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JOB DESCRIPTION
PRACTICE NURSE
Qualifications
Registered (first level) Nurse, with at least six months to one year post registration
experience.
Training
Tailored induction programme within/out of the practice to fulfil competency for the role.
Accountability
Professionally: to patients under the NMC (UKCC) Code of Conduct
Managerially & Clinically: to the Nurse Manager.
Hours of Work
35 hrs per wk. with flexibility to cover annual leave and sickness.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
The nurse should be competent and confident to work alone following practice protocols,
with supervision from a senior nurse
CLINICAL NURSING PRACTICE
Wound Management
 Perform wound care using aseptic technique.
 Undertake dressings including leg ulcers and compression bandaging.
 Undertake Doppler assessment
 Suture and clip removal.
 Assist with minor surgery.
Screening and Health Promotion
 Undertake opportunistic screening – BP checks, height, weight, BMI urinalysis,
smoking and alcohol status.
 Recognise patients’ readiness to change in supporting their attempts to change
unhealthy behaviour.
 Provide healthy eating advice to individuals.
 Provide smoking cessation advice to individuals.
 Provide individual advice to patients about increasing activity or exercise.
 Offer advice on safe limits for alcohol consumption.
 Help to develop and maintain the Health Promotion material within the practice and
develop a Health Promotion notice board in the waiting room.
 Refer to senior nurse/GP as appropriate.
 Perform ECGs as requested by GP or senior nurse
Vaccinations and Immunisations
 Administer injections under an individualised prescription or Patient Group Direction
 Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs
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Travel Health
Offer a holistic approach to travel health including comprehensive advice for patients
prior to travel including
 Vaccinations and medications
 Malaria prophylaxis and bite avoidance
 Safe sex
 Food hygiene
 Sun protection
 First aid and emergency medication
Ear Care
 Undertake ear syringing
 Advise patients about safe ear care
 Hearing tests
Venepuncture and Laboratory Samples
 Undertake opportunistic venepuncture, using sound infection control measures.
 Ensure all samples sent to laboratory are correctly labelled and secure for transport.
Infection Control
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.
 Collection and decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment.
 Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages.
 Support patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures
Emergency Management
 Is competent in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques
 Attends annual CPR update.
 Is competent in the use of nebuliser equipment
Family Planning
 Advise patients on available methods of contraception and refer patients as
appropriate.
 Perform interval health checks for patients using hormonal contraception.
 Administer follow up Depo Provera injections as per practice protocol making
appropriate referrals as necessary
 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
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Audit a minimum of twenty consecutive smears each year to demonstrate adequate
sampling rates
Promote breast self-awareness and provide supporting literature.
Take swabs for microscopy as directed.
Give patients basic advice about peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms and
make appropriate referrals.
Offer health promotion and lifestyle advice to patients.
Advise on basic incontinence management and make appropriate referrals.
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
Child Health
 Recognise the signs and symptoms of child abuse and refer to GP
 Understand the importance of recognition, observation, documentation and
communication.
Chronic Disease Management
To run Chronic Disease Management clinics as per surgery protocols in CHD, Asthma,
COPD, Warfarin Monitoring/Dosing, dependent on experience and qualifications
Non- clinical duties
Administration and audit work as required
This job description is not exhaustive and can be amended depending on the changing needs
of the practice.