About this role
Job summary
Practice Nurse (Full-Time Preferred, Job Share considered)
Are you a Practice Nurse looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to develop your skills within a supportive and forward-thinking primary care team? Hicks Group Practice is seeking an enthusiastic and committed Practice Nurse to join our friendly nursing team and help us continue to deliver high-quality care to our growing patient population.
We are looking for an individual with experience of working in primary care; however, we would also be pleased to hear from nurses wishing to transition into general practice. Training, support and clinical supervision will be available for the right candidate.
We provide a wide range of medical and nursing services to a diverse patient population. Experience or an interest in chronic disease management, sexual health, health promotion and mental health would be advantageous.
Experience of using SystmOne would be desirable but is not essential. We are looking for someone with a positive attitude, enthusiasm for learning and development, excellent communication skills, and strong organisational abilities. The successful candidate will be able to manage and prioritise their workload effectively, work independently when required, and contribute positively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
If you are passionate about delivering outstanding patient care and would like to join a practice that values its staff, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
The role of the Practice Nurse provides primary care nursing support, patient interventions and treatment within the Practice. As part of the general practice team they will work within their scope of practice and be responsible for providing patient-centred, culturally appropriate, and individual holistic care to patients.
This includes-
Follow-up of patient test results and communication with patients where appropriate. Undertaking treatment options and carrying out appropriate clinical interventions and procedures. Health screening, including NHS health checks, Asthma review, Diabetic review; Cervical screening. On-going health education and advice, including counselling to improve health and prevent disease. Use of recall and reminder systems and referral, as appropriate, to national screening programmes. Family planning services, provision of contraceptive advice and sexual health services. Delivery of immunisation programmes. On-going care and support for people with chronic and terminal conditions. Health promotion to the practices enrolled population, linking to public health programmes at a national, regional and local level and utilising such programmes to target specific populations.
About us
Hicks Group Practice operates from two sites, Charles Hicks Centre in Huntingdon and Roman Gate Surgery in Godmanchester, serving over 16,900 patients. We are a well-established, progressive practice with a strong reputation for teamwork, patient-centred care, and staff development. We are a supportive and friendly team of 6 GP Partners, 4 Salaried GPs, 1 experienced Advanced Clinical Practitioner, 2 experienced Advance Nurse Practitioners, and a collaborative nursing team with friendly & efficient patient advisors and administration teams.
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a busy and varied clinical environment alongside experienced Nurses, Nurse Associates, Healthcare Assistants, GPs, and the wider multidisciplinary team. We are proud of our collaborative approach and are committed to providing excellent support, training, and development opportunities for all members of our nursing team.
As a recognised training practice, we support Medical Students, GP Registrars, Foundation Doctors, and Student Nurses. We are passionate about developing the future workforce and investing in the careers of our existing staff, by actively encouraging career progression and personal development.
Our team meets regularly for clinical discussions and practice wide meetings, celebrating successes together and supporting each other through challenges. Our team culture is grounded in respect, positivity and genuine care for one another.
Job description Job responsibilities
PRACTICE NURSE
As an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will be expected to prioritise their own workload, anticipating and resolving problems. As part of a multidisciplinary clinical team of doctors, nurses and associated health professionals, the post holder will work as an independent practitioner providing nursing services to meet the needs of the practice population, including treatment room work, chronic disease management, child health, sexual health and general health promotion services. The post holder will also be responsible for raising awareness of health and social wellbeing influencing the broader context, enabling people to improve their own health and work collaboratively to tackle health inequalities. This post has no supervisory, managerial responsibility.
General Nursing Duties
a. Clinically assess and manage patients presenting with various conditions including Chronic Disease Management, Family Planning and Cervical Cytology and Travel Health. Initiating and perform diagnostic testing as provided by the practice, and be able to act on results.
b. Provide a triage service for patients and manage minor illness and injury as appropriate to personal competence and practice guidelines.
c.Actively promote healthy lifestyle, utilising current national and local health promotional strategies including opportunistic screening and intervention.
d.Undertake when appropriate any treatment room duties - venepuncture, dressings, complex wound management and aural care. Assist with minor surgical procedures, adhering to infection control guidelines.
e. Document and accurately record nursing intervention in patient's medical notes and/or database, in accordance with all NMC documentation and working regulations.
f. Provide a Family Planning and Sexual Health service to patients, including emergency contraception as determined by the practice. Supply or administer medication or vaccination using Patient Group Directions (PGDs) or using registered qualification of Extended/Supplementary Prescribing.
g. Provide clinical support to other nurses, being proactive in nurse educational requirements and involvement with this.
h. Responsible for professional supervision, risk management and monitoring of standards of clinical practice, ensuring provision of evidence-based best practice through clinical audit as recommended in the GMS contract whilst working collaboratively as a member of the local integrated primary healthcare team.
