Advanced Nurse Practitioner

JOB SUMMARY Working as part of the GP Team delivering GP services to patients, including both planned on-going care as well as acute urgent care. Advanced Nurse Practitioners will be expected to examine, diagnose, prescribe and treat patients.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Management of Patient Health & Illness To analyse and interpret history, presenting symptoms, physical findings and diagnostic information to develop appropriate differential diagnosis. To prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately, including initiation of effective emergency care. To formulate an action plan based on scientific rationale, evidence-based standards of care and Practice guidelines. Initiates appropriate and timely consultation and / or referral when the problem exceeds the Lead Nurses scope and / or expertise. To use National, Community / Public Health assessment information and guidelines, when evaluating patient needs, initiating referrals, coordinating care and programme management. To develop and utilise a follow-up system within the Practice to ensure patients receive appropriate services and evaluate same. To provide counselling concerning drug regimes, side-effects and interactions and - if legally authorised [Independent Nurse Prescriber] prescribe medication based on efficacy, safety and cost, from the appropriate formulary. To order, perform and interpret common screening and diagnostic tests. To communicate the health status of the patient to the relevant health care professionals. To provide health promotion and disease prevention services to patients and their families. To maintain accurate and contemporaneous records, utilising the Practices computer system and considering the Caldicott Principles in relation to all data handling. 2. Professional Role Adjust the boundaries for the development of future practices, pioneering and developing new roles responding to changing healthcare needs. To facilitate and participate in multidisciplinary education and clinical supervision. To work within the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct and

Scope of Professional Conduct

http://www.nmc.org.uk/code Participates in organisational decision making, interpret variations in outcomes and use data from information systems to improve practise. To promote and develop the Advanced Nurse Practitioner role. To maintain own professional development in line with Post-Registration Education and Practice. To maintain accurate records required for revalidation and continuation of NMC registration. To support the development of Practice development plans and new services. 3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Ability to foster a cooperative work environment. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Knowledge of related accreditation and certification requirements. Knowledge of patient evaluation and triage procedures. Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations. Ability to develop and present educational programmes and/or workshops. Employee development and performance management skills. Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures. 4. Administration To attend staff meetings as requested. To keep the Partners and Practice Manager informed about pressures and difficult or problem areas within the service. To consider clinical research to improve clinical knowledge and quality. 5. Training and Development To undertake training deemed suitable for this job description by the Practice. To keep an up-to-date Individual Learning Portfolio of achievements and training undertaken. To attend regular review meetings with GP mentor and Annual Performance Review with Practice Manager. An ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness, common-sense and local knowledge, to respond to patient enquiries and requests. To proactively seek clinical supervision of your practise.

CONFIDENTIALITY

While 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 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 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 Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

HEALTH AND SAFETY

This section is to be read in conjunction with the Staff Handbook concerning Health and Safety. This will include but is not limited to: Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practise guidelines Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements Management and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the Practice, including provision, ordering, availability and ongoing correct usage by staff Active observation of current working practises across the Practice in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed, and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient processes Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processes Safe management of sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with the Lead Nurse or Practice Manager Undertaking periodic infection control training as defined by the Practice Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines Routine management of own team / team areas and maintenance of workspace standards Maintenance of sterile environments

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 recognises the importance of peoples 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 that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

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 teams performance Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

COMMUNICATION

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members Communicate effectively with patients and carers Recognise peoples 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