Download JOB DESCRIPTION – Practice Nurse

JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Practice Nurse
Location:
Coagh Medical Centre
Accountable to:
Dr Dalzell, Dr Gray & Dr Whitehead
Responsible to:
General Practitioners for clinical matters; The Practice Manager for
administrative matters
Qualifications:
Registered Nurse with at least 3 years post registration nursing experience
Job Summary
The post holder is responsible for the delivery of practice nursing service care, including
management of long term conditions. They will deliver care within boundaries of their role,
focusing upon supporting patients to be healthy, monitoring of long term conditions, health
prevention and screening activities. They will work collaboratively with the general practice
team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.
It is important that all members of staff are prepared to undertake additional duties or
relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of the practice and it is
expected that requests from the Partners/Practice Manager to redistribute duties and functions
for such changes shall not be reasonably refused.
Major duties and responsibilities:
Health Promotion, Chronic Disease Management, Primary & Secondary Care Prevention



Identify and target patients for chronic disease clinics as per GMS contract
requirements
Organise and facilitate Nurse Led Chronic Disease Management Clinics e.g. Asthma,
COPD, Diabetes, hypertension, CKD, smoking cessation, weight/diet control or any
other that may be considered appropriate.
Liaison with other agencies as required
Procedures may include









Checking demographic details
Taking a full medical, family and lifestyle history
Recording previous screening procedures and immunisation status
Giving immunisation and vaccinations when indicated
Urine testing, blood pressure, height and weight measurement
Taking cervical smears – after appropriate training has been completed
Peak flow/spirometry measurement, teaching inhaler techniques
Venepuncture
24 hour ABPM



24 hour ECG
Providing were appropriate patient education and information
Recording all relevant data onto practice clinical computer system using appropriate
templates
The Practice Nurse will be responsible for providing information, which will promote health
and enable patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The nurse will have a role in assessing the
progress of patients.
The Practice Nurse will use the protocols set up for clinics and where required will assist in
preparing or changing a protocol.
Drug Monitoring
Identification of patients on medications which needs regular monitoring and monitoring of
same e.g. Warfarin, Methotrexate, Lithium etc.
Other basic nursing duties





Ear syringing, blood pressure and weight management
ECG, specimen collection e.g. mssu, occult blood, sputum etc.
Upkeep and maintenance of all medical equipment and instruments
Ensure the maintenance of stock levels
Other routine Injections
Administrative and Professional responsibilities










To comply with the UKCC code Of Professional Conduct and to keep your
registration up to date presenting a copy of this to the Practice Manager on an annual
basis
To comply with the guidelines for the storage, control and administration of
medicines and controlled drugs as detailed in the UKCC Administration Of Drugs.
To administer drugs only on signed, written medical authorisation
Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the Practice Team
Ensure accurate notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded on the clinical
record on the computer (or in paper records as necessary)
Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient
health care, and registration with the Practice, including relevant clinic list and recall
systems
Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and
ad hoc reports or for identifying target group patients
Attend and participate in Practice Meetings as required
Assist in the formulation of Practice philosophy, strategy and policy
To be responsible for the safe use and security of all practice equipment used in the
treatment/consulting rooms and reporting any defects to the Practice Manager/Lead
GP
Research Projects/Audit
The Practice Nurse will cooperate and participate as required in any research or audit within
the practice as deemed necessary together with assisting with the requirements of Clinical &
Social Care Governance.
Professional Development
The Practice Nurse will have responsibility to keep up to date and informed about new
medical developments and equipment and maintain continued education by attendance at
courses and study days as deemed beneficial to practice development or necessary for
professional development.
It is a requirement of all employees of Coagh Medical Centre to attend relevant
courses/training programmes as determined and agreed by the Partners of the practice to
ensure their development in terms of the requirements of the post at a specified time and the
demands of the practice. All Practice Nurses will undergo an annual job appraisal where
his/her personal portfolio will be discussed and reviewed.
This Job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is
not intended to be rigid or inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within
which the individual works. Other duties, of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade,
may be assigned from time to time.
Person Specification
Criteria
Qualifications

Experience

Essential
Registered Nurse
Minimum 3 Years post
registration experience



Skills


Knowledge




Other






Clinical skills –
immunisation and
vaccination, collection
of pathological
specimens
Communication –
Maintain pleasant and
professional
relationships with
patients & Colleagues
IT Skills
General awareness of
role and duties of post
Needs of patients with
long term conditions
Aware of accountability
of own role and other
roles in nurse-led
service
Highly motivated
Enthusiastic
Courteous
Remain calm in difficult
situations
Team Player
Commitment to
learning and personal
development

Desirable
Diploma in Asthma,
COPD,Diabetes,Cervical
Cytology
Experience in primary
Care setting
Management of long
term conditions
QOF requirements