i. To provide nursing services to patients, including treatment, screening, advice and minor therapeutic procedures.
j. Responsible for the ordering of supplies including safe storage and handling of medicines including dressings and other practice equipment. Implement Health and Safety policies as laid down by the practice, ensuring a safe environment for patients and staff.
k. To undertake diagnostic tests including blood glucose monitoring, PEFR and urine analysis.
l. To advise on and supervise patients use of devices including PEFR meters, urinary diagnostic stix, blood glucose monitoring and nebulisers.
m. Preparation of patient and equipment for Minor Operations and IUCD insertions, assisting the Doctor and chaperoning the Doctor as requested.
n. To provide family planning advice, child immunisations and cervical cytology.
o. To take and despatch safely laboratory specimens including blood, urine, swabs and smears.
p. To apply dressings to wounds.
q. To remove sutures as necessary.
r. To provide ear syringing, treatment for cuts and bruises, dressings of wounds and leg ulcers and removal of sutures.
s. To provide immunisations for all ages and diseases and to know the contra-indications and side effects of vaccinations.
Health Promotion
a. To give lifestyle advice to patients including advice on smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and exercise.
b. To provide new registration health checks for new patients registering with the practice.
c. To provide well-person advice such as breast and cervical screening and HRT.
d. To provide health advice to patients concerning risks of heart disease and cancer, including those with a personal and/or family history.
e. To participate in and administer seasonal Flu vaccination to appropriate health groups to enable the practice to meet the national standards.
Chronic Disease Management
Chronic Disease Management will require a practice nurse to determine risk factors for the patient and professional judgement will be required for individual patients, regarding future planning and prevention or deterioration of disease.
Chronic Disease Management will require a practice nurse to determine risk factors for the patient and professional judgement will be required for individual patients, regarding future planning and prevention or deterioration of disease.
a. To provide Minor Injuries care in conjunction with the Doctors rota and to ensure that the nursing team are aware of all current guidelines, medication, care plans. Accepting referrals from colleagues where patients require specialist input.
b. To assist the Nurse Manager in running chronic disease management clinics and to contribute to the implementation of appropriate and specific national service frameworks guidelines and protocols.
Treatment Room Supplies and Equipment
a. Maintenance of treatment room equipment.
b. Daily checks of refrigeration.
c. Maintenance of treatment room stock, hygiene and tidiness.
d. Maintenance of drug and vaccine supplies and re-ordering.
Electronic Patient Records
a. Input Read Codes to maintain accurate computerised healthcare records of all patient consultations in line with information governance.
b. Use of templates, where available, for all consultations to ensure data completeness, continuity and accuracy.
c. Support the practice strategy on data collection and entry and performance against the new General Medical Services (GMS) Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF) and all Enhanced Services the practice have signed up to deliver.
Clinical system Path Links Results
a. Check and match on a daily basis the validity of the Path Links results that have been sent electronically from local Hospitals.
Flexibility
The job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main responsibilities only. The post holder will need to be flexible in developing the role and work very closely with the Nurse Manager and Practice Manager.
Equality and Diversity
The post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
a. Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
b. Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
c. Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Confidentiality
a. In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
b. In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
c. Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
Quality
The post holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
a. Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
b. Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
c. Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.
d. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.
e. Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
Health and Safety
a. Responsible for the safe use of all diagnostic and treatment equipment ranging from basic, e.g. syringes, sphygmomanometers, to complex equipment requiring additional training for use i.e. spirometry, defibrillator, and other emergency equipment.
b. Computers and related hardware on a daily basis.
c. Decontamination systems and all equipment associated in this process. The post holder must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to ensure that the agreed procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.
Smoking
The practice actively discourages smoking.
Other Information
The post holder will be based at either Charles Hicks Centre or Roman Gate. The job description will change by mutual agreement, in such instances the post holder will be issued with an amendment or given a new job description.
Person Specification
Knowledge Desirable
An understanding of how General Practice fits into the NHS structure Some knowledge of the practice clinical system (systmOne)
Qualifications Essential
Good Standard of General education Registered Nurse Membership of Nursing and Midwifery Council
Desirable
Family Planning qualification Asthma Diploma Diabetes Diploma
Experience Essential
Experience of procedures listed in the job description Experience of using own initiative
Desirable
Experience of working in a General Practice Practical experience of computerised Recording system (systmOne) Experience of Chronic Disease Management
Behaviours Essential
Planning & Organising Performing under Pressure Adaptability Team Working Self motivated
Skills Essential
Excellent Communication skills (written & Oral) Time Management Conflict management Problem solving skills Interpersonal skills
Desirable
Basic IT Skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Hicks Group practice
Address Charles Hicks Centre
75 Ermine Street
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE29 3EZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.charleshicksmedicalcentre.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)