JOB OVERVIEW
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Locum Meds is currently assisting a GP surgery in recruiting a Locum Practice Nurse for their GP surgery in Aspatria.
We currently have dates for cover throughout July and onwards and if you are available and willing to work then let us know.
The Practice Nurse is part of a nursing team responsible for ensuring that the practice provides an optimum service of nursing care relevant to the practice population.
The Ideal candidate will
- Have relevant qualifications and experience
- Be registered with NMC with a valid pin
- Have an enhanced DBS within 1 year
- Be up to date with mandatory training
We can provide the following benefits:
- Competitive rates of pay
- Complete flexibility – choose when you want to work!
- Shifts are bookable up to 9 months in advance – plan ahead!
- Fantastic CPD opportunities!
- A team of Primary Care specialists on hand to help
We have great clients all around the area looking for locum Practice Nurses.
Please contact us today to find out more.
Call us 01923 594 002[/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”0″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”More Info” tab_id=”Practice-Nurse-GP-Surgery”][vc_column_text]
What is Practice Nurse:
The practice nurse will undertake a range of nursing assessments and provide appropriate care/treatment in conjunction with GPs, and practice nurses or independently as appropriate for the need, according to practice policy, protocols etc. The practice nurse will strive to improve standards of care and be involved in identifying practice population needs.
Practice Nurse Salary:
The salary of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner varies depending upon the following; Hours worked, experience, Education, how eager the organization are in your skills, references, reputation, location, the list goes on…
Locum Meds have years of experience in accurately determining your pay rate, give us a call today to discuss either what you should be getting paid or what you should be paying a prospective or current employee.
Practice Nurse Job Description:
The content of this job description is designed to be inclusive of a broad range of tasks which may be performed by a practice nurse. The Practice Nurse provides primary care nursing support, patient interventions and treatment within the Medical Centre and from time to time in patient’s homes or elsewhere as required. Nurses also fulfil the many and varied additional roles that occur from time to time – the Practice Nurse should be a good general go-to person. As part of the General Practice team, the nurse must work within the scope of practice and be responsible for providing patient centred, culturally appropriate and individual holistic care to patients.
This post is written to be an equivalent for Agenda for Change (AFC) Band 8. Duties will vary from practice to practice and this is a guide only. Practice accountability structures will also vary.
Scope Of Nursing Practice In UK
The scope of nursing practice is defined as the range of roles, functions, responsibilities, and activities which registered nurses are educated and authorized to perform. The broad scope of nursing practice reflects all of the roles and activities undertaken by registered nurses to address the full range of human experiences and responses to health and illness. This incorporates health promotion, health protection, health maintenance, health restoration, rehabilitation, and palliation. Nursing practice is directed towards the goal of assisting clients to achieve and maintain optimal health in order to maximize the quality of life across the lifespan. A client, referring also to patient and resident, is defined as an individual, a family, a group of individuals, a community, or a population. Nursing practice is accomplished through:
- Utilization of nursing knowledge through the application of critical thinking, judgment and skill. It is grounded in the principles of nursing, medicine, social and public health sciences and expressed as the art of nursing.
- Adoption of a holistic approach to care, addressing the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of clients.
- Promotion of client self-reliance and self-determination by actively involving the client as a partner in all aspects of care.
- Use of nursing theories to define and organize practice and the nursing process to comprehensively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, evaluate, and document client care.
- Application of the model of nursing care delivery adopted within the agency or practice setting.
- Collaboration with other members of the healthcare team and partnering with diverse sectors of the community.
- Advocating for and/or creating quality healthcare systems, population health, and healthy public policy.
To be responsive to the evolving health-related needs of the public, the boundaries of the scope of nursing practice must be flexible. Nursing practice takes place in the context of continuing change and development resulting from advances in research and technology, the introduction of new approaches to care delivery, and a more prominent assortment of experts sharing more zones of regular capacity. The dynamic nature of the healthcare environment requires that nurses respond to client’s needs by continually expanding their knowledge and skills and making judgments about the limits of their practice
Key Relationships/Contacts
Internal:
- Lead Practice Nurse
- Practice Nursing Team and Healthcare Assistants
- GPs
- Doctors in Training
- Practice Manager/Office Manager
- Administration Team
- Secretarial Team
External:
- Patients, carers and relatives
- Practice suppliers (equipment, supplies and services)
Duties And Responsibilities
Professional Responsibilities Of Practice Nurse
- Assist GP’s to help deliver an effective implementation of management of pts with chronic diseases as detailed by the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
- Contribute to the development of policies/protocols/guidelines within the practice.
