The Lighthouse Medical Practice

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Senior Practice Nurse

Responsible to: Lead Nurse/Lead GP (Clinical) Practice Management Team (Non Clinical)

Accountable to: Managing Partner

The Lighthouse Medical Practice is a Partnership operating from two sites. The Practice cares for around 15,000 patients and has been approved for GP and medical student training. The Practice has a firm commitment to offer an excellent standard of care to its patients and our aim is to develop local, modern health services so they can be treated, close to where they live.

Job Summary

To be responsible for the delivery of General Practice Nursing to the whole Practice population. The focus of the role is both the delivery of evidence-based practice for patients presenting with a long-term condition, and the provision of preventative health care to the Practice population. As an autonomous practitioner the nurse is responsible for the care delivered, demonstrating critical thinking and skills in clinical decision-making in the management of patients. They will work collaboratively within the General Practice team to meet the needs of patients, support the delivery of policy and procedures, and provide nurse leadership as required.

Good communications are extremely important within the Practice, with patients and with outside agencies and you will be expected to help ensure that everyone who comes into contact with it holds the Practice in high regard. Absolute discretion is required in protecting patient’s confidentiality.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Practice  Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate treatment programmes that promote health and well-being  Assess, plan, implement, evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition  Proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition  Work with other health care professionals to diagnose, monitor, manage and treat long-term conditions  Review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence based practice and national and Practice policies  Work with patients in order to support adherence to prescribed treatments

Updated June 13 CLC The Lighthouse Medical Practice

 Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care. To be competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation and attend regular update sessions  Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote them to live healthily, and apply principles of self-care  Support and manage health needs of women presenting for family planning and cervical cytology consultations  Advise on breast self awareness, demonstrating breast self examination and provide supporting literature where required  Give basic knowledge on peri-menopausal symptoms and make appropriate referral  Advise on the increased peri and post menopausal risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.  Advise on basic incontinence management and make referral where appropriate  Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children. Understand the medico-legal principles of informed consent  Advise, support and, where appropriate, administer vaccinations for patients travelling abroad and ensure safe storage, vaccine stability, rotation and disposal of vaccines  Promote and deliver evidence-based care for patients presenting with aural conditions. Demonstrate safe & proficient use of instruments for aural toilet  Meet the needs of patients presenting for opportunistic wound care  Undertake Doppler readings. Assess & measure legs for compression hosiery  Undertake opportunistic screening  Carry out new patient checks  Undertakes opportunistic blood tests after discussion with the GP  Offer smoking cessation advice individually in opportunistic consultations  Supports infection control measures within the Practice, and educate colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures  Undertaking INR* clinics, recognising when to refer to a GP and offer follow up appointments  To be able to give basic advice and appropriate referral on issues covering, testicular cancer, family planning and sexual health for men

Communication  Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment  Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating  Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication  Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues

Delivering a quality service  Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC  Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures  Prioritise, organise and manage own and other’s workload in a manner than maintains and promotes quality  Deliver care as an individual and team according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care  Assess effectiveness of care delivery for the nursing team through peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation  Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required  Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care  Support and participate in shared learning across the Practice and wider organisation  Participate in the management and review of patient complaints, and identify learning from clinical incidents and near-miss events utilising a structured framework  Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery  Participate in the performance monitoring of the nursing team, providing feedback as appropriate  Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance  Work within policies regarding family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour, and refer as appropriate

Leadership  Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model  Support the development of others in order to maximise staff potential  Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and external good practice  Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency and actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of the service  Act as a clinical leader in the delivery of nursing services to patients, ensuring that the needs of the patient are the priority  Participate in the planning and implementation of changes within the area of care and responsibility  Contribute and participate in the development of local guidelines, protocol and standards

 Participate in the planning and engagement of practice-based commissioning or similar initiatives  Promote the role of the senior PN in the provision of care  Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate

Team work  Understand own role and scope in the Practice and identify how this may develop over time  Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working  Recognise & understand the roles of individuals working within the team & how these interface with your own  Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence of nurses  Ensure clear referral mechanisms are in place to meet patient need  Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team  Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care deliver  Participate in and support local projects as agreed with the Practice Management Team

Infection Control Applies infection control measures within the Practice. This includes:  Universal hygiene precautions  The collection and handling of laboratory specimens  Segregation and disposal of waste materials  Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment  Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries  Dealing with blood and body fluid spillage  Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

Collation of Information

Support the Practice team in achievement of keeping medical records updated by ensuring the following:

 Collation of patient information using Emis Web medical information system.  Assist with the management of disease registers (where appropriate)  Maintaining quality and accuracy of all data input.

Working Environment

 Carry out routine checks to ensure your work station is clean and tidy at the start and end of your shift.  Ensure all equipment in your work station is operational and up to date and report any issues to your line manager.  Ensure that confidential patient information is stored and handled according to protocol and report any concerns to your line manager.

Health & Safety

 Assist in promoting and maintaining your own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health and Safety policy. Ensure that any hazards in your working area are reported immediately to your line manager.  Have a working knowledge of Health and Safety requirements

Confidentiality

 Ensure patient and Practice information is kept confidential and secure at all times, in accordance with the Information Security and Confidentiality protocols.

Performance/Professional Development

 To participate in training sessions to ensure administrative, clinical and computer skills are kept up to date with current technology and practice.  Use reflective practice to support & maintain own professional portfolio & PDP  Understand the benefits of clinical supervision for the individual & the organisation  To participate in regular appraisal meetings.  To participate in regular team meetings.

Equality & Diversity

 To support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues according to Practice protocol.

Working with Patients

 To work in partnership with our patients to help them achieve better health outcomes.  To offer a polite, friendly and efficient level of customer service to all our patients.

Dignity and Respect

 To treat patients, colleagues and visitors with dignity and respect at all times.

Feedback

 To listen to feedback from patients and colleagues whether this be a complaint, comment or compliment and if it cannot be dealt with immediately, ensure it is reported immediately to a member of the Practice Management Team.

 To work within the guidelines set by CQC to ensure that the Practice is safe, efficient and provides the best possible care for patients.  To offer suggestions to the Managing Partner on how we can improve, progress and develop all processes relating to CQC.

Any Other Duties

Any other duties as may be determined by the Practice Management Team and Partners.

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Updated June 13 CLC