Eden Medical Group, Port Road, Carlisle JOB TITLE: REGISTERED PRACTITIONER PRACTICE NURSE (E GRADE) REPORTS TO: Practice Manager/Nurse Manager HOURS: 18.5 hours per week (Mon, Thur & Fri) Job Summary: The designation of this post is equivalent to a Staff Nurse (E Grade). The applicant should be a Registered (First Level) Nurse with at least six months to one year post registration experience. Accountability: Professionally to patients under the UKCC Code of Conduct. Managerially to Practice Manager. Clinically to GPs or Senior Nurses. Main Responsibilities: Clinical Nursing Practice Complex Wound Management: Provide the diagnosis, management Plan and treatment of leg ulcers using Doppler assessment Perform wound care using aseptic technique. Suture and clip removal. Assist with minor surgery. Screening: Undertake opportunistic screening – BP checks, height, weight, BMI, urinalysis, smoking status. Carry out New Patient checks. Undertake opportunistic venepuncture. Health Promotion: Recognise patients’ readiness to change in supporting their attempts to change unhealthy behaviour. Provide healthy eating advice to individuals or to groups including the underweight. Provide smoking cessation advice individually in opportunistic consultations. Offer advice on recommended safe limits for alcohol consumption. D:\533579446.doc Page 1 of 6 Eden Medical Group, Port Road, Carlisle Develop and maintain the Health Promotion material within the Practice and the waiting room notice board. Refer as appropriate. Vaccinations and Immunisations: Administer injections under an individualised prescription or Patient Group Direction. Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs. Ear Care: Undertake ear syringing following Ear Care Training. Advise patients about safe ear care. Infection Control: Support patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures. Apply infection control measures within the Practice according to local and national guidelines. 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 spillages. Educate colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures. Emergency Management: Is competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques. Child Health/Child Protection: Recognise the signs, symptoms and categories of child abuse. Understand the importance of recognition, observation, documentation and communication. Is aware of child health procedures, statutory local procedures and points of referral. Has knowledge of other practitioners and agencies roles. Understands basic legal issues around child abuse. Mental Health: D:\533579446.doc Page 2 of 6 Eden Medical Group, Port Road, Carlisle Recognise and is aware of appropriate referral mechanisms for family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour. Recognise psychological needs of patients presenting with depression or suicidal tendency. Care and Programme Management Men’s Health: Raise awareness and give basic advice on issues covering: Testicular self examination. Incontinence and prostatic disease. Family Planning. Sexual health. Make appropriate referrals. Family Planning: Advise patients on available methods of contraception and refer patients as appropriate. Support patients attending for emergency contraception and refer patients as appropriate. Perform interval health check for patients using hormonal contraception. Teach patients correct condom use. Advise patients on reducing risk of sexually transmitted diseases and refer patients appropriately. Women’s Health: Advise patients on the national and local Cervical Cytology and mammography screening programmes. Undertake a programme of cervical cytology sampling under supervision until competent. Audit a minimum of twenty consecutive smears each year to demonstrate adequate sampling rates. Promote breast self-awareness, demonstrate breast self-examination and provide supporting literature. Advise patients about reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and make appropriate referrals. Take swabs for microscopy as directed. Give patients basic advice about peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms and make appropriate referrals. Advise on the increased peri-menopausal and post menopausal risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Offer health promotion/lifestyle advice to patients. D:\533579446.doc Page 3 of 6 Eden Medical Group, Port Road, Carlisle Advise on basic incontinence management and make appropriate referrals. Diabetes: All Nurses should have minimum training and understanding of diatetes. Support patients in the management of non insulin dependent diabetics. Undertake opportunistic screening for the diagnosis of diabetes. Support and provide education for diabetic patients. Provide emergency treatment for hypo/hyperglycaemic emergencies. Make appropriate referrals. Contribute to the maintenance of the Practice Diabetic Register. Respiratory Disease Management: Has basic understanding of asthma care; its diagnosis, asthma treatments and the principles of self management. Use a spirometer to aid the diagnosis and management of COPD. Know about the factors which contribute to the development of COPD. Contribute to the management of patients within the framework of national and local guidelines for asthma and COPD. Manage emergency treatment of asthma attacks. Advice patients on their asthma control including the use of self management plans. Teach and advise patients how to use various inhalers and peak flow meters. Contribute to the maintenance of the Practice Respiratory Register. Make appropriate referrals. Cardiovascular Disease: Contribute to the maintenance of the Practice CHD register. Advise patients on lifestyle management and drug compliance for reducing risk factors of: Hypertension Angina Myocardial infarction Cerebrovascular accident Clinical Practice Leadership: D:\533579446.doc Page 4 of 6 Eden Medical Group, Port Road, Carlisle Assist in clinical audit and the setting and monitoring of standard care. Teach and direct others in clinical setting, including unqualified staff. Act as an assessor / mentor and teacher to other staff. Work effectively in the team. Clinical Practice Development: Participate in evidence based practice. Health & Safety: The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include: Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines. Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks. Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills. Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards. Reporting potential risks identified. 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 people’s 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. D:\533579446.doc Page 5 of 6 Eden Medical Group, Port Road, Carlisle 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 team’s 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 people’s 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. 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