Main duties of the job
The Advanced Nurse Practitioner will be responsible for attending to patients who wish to be seen by a healthcare professional; diagnosing and treating patients presenting with minor illness as well as seeing and advising people in respect of their continuing medical and nursing needs.
The Advanced Nurse Practitioner will need to prioritise and triage the needs of patients accordingly, making any necessary referrals for investigations in the appropriate manner.
Job responsibilities
Key roles and functions:
• To work autonomously, providing a high quality, safe and supportive environment for patients, meeting their identified physical and psycho-social needs within the scope of individual accountable practice.
• Work within Practice guidelines, policies, protocols and procedures reporting outcomes to appropriate clinical staff so standards of care can be monitored and improved where necessary. This includes adhering to the following agendas: infection control, equality and diversity, health and safety.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, carers, relatives and members of the multidisciplinary team ensuring information is shared appropriately and confidentially so patient needs are met in accordance with NHS directives and safeguarding policies (DH 2003; DH 2010).
• Protect and maintain patient records to the agreed Practice standard and in accordance with professional record keeping standards (NMC 2009).
• Administer medicines in accordance with a non-medical prescribing framework, patient specific direction or patient group direction in accordance with the standards for medicine management (NMC 2007).
• Organise, manage and prioritise own workload ensuring care of patients is paramount.
• Develop the role by using evidence-based practice and continuously improving own knowledge as defined in the PREP handbook (NMC 2011) and revalidation guidelines.
• Diagnosing and Treating Patients Presenting with Minor Illness
• Triage and treat patients presenting with minor illness and wishing to see a healthcare professional; either in surgery in in their own home; making any necessary referrals to other members of the primary healthcare team.
• Advise patients on general healthcare and minor ailments, with referral to other members of the primary or secondary healthcare team, as necessary.
• Prescribe medicines in accordance with NMC Standards for Medicines Management (2007), NMC Code of Professional Standards (2015) and the Nurse Prescribing Implementation Plan (1998).
• Ensure clinical practice is safe and effective and remains within the boundaries of competence and to acknowledge limitations.
• Providing Assessment, Screening and Health Education:
• Minor Illness / Minor Injury Clinics
• Chronic disease and admissions avoidance reviews and care planning
• Lead in the area of Frailty and Care Homes and perform ward round visits Primary Care Network practices
• Palliative and End of Life Care and completion of DNACPR/Respect forms as required
• Structured Medication Reviews
• Falls, Mental Health/Capacity, Social Needs Assessments
• Health screening, contraception, dietary advice, blood pressure checks
• Perform or request blood tests, urinalysis, ECGs (if required)
• Cytology, Injections, Dressings, Removal of sutures/clips (if required)
• Provide general and specific health screening to the practice population, within agreed protocols, with referral to other members of the primary and secondary healthcare team as necessary
The following are implicit expectations of the post holder:
• A willingness to undertake additional courses, training and education to meet the needs of the position; this includes attendance at on and off-site meetings and some study during non-working hours.
• To undertake regular clinical supervision with a GP.
• A willingness to adapt working practice to meet changing practice and service development.
• Flexibility of working across sites if required.
• Performance is monitored on an ongoing basis and formally appraised annually.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
Minimum of 5 years post registration experience at a senior level (Band 7 or above) in specialty area.
Evidence of on-going CPD.
Desirable
Evidence of teaching in a variety of environments.
Qualifications
Essential
• Registered General Nurse with evidence of current NMC registration.
• Graduated from a Centre for Advancing Practice accredited MSc advanced practice programme, or completed the Centres ePortfolio (supported) Route (both pathways enable eligibility for an Advanced digital badge issued by the Centre, demonstrating recognised educational and experiential preparation in advanced practice).
• Non-medical Prescribing qualification.
Desirable
• Teaching & Mentoring qualification
• Advanced Life Support qualification (s)
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.