- Aid the practice team with implementation of new initiatives in the delivery of chronic disease management services.
- Formulate reports as required for the practice manager and or senior nurse.
- Support the implementation of evidence-based guidelines in conjunction with the practice nursing team.
- Encourage the development of integrated services within Primary Care to include integrated practice-based teams and multidisciplinary working.
- Promote the continuing professional development of yourself and other nurses & HCA within the practice.
- Recognize the opportunities for working in partnership with the Primary Healthcare team.
- Participate in an annual appraisal.
Leadership
- Provide professional and managerial support to, healthcare assistants and review and monitoring of patients within primary care.
- Offer guidance and support to health care assistants to improve standards of care if needed.
- Participate in chronic disease management clinics within the practice if asked and only after appropriate training, & provide practical assistance and professional advice to achieve minimum standards of care.
- Provide clinical input where required alongside practice nurses, particularly newly appointed nurses and GPs, to assist in skill development and sharing of best practice.
- Delegate to others, with appropriate skills, knowledge and competence.
- Encourage nursing practice in line with relevant evidence-based research.
- Act as a resource to the general public, patients within the health care system and their families, carers and various healthcare professionals.
Practice Nurse Clinical Duties
- Work alongside Health Care Assistants to help develop their skills.
- Support the practice in achieving quality indicators and targets of the GMS contract and any relevant National Service Frameworks.
- Undertake opportunistic screening when clinically required.
- Perform occasional venepuncture and electrocardiography – following appropriate training.
- Undertake wound care/ management/dressing techniques.
- Carry out ear examination and syringing, following appropriate training and assessment.
- Undertake male, female and family planning assessments, give advice and refer patients appropriately – following appropriate training.
- Perform cervical screening and promote breast awareness – following appropriate training.
- Administer adult and paediatric injections under an individualised prescription or Patient Group Direction, ensuring safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs.
- Undertake accredited training in specific chronic disease management as or if required. e.g. diabetes, respiratory, epilepsy, CHD etc. following appropriate training.
- Contribute to the maintenance of the practice diseases registers.
- Provide advice on lifestyle issues, assist and support patients in changing their unhealthy behaviours and refer appropriately.
- Provide an adult and childhood immunisation service working to Patient Group Directions – following appropriate training if required.
- Delivers travel health care, including vaccinations and advice for patients – following appropriate training if required.
- Recognise the signs of child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse, addictive behaviours, suicidal tendencies and is aware of local, referral procedures.
- Ensure that current evidence-based approaches to a patient are standard practice
- Apply infection control measures when collecting and handling of laboratory specimens, disposing of waste materials, dealing with blood and body fluids spillages and report and treat sharps injuries.
- Undertake first aid and management of emergencies, eg burns, haemorrhage, hypo/hyperglycemic emergencies/asthma attacks.
- Undertake annual training and demonstrates competency in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques
Research, Audit and Quality
- Encourage the development of a practice audit strategy and action plan for Primary Care.
- Contribute to the provision of equitable, high-quality services for patients in the locality.
- Help support the integration across primary, secondary and tertiary care services.
- Maintain an interest in national research initiatives and disseminate appropriate information to health professionals if asked to do so.
- Ensure all care is evidence-based using up to date validated literature.
- Contribute to research and development programmes were required to improve clinical practice.
Practice Nurse Education and Training
- Provide professional advice /support to health care professionals within the Primary health care team
- Following identified training needs, participate in training and facilitation of other practice nurses & healthcare assistants.
- Provide mentorship and guidance for healthcare assistants
- Participate in partnership programmes of awareness raising, detection and prevention of chronic diseases.
- Maintain a level of expertise in specific chronic disease management (when appropriate) and other pertinent areas of health care, and seek to develop new and improved skills.
- Advise members of the public on the concepts of health promotion, education, prevention and protection
- Seek out new knowledge of nursing and health by reading, enquiring and partaking in the continuous education programme.
- Take responsibility for personal development and education including in-service training.
- Direct, supervise and help mentor nurses and healthcare assistants in the clinical setting.
- Actively participate in multidisciplinary education and training.
