This document describes the role and responsibilities of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) working in a general practice setting in the UK. It outlines that ANPs are experienced nurses who can work autonomously to assess, diagnose, treat and review patients. Some key responsibilities include examining and managing patients with both acute and chronic conditions, identifying patients at risk, educating patients, and ensuring high quality care is provided by the nursing team according to patients' needs. The ANP is also responsible for leadership, training, and clinical governance activities to continually improve patient services.

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2.  Advanced Nurse practitioners are one type of advanced nurse
practitioner. They may serve their patients as primary care
providers, and day-to-day duties are very similar to those of
doctors in their field or speciality. The role of an Advanced
Nurse Practitioner is valued within the NHS as they can work
autonomously within many different primary and secondary
care settings.

3.  The salary of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner varies
depending upon the following; Hours worked, experience,
Education, how eager the organisation are in your skills,
references, reputation, location, the list goes on…
 Locum Meds have years of experience in accurately
determining your pay rate, give us a call today to discuss
either what you should be getting paid or what you should be
paying a prospective or current employee.

4.  The content of this job description is designed to be inclusive
of a broad range of tasks which may be performed by an
advanced practice nurse. Practices should take note that they
should seek guidance from their medical defence
organisation about the responsibilities which can be
delegated to an advanced practice registered nurse at this
grade for which the defence organisation will provide cover.
The job description should then be edited accordingly and
full training and assessment of competence undertaken and
documented with the staff member.
 This post is written to be an equivalent for Agenda for
Change (AFC) Band 8. Duties will vary from practice to
practice and this is a guide only. Practice accountability
structures will also vary.

5.  The advanced practice nurse will be an experienced nurse who
holds an appropriate, specific, advanced professional
qualification which meets NMC requirements for high-level
practice.
 The ANP will work with the practice team to provide high-quality
care which meets the needs of the practice’s patient population.
 Working within defined professional boundaries, they will be able
to make safe clinical decisions relating to assessment, diagnosis,
treatment and review. The ANP will demonstrate critical thinking
ability.
 The advanced practice nurse will function as an integral part of
the clinical leadership team in the practice, providing advice and
guidance to the nursing team to ensure they deliver care based
on the needs of the practice’s population.
 NMC requirements for advanced practice must be met.

6.  Internal:
 Lead Practice Nurse
 Practice Nursing Team and Healthcare Assistants
 GPs
 Doctors in Training
 Practice Manager/Office Manager
 Administration Team
 Secretarial Team

7. External:
 Patients, carers and relatives
 Practice suppliers (equipment, supplies and
services)

8.  Assess/examine patients, diagnose, plan, treat and
review/evaluate. Assessment may be face-to-face by
appointment or by telephone as part of a
triage/unscheduled care team and will include patients
presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis.
 Diagnose and manage patients presenting with both acute
and chronic conditions based on a management plan
which includes a medication plan and other interventions.
 Identify health priorities and make timely and appropriate
interventions to support patients presenting in an
emergency and/or with complex/urgent needs.

9.  Assess and manage patients’ physiological and psychological
needs, including patients with complex needs, multiple
diagnoses and polypharmacy.
 Identify patients at risk of developing a chronic illness and
develop a plan for minimising the risk of worsening.
 Advise and educate patients, promoting understanding, self-
management, healthy lifestyle choices and sources of support
and compliance with a treatment plan and medication.
 In line with competence and agreed protocols, prescribe
medication, review its effectiveness and make appropriate
adjustments to treatment, ensuring patient understanding of
medication side-effects and interactions, including over-the-
counter medication.

10.  Ensure the health needs of all patients presenting
to the nursing team are met in a clinically
appropriate way and by the team member best
qualified to meet their needs.
 Ensure the nursing team meets the clinical needs of
patients presenting with routine and emergency
needs and conditions or who require advice and
support including chronic disease management,
family planning, vaccination and immunisations,
health promotion/lifestyle advice, wound care,
venepuncture etc.
 Ensure that all patients who may be vulnerable or
who have mental health needs are appropriately
managed and protected by the nursing team.

11.  Advise patients about the role, its extent and limits.
 Advise patients appropriately and refer to if they
require the services of a GP or other clinical team
member.
 Communicate effectively, promptly and appropriately
with patients and team members.
 Provide links to additional
information/guidance/support for both colleagues
and patients/carers including onward referral where
required.
 Modify method of communication with patients to
suit the situation, recognise problems/barriers take
action and seek help at an early stage when they
arise.

12.  Communicate risk to patients and ensure
proper consent gained where appropriate.
 Act as an advocate for patients or colleagues
who need assistance and representation.
 Establish and maintain effective
communication with internal and external
stakeholders/organisations/individuals.
 Contribute to practice and nursing team
meetings.

13.  Provide services to the practice’s patient
population to the highest possible standard.
 Comply with NMC Code of Conduct and keep
registration up to date, documented and
checked in the practice on an annual basis.
 Provide care that is evidence-based, working
to agreed and established clinical guidelines
and supporting others to do the same.
 Work to agreed standards, monitor and
maintain the standard of care offered.

14.  Take action if standards are not met (self or
others)
 Manage own and others’ workload to maintain
priorities and service level.
 Undertake training needed to ensure
competencies for delivering all responsibilities
and ensure nursing colleagues are supported in
doing the same.
 Lead and contribute to clinical governance
activities/clinical audit to ensure continual
improvement of service delivery and assessment
of the impact of changes in patient care.

