Practice Nurse

Key responsibilities Long-term conditions (major component of the role) • Undertake structured reviews and ongoing management for patients with established LTCs (e.g. diabetes, asthma, COPD, hypertension, CHD, stroke/TIA), in line with practice protocols and guidance. • Develop, implement and evaluate individualised care plans, supporting self-management and prevention of complications. • Identify and support patients at risk of developing LTCs, including early intervention and lifestyle advice. • Contribute to QOF delivery and support audit/quality improvement activity related to LTC care. Clinical assessment and onward referral • Undertake face-to-face and telephone consultations, assessing and treating patients within scope of practice. • Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care where required. • Recognise limitations, seek advice, and refer/escalate appropriately to GPs and other clinicians to ensure safe care. Treatment room and routine nursing procedures • Assess and manage patients presenting with uncomplicated wounds, including dressings and wound care. • Undertake routine procedures as appropriate and within competence, which may include: • Dressings and removal of sutures/clips • Ear care/ear irrigation (where trained and competent) • Venepuncture and blood sampling (where trained and competent) • Collection of specimens (urine, swabs and other samples) Health promotion and prevention • Deliver opportunistic health promotion (e.g. during new patient checks and routine appointments). • Support patients to adopt healthy lifestyle changes and encourage self-care principles. • Provide information and advice on prescribed and over-the-counter medicines within professional competence and escalate medication queries where appropriate. Womens health • Support and advise women requesting information relating to family planning needs (within competence and local pathways). • Undertake cervical cytology consultations (where trained/competent) and provide appropriate advice, follow-up and signposting. Immunisations and vaccinations • Participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for adults and children, in line with practice policy and competence. • Provide travel health advice and, where appropriate and within scope, administer travel vaccinations. Home visits (where applicable) • Undertake home visits for housebound patients when required and appropriate, within scope of practice and service need. • Record keeping and information governance • Ensure all patient contacts are recorded accurately and contemporaneously in the clinical record (SystmOne). • Maintain confidentiality and comply with practice policies on information governance and data protection. • Share information only with authorised individuals on a need-to-know basis. Infection prevention and control / health & safety • Identify, report and escalate health and safety or infection control risks immediately when recognised. • Maintain clean, safe clinical environments and comply with infection prevention and control procedures. • Participate in infection control training and apply learning in day-to-day practice. • Support safe waste management, decontamination processes and equipment maintenance in line with practice procedures. Teamworking and liaison • Work closely with the nursing team, GPs, reception and administrative colleagues to support smooth running of the practice. • Maintain effective liaison with external agencies including community services and secondary care. • Attend and contribute to practice meetings as required. Training, appraisal and development • Participate in appraisal (initially at 6 months, then annually) and agree development objectives. • Maintain a Personal Learning Plan and keep up to date with professional and clinical developments. • Ensure mandatory training is up to date including safeguarding. Attend relevant courses/study days as agreed and required for the role. Support learning and development of others where appropriate. Job description Job responsibilities Key responsibilities Long-term conditions (major component of the role) • Undertake structured reviews and ongoing management for patients with established LTCs (e.g. diabetes, asthma, COPD, hypertension, CHD, stroke/TIA), in line with practice protocols and guidance. • Develop, implement and evaluate individualised care plans, supporting self-management and prevention of complications. • Identify and support patients at risk of developing LTCs, including early intervention and lifestyle advice. • Contribute to QOF delivery and support audit/quality improvement activity related to LTC care. Clinical assessment and onward referral • Undertake face-to-face and telephone consultations, assessing and treating patients within scope of practice. • Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care where required. • Recognise limitations, seek advice, and refer/escalate appropriately to GPs and other clinicians to ensure safe care. Treatment room and routine nursing procedures • Assess and manage patients presenting with uncomplicated wounds, including dressings and wound care. • Undertake routine procedures as appropriate and within competence, which may include: • Dressings and removal of sutures/clips • Ear care/ear irrigation (where trained and competent) • Venepuncture and blood sampling (where trained and competent) • Collection of specimens (urine, swabs and other samples) Health promotion and prevention • Deliver opportunistic health promotion (e.g. during new patient checks and routine appointments). • Support patients to adopt healthy lifestyle changes and encourage self-care principles. • Provide information and advice on prescribed and over-the-counter medicines within professional competence and escalate medication queries where appropriate. Womens health • Support and advise women requesting information relating to family planning needs (within competence and local pathways). • Undertake cervical cytology consultations (where trained/competent) and provide appropriate advice, follow-up and signposting. Immunisations and vaccinations • Participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for adults and children, in line with practice policy and competence. • Provide travel health advice and, where appropriate and within scope, administer travel vaccinations. Home visits (where applicable) • Undertake home visits for housebound patients when required and appropriate, within scope of practice and service need. • Record keeping and information governance • Ensure all patient contacts are recorded accurately and contemporaneously in the clinical record (SystmOne). • Maintain confidentiality and comply with practice policies on information governance and data protection. • Share information only with authorised individuals on a need-to-know basis. Infection prevention and control / health & safety • Identify, report and escalate health and safety or infection control risks immediately when recognised. • Maintain clean, safe clinical environments and comply with infection prevention and control procedures. • Participate in infection control training and apply learning in day-to-day practice. • Support safe waste management, decontamination processes and equipment maintenance in line with practice procedures. Teamworking and liaison • Work closely with the nursing team, GPs, reception and administrative colleagues to support smooth running of the practice. • Maintain effective liaison with external agencies including community services and secondary care. • Attend and contribute to practice meetings as required. Training, appraisal and development • Participate in appraisal (initially at 6 months, then annually) and agree development objectives. • Maintain a Personal Learning Plan and keep up to date with professional and clinical developments. • Ensure mandatory training is up to date including safeguarding. Attend relevant courses/study days as agreed and required for the role. Support learning and development of others where appropriate.