply practice policies, standards and guidance Participate in audit where appropriate