Primary Care Practice Nurse

Professional responsibilities

To assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient

care as directed by GPs. Subject to appropriate training, such tasks may

include:

Phlebotomy

Requesting

pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs

Urinalysis

ECGs

Performing

any investigatory procedure requested by GPs

Management

of anticoagulation patients using warfarin monitoring software

Ear

syringing

Cervical

cytology

IUD

checks

Pessary

insertion and removal

Contraceptive

advice

Chlamydia

testing

Wound

care and dressings

Removal

of sutures/clips

Ulcer

care

Doppler

testing

New

Patient Registration Checks

Routine

childhood and adult immunisations following patient group directions

Travel

advice and immunisation following patient group directions

Routine

injections

Smoking

cessation advice

Chaperoning

patients who are being examined by another clinician

Assisting

• GPs with minor surgery and IUD fittings
• Advising
• patients on general health care and minor ailments with referral to GPs as
• necessary

Undertaking

occasional home visits as required

Where appropriately qualified, to lead the routine management of patients on chronic disease registers following agreed clinical protocols and referring to GPs as appropriate:

Asthma, including reversibility testing

COPD

• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes, including initiation of insulin
• Hypertension
• Hypothyroidism
• Stroke

Administrative responsibilities

• Maintaining the general tidiness and cleanliness of the Treatment Room
• Maintaining the cleaning equipment used by nurses and GPs
• Assisting the Practice Manager in ensuring equipment is maintained and routinely serviced
• Maintaining and rotating stock items in the Clinical Rooms and Main Store
• Ensuring clinical waste is disposed of in accordance with the Clinical Waste Policy
• Maintaining stock of patient leaflets as instructed by GPs and Practice Manager
• Ordering of health promotion literature
• Following established administrative systems within the Practice
• Ensuring accurate notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patient's computer record at all times
• Ensuring all health and safety requirements and infection control measures are met and reporting any problems to the Practice Manager
• Communicating any potential problems or errors within the range of assigned tasks to the Practice Manager
• Maintaining effective liaison with other agencies and staff concerned with patient care, with appropriate regard to confidentiality

Educational responsibilities

Maintaining a high professional standard of nursing care and keeping up to date with all aspects of nursing care relevant to the post

Maintaining a written professional development plan and an up-to-date portfolio which meets with requirements for registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council

Attending courses and study days necessary for professional development

Participating in training in basic life-support skills in accordance with Practice guidelines

Participating in annual appraisal meetings

Maintaining familiarity with safeguarding procedures for children and vulnerable adults

Attending and participating in Practice meetings when required to contribute to the effectiveness of the team

Participating in the education and training of students

Taking special responsibility for the induction and training of nursing staff

Participating in any Practice audits

Special requirements

To work in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council Code

To be registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council whilst employed by the Practice

To hold professional indemnity insurance cover whilst employed by the Practice

To provide evidence of immunisation against Hepatitis B

An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality with respect to patients, carers, Practice colleagues, other healthcare workers and information relating to the Practice as a business

An ability to manage own time and workload effectively

A commitment to the effective use of Practice and NHS resources

An awareness of own limitations and experience

To work closely with administrative and clinical staff applying agreed policies and procedures to ensure the smooth running of the Practice