- Monitor and maintain consistency of professional standards and take appropriate action if standards are not met.
- Maintain professional development by attending relevant courses and study days to keep abreast of current knowledge and developments.
- Abide by the legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice and record and maintain periodic professional registration with RCN & NMC
- Participate in an annual appraisal.
Communication
- Maintain communication and liaise with other disciplines across primary, secondary and tertiary care services as and when necessary
- Contribute to and work effectively within the primary care team
- Assist in clinical audit and the setting and monitoring of standards of care.
- Maintain accurate patient records
- Advise and support other members of the team aiming towards common objectives.
Typical employers of practice nurses
- Health Centres
- Clinics
- GP surgeries
Key skills for Practice Nurses
- Good health and fitness
- Flexible and adaptable
- Excellent teamwork skills
- Verbal and written communication skills
- Well organised
- Ability to take an initiative
- Resilience
- Stamina
Management of risk
- Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
- Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines
- Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs are undertaken. Where appropriate, oversee the monitoring, stock control and documentation of controlled drug use according to legal requirements
- Undertake mandatory and statutory training
- Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines
- Apply policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all
- Participate in the local implementation strategies that are aligned with the values and culture of general practice
Records And Information
- Use technology as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring, presenting and communicating information
- Review and process data using accurate Read codes about patients in order to ensure easy and accurate retrieval for monitoring and audit processes
- Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases, for example, the retrieval of relevant information for patients on their condition
- Understand own and other’s responsibility to the individual organisation regarding the Freedom of Information Act
- Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information to the team using appropriate charts and/or graphs to enhance care
Confidentiality
In the course of their duties, the practice nurse will have access to confidential information relating to patients, their carers and relatives and colleagues within and outside the practice. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business. All such information from any source whatsoever will be treated as strictly confidential.
Information relating to patients, their carers and relatives and colleagues within and outside the practice and in relation to the practice as a business will only be shared in accordance with the practice’s Confidentiality Policy, the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act and in such a way that personal and sensitive patient-identifiable data is protected.
Equality and diversity
- Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
- Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture
- Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights
- Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies
- Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice
- Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care
- Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care
Other Duties Of Practice Nurse
The practice nurse may, from time-to-time, be asked to undertake other reasonable duties, with appropriate training. It is important that all members of staff are prepared to undertake additional or relinquish current duties to maintain service delivery to patients. It is expected that requests from the Partners will not be unreasonably refused.
Practice Nurse Programmes:
Practice Nurse programmes can be found in the following links:
https://www.city.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/primary-care-practice-nursing
https://bucks.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/health-and-social-sciences/graduate-certificate-general-practice-nursing-pt
https://www.educationforhealth.org/news/new-professional-general-practice-nursing-courses/
http://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/fundamentals-of-general-practice-nursing
Online Practice Nurse Courses:
Online Practice Nurse Courses can be carried out, these are very far in between and recommend that you go with a qualification that is hands-on and practical.
Locum Meds also recommend that you choose a course which has the V300 Independent Prescribing qualification (Independent and Supplementary Non-Medical Prescribing) incorporated within the course, or you can study this qualification alongside Nurse Practitioner qualifications, make sure you achieve a V300 Independent Prescribing qualification as this will determine your prescribing rights as shown on the NMC website for each individual nurse.
https://www.reed.co.uk/courses/practice-nurse/online
https://www.city.ac.uk/courses/cpd/the-practice-nurse-distance-learning-module
How to become a certified Practice Nurse:
The level of training required to become a Nurse depends on the type of nursing certification one is pursuing.
Becoming a certified Practical Nurse requires the least amount of training. Many community colleges offer practical nursing certificate programs that take three semesters to complete. Students take courses in human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, psychology, and the practice of nursing, and gain clinical experience in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
Registered nurses must complete a two- or three-year diploma or associate degree program in nursing. Students in registered nursing programs take many of the same courses that LPN students take plus additional general education and advanced nursing courses. RN students gain clinical experience through their programs as well.
Though most states require RNs to hold just an associate degree, many prospective and practising RNs earn bachelor’s degrees. In the future, a bachelor’s degree may be the standard for RN education, and some employers today prefer or require one. Many schools offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. Students in BSN programs gain clinical experience and learn about the human body and nursing practice, but they also develop their critical thinking, decision making, and leadership skills.
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