Advanced Nurse Practitioner

JOB DESCRIPTION TITLE OF POST: Advanced Nurse Practitioner ACCOUNTABLE TO: The Partners JOB SUMMARY The post holder is an experienced nurse, who acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care. They will demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care for patients registered with the Practice in the practices surgeries and in the patients home/care home. They will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary General Practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures. In order to work at this level, NMC requirements for advanced practice must be met. 1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE ROLE To deliver a high standard of patient care as a Nurse Clinician in General Practice, using advanced autonomous clinical skills, and a broad and in-depth theoretical knowledge base. To manage a clinical caseload, dealing with presenting patients needs within the practice environment and in the community setting, To liaise with the key stakeholders to support patients to manage their long term conditions enabling them to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. 2. JOB DIMENSIONS To manage own clinical workload in General Practice responding effectively to patient need and ensuring patient choice and ease of access to services. To use diagnostic tools to identify patients at risk of hospital admission and support their treatment. To use referral pathways to support patient care and maintain people at home/in the community as appropriate. To ensure the practice supports the needs of carers to ensure their needs are also accommodated. 3. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED See person specification. 4. PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY A. CLINICAL ROLE: The post-holder will: Make professionally autonomous decisions for which he/she is accountable. Consult with patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, making use of skills in history taking, physical examination, problem-solving and clinical decision-making, to establish a diagnosis and management plan. Participate in the management of clinical document workflow streams Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings/reports. As an independent prescriber prescribe safe, effective and appropriate medication as defined by current legislative framework. Refer patients directly to other services/agencies as appropriate. Provide safe, evidence-based, cost-effective, individualised patient care. Offer a holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan of care/support, with an emphasis on prevention and self-care. Deliver high quality care to patients in care homes, offering a responsive and effective clinical service and developing good relationships with staff within the homes. Support the care homes staff to manage and improve the health of their residents. Promote health and well-being through the use of health promotion, health education, screening and therapeutic communication skills. Work with the multi-disciplinary team within the Practice, and across the wider clinical Commissioning Group to promote integrated and seamless pathways of care. Contribute to the practice achieving its quality targets to sustain the high standards of patient care and service delivery. Help develop and set up new patient services and participate in initiatives to improve existing patient services. Supervision of own role and of others within the Practice as required. B. TEACHING AND MENTORING ROLE: The post-holder will: Promote a learning environment for patients, nurses and other health professionals. Contribute to the planning and implementation of teaching for staff and trainees, such GP trainees, and all other staff working to support patients within the Practice. C. PROFESSIONAL ROLE: The post-holder will: Promote evidence-based practice through the use of the latest research-based guidelines and the development of practice-based research. Monitor the effectiveness of their own clinical practice through the quality assurance strategies such as the use of audit and peer review. Maintain their professional registration. Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to ensure that up-to-date evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role is maintained. Work within the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct. Record accurate consultation data in patients records in accordance with the latest NMC guidance and other pertinent standards. Keep up to date with pertinent health-related policy and work with the practice team to consider the impact and strategies for implementation. Work collaboratively with colleagues within and external to the practice. Demonstrate leadership. Pro-actively promote the role of the Nurse Clinician within the Practice, and externally to key stakeholders and agencies. D. MANAGERIAL ROLE: The post-holder will: Participate in multi-disciplinary protocol and Patient Group Directions development. Help the practice operate in a cost-effective manner. Identify and manage nursing care risks on a continuing basis. Participate in practice meetings reporting progress as required. Participate in audits and inspections as appropriate. 5. HEALTH AND SAFETY/RISK MANAGEMENT The post-holder must comply at all times with the Practices Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations incident reporting systems. 6. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. 7. RESPECT FOR PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY The post-holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990). 8. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS The post-holder will establish and maintain effective communication pathways with the following: The Partners Nurse Clinician Colleagues GPs All Nursing Staff Practice Pharmacists Community Matrons District nursing team Care Coordinator Team Leaders Members of other external organisations 9. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS The post-holder is required to travel independently between practice sites, and to attend meetings etc hosted by other agencies. The post holder will consult with patients in their own home and be required to travel independently between patients places of residence. The post-holder will have contact with body fluids i.e., wound exudates; urine etc while in clinical practice. 10. REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS ACT 1994 Because of the nature of the work, this post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1994 (Exceptions) Order 1995. Applicants for posts are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are spent under the provisions of the Act and in the event of employment any failure to disclose such convictions could result in disciplinary action or dismissal by the Practice. Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to an applicant of a position to which the order applies. 11. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This job description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account development within the Practice. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of the Practice.