Advanced Nurse Practitioner

The Advanced Nurse Practitioner will be the first point of contact for patients with all types of health problems. He/she will make decisions and apply appropriate nursing interventions to the presenting patient in their own home or in the surgery. This will include initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. He/she will work autonomously but within the Practices and NMC policies, protocols and guidelines, demonstrating safe clinical decision-making, high levels of critical thinking and holistic practice. The post-holder will be expected to act independently but will have access at all times to a GP for advice and support as necessary. Key Responsibilities Work within professional boundaries to accurately examine and assess patients with an undifferentiated diagnosis, from a physiological, psychological and social perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly. Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan. Seek advice and support from a senior clinician as appropriate to inform decision making around patient care. Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care. Review medication for therapeutic effectiveness appropriate to patient needs, and administer medication in accordance with PGD/ Independent Nurse Prescribing. Provide information and advice on prescribed or non-prescription medication, on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions. Work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments. Ensure full and accurate documentation in patient notes of clinical history, physical examination, diagnosis and treatment plan. Communication: The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment. Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating. Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication. Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders. Ensure respect and dignity for patients at all times. Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate. Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. Communicate effectively with other colleagues and external healthcare providers in pursuance of continuity and safe delivery of patient care. Delivering a quality service: Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC. Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures. Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality. Deliver care according to NICE and other local guidelines as well as evidence-based care. Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation. Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities. Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self, the team, and the experience of patients implementing improvements where required. In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate. Professional & personal development: The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include: Maintain continued education and learning by attending all mandatory training and other events as deemed necessary by the Practice. Participate in the annual performance review (appraisal), including taking responsibility for maintaining record of own personal and/or professional development for revalidation purposes. Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time. Take responsibility for own learning and performance acting as a positive role model. Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within work. Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working. Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence. Be responsible for ensuring own clinical practice complies with Data Protection/Confidentiality/ Caldicott principles. Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of practice. Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure quality of own work. Actively promote diversity, including race diversity, both in the delivery of the Practices services and in the management and development of staff within the clinical area. Generate and sustain relationships that promote dignity, rights and responsibilities. Identify and take action to address discrimination and oppression. Team working: Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery. Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice. Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services. Enlist support and influence stakeholders and decision-makers in order to bring about new developments in the provision of services Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards. Support and assess learners in practice as relevant. Infection prevention: Follow consistently high standards of infection prevention practice, especially with reference to hand decontamination. Be aware of and follow all Practice infection prevention guidelines and procedures relevant to the work. It is the responsibility of all staff, whether clinical or non-clinical, to familiarise themselves with and adhere to current policy in relation to the prevention of the spread of infection. Clinical staff, on entering and leaving clinical areas and between contacts with patients, must apply alcohol gel to their hands and also wash their hands frequently with soap and water. Staff are required to communicate any infection risks to the Infection Control lead. Research projects & clinical audits: Co-operate and participate as required in any research projects and clinical audits within the Practice.