15.  Lead and contribute to complaints
responses/reviews, significant event, peer review
and other shared learning activities
 Identify opportunities for shared learning.
 Ensure learning from outside educational events
is effectively cascaded to the team and resultant
changes to practice implemented.
 Support and mentor staff in training, assess
against standards
 Support the performance and development of
team members including giving and receiving
effective feedback.

16.  Lead and contribute to in-house training events
based on learning needs analysis and Practice
Learning Plan.
 Take responsibility for own development including
maintenance of a Personal Development Plan and
record of learning, clinical supervision, staff
appraisals, giving and receiving feedback.
 Challenge underperformance or poor
skills/inappropriate actions and implement
performance management of team members in
consultation with management team and GPs.
 Undertake regular mandatory training and ensure the
competence of nursing team colleagues (child
protection, vulnerable adults, basic life support,
moving and handling etc).

17.  The Advanced Practice Nurse will:
 Behave as a positive role model and set
standards for the nursing team.
 Lead the planning process for the nursing
team, including setting goals and monitoring
achievements/outcomes.
 Introduce, review and update clinical
guidelines and protocols in accordance with
the latest evidence base.

18.  Critically evaluate new developments or service
delivery models and contribute to leading their
incorporation in the practice to enhance care,
applying good change management techniques,
including participation in commissioning processes.
 Critically evaluate skill mix, workload and practice
service delivery needs to contribute to the practice’s
learning plan and recruitment plan.
 Lead the nursing team by balancing the needs of
individuals, the team and the practice, effectively
managing conflict or differing needs and priorities.
 Delegate appropriately and effectively, monitoring
performance and offering guidance and support,
including ensuring and maintaining individuals’
competence.

19.  Ensure the practice’s Health and Safety Policy is
up-to-date and contribute to its implementation
by:
 Implementing regular risk assessment to identify
hazards, minimise risk and identify and apply
control measures.
 Establishing and maintaining reporting pathways
for identified risks and taking action to minimise
these risks in relation to self and others in the
practice.

20.  Ensuring all policies comply with national
guidelines and managing/ensuring/monitoring
their implementation including infection control,
decontamination, cold chain, clinical waste and
sharps disposal, COSHH, spills etc.
 Ensuring safe receipt, storage, rotation and
disposal of drugs and vaccines.
 Ensuring compliance with recording, storage and
disposal requirements in relation to controlled
drugs and that the practice’s policy is regularly
reviewed and updated and adherence checked.
 Ensuring all team members attend regular,
relevant and mandatory health and safety
training

21.  Make accurate and contemporaneous records of
all patient encounters in accordance with practice
records protocols and coding protocols, ensuring
standards are set and team members meet the
standard.
 Ensure data is recorded so that patient care is
enhanced (eg coding, reminders) and so that it
can be retrieved in a meaningful way to help
manage patient care and help with data analysis.
 Establish and monitor systems to accurately label
and document patient samples and submit for
collection and analysis

22.  Provide data and data analysis for nursing, GP
and management teams as required for
service planning and improvement.
 Contribute to nursing team record keeping
(clinical, administrative, Health and Safety
related records).
 Maintain own and team’s skills in using
patient appointment system.

23.  The Advanced Nurse Practitioner will
contribute towards effective resource
management in the practice by:
 Working with the management team and
within budget, regularly reviewing equipment
needs including identifying a need for
replacements and introduction of new
technologies.
 Working with the management team,
contributing to managing the nursing skill
mix within the available budget.

24.  Supporting the nursing team in ensuring that
good stock control measures are in place and
equipment is ordered and used in an
economical manner, within available budgets.
 Working with the management team,
ensuring adequate provision of patient access
to nursing team services within availability
standards.

25.  In the course of their duties, the advanced practice
nurse will have access to confidential information
relating to patients, their carers and relatives and
colleagues within and outside the practice. They may
also have access to information relating to the practice
as a business. All such information from any source
whatsoever will be treated as strictly confidential.
 Information relating to patients, their carers and
relatives and colleagues within and outside the practice
and in relation to the practice as a business will only be
shared in accordance with the practice’s Confidentiality
Policy, the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of
Information Act and in such a way that personal and
sensitive patient-identifiable data is protected.

26.  The advanced practice nurse will comply with
the practice’s Equality and Diversity Policy,
including:
 Recognising the rights of patients, carers,
relatives and colleagues and respecting their
needs, beliefs, privacy and dignity.
 Not discriminating against patients, carers,
relatives or colleagues on the grounds of any
of the protected characteristics in the Equality
Act 2010 (or its amendments or later
legislation).

27.  Supporting the nursing team in an application
of the practice’s Equality and Diversity Policy,
including taking action if the discriminatory
practice of any kind is identified.
 Ensuring equity of access to services and
equity of delivery of services to minority,
marginalised or disadvantaged groups.
 Supporting those who need advocacy to
exercise their rights.
 Respecting the rights of patients to accept or
refuse treatment or a care provider.

28.  Hospitals, acute care or ambulatory care settings
 Outpatient settings
 Long-term care facilities and nursing homes
 Private homes providing health care services
 Hospice and palliative care services
 Government and community health agencies
 Universities and research agencies
 Healthcare or health industry businesses
 Private practice

29. An advanced practice nurse practitioner is a
registered nurse (RN) who has received advanced
training & knowledge through a nursing degree or
specialized healthcare training. Most nurse
practitioners usually have a Master’s degree and an
area of specialization. Due to their advanced
training and experience, nurse practitioners
perform a variety of functions normally attributed
to doctors and physicians, such as immunization,
patient examination, diagnosis, treatment and
follow up.