Practice Nurse

1. The Health Board is looking for a Practice Nurse who believes in a vision for high quality clinical care and compassion within Primary Care, and who wants to actively engage in delivering this within Hillcrest Medical Centre, Wrexham.
2. The focus of the role is both the delivery of evidence-based practice for patients presenting with a long term condition, and the provision of preventative health care to the practice population.
3. This role will require flexibility to meet the demands of the practice and an individual work plan will be agreed in advance with the successful applicant.

Fixed Term for 9 months due to maternity cover 

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales is a dynamic and patient focused organisation. The Health Board are responsible for the direct management of a number of GP Practices and are developing these practices to be gold standard exemplars, creating services that are better able to meet the needs of the local population, easier to access and navigate, and are a rewarding and satisfying place to work. 

The Health Board is looking for a Practice Nurse who believes in a vision for high quality clinical care and compassion within Primary Care, and who wants to actively engage in delivering this within Hillcrest Medical Centre, Wrexham.

It is essential that the successful candidate must be versed in chronic condition management within a primary care setting; diabetes, respiratory conditions such as asthma and copd, as well as hypertension. The practice nurse will be a vital support to our year of care reviews. In addition, the successful applicant must be experienced in assessing wound checks, and dressings, removing sutures, administering injections such as B12s, and being competent to perform cervical smears is desirable.

This is a temporary position to cover maternity leave.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible for the delivery of general practice nursing to the whole practice population. The focus of the role is both the delivery of evidence-based practice for patients presenting with a long term condition, and the provision of preventative health care to the practice population.

As an autonomous practitioner the nurse is responsible for the care delivered, demonstrating critical thinking and skills in clinical decision-making in the management of patients. They will work collaboratively within the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, support the delivery of policy and procedures, and provide nurse leadership as required.

This role will require flexibility to meet the demands of the practice and an individual work plan will be agreed in advance with the successful applicant.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered first level nurse
• Active statutory registration
• Mentorship experience and qualification
• Clinical supervision training and experience

Desirable criteria

• Independent/supplementary nurse prescribing qualification
• Relevant nursing/health degree
• Community nursing specialist qualification or equivalent
• Teaching qualification
• Membership of a professional body

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post registration experience
• Sufficient recent primary and community nursing experience
• Experience of nurse-led management of long-term conditions
• Experience of implementing protocols and clinical guidelines
• Experience of quality initiatives such as clinical benchmarking
• Audit experience

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of management of patients with long-term conditions
• Knowledge of accountability of own role and other roles in a nurse-led service
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Knowledge of local and national health policy
• Wider health economy awareness
• Knowledge of clinical governance issues in primary care
• Knowledge of patient group directions and associated policy

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of public health issues
• Ability to identify determinants on health in the local area

Skills

Essential criteria

• Clinical leadership skills
• Clinical skills – cervical cytology, immunisation and vaccination, ear care, minor surgery , travel health, sexual health, contraception, wound care, injection therapy
• Change-management skills and ability to support patients to change lifestyle
• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Ability to provide teaching and mentorship in a clinical setting
• IT skills

Other Relevant Requirements

Essential criteria

• Self-directed practitioner
• Team player
• Ability to work across boundaries

Desirable criteria

• Welsh Speaker