General Practice Nursing is a dynamic evidence-based skill mix profession with clinical understanding in a variety of health and disease processes, resulting in quality care of patients within primary care. Practice Nurses form an integral part of the clinical team, mostly employed by General Practices, accountable to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, their employer, their patients and themselves.
General Practice Nursing has been evolving from the delivery of tasks to communication, critical thinking and clinical decision making that characterizes patient centred consultations. This adaptation to meet the health care needs of the local population is integral to a unique opportunity that exists within the nursing profession as a whole.
The practice-based driver of the GMS contract creates many opportunities to take a team approach in the delivery of primary care services. Practice nurses have demonstrated that they can take on new roles and develop new skills requiring high levels of learning quality assured by educational institutions. It may also mean that for some practices the numbers of practice nurses have increased, thereby forming