REPORTS TO: NURSE MANAGER/THE PARTNERS (Clinically) / PRACTICE MANAGER (Administratively) Job Summary 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. Job Responsibilities Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff and GPs. Such tasks may include: Wound care / ulcer care Chronic Disease Management Cervical Screening Immunisations/Vaccinations Removal of sutures Urinalysis Travel Advice and Vaccinations. Ear syringing Routine immunisations Requesting basic pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate Other tasks including: Maintaining GP and nurses rooms, stocking and rotating items as required Chaperoning and assisting patients who are being examined by another clinician Undertake housekeeping duties including, general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms 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 the range of assigned tasks Attend and participate in any practice meetings when required. On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visitAny other delegated duties appropriate to the post. Special Requirements of the Post An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality Ability to use own judgment, resourcefulness and common sense A commitment to maintain a high professional standard of nursing care and keep up to date with all aspects of nursing care relevant to the post A commitment to ensure all Health and Safety requirements and Infection Control measures are met and to report any problems to the practice manager A commitment to the effective use of practice and NHS resources An awareness of own limitations and experience To work only in accordance with the UKCC Code of Conduct and within the scope of professional practice To have a written professional development plan and to maintain an up to date portfolio which meets the requirements of registration with the UKCC Cooperate with annual appraisal meetings Membership of the RCN 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 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 & safety The post-holder will at all times adhere to practice H&S policy for 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): 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 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 within the business. Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually) Spillage control procedures. Decontamination control procedures. 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, 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. 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 recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members Communicate effectively with patients and carers Recognize 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 Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work Participate in audit where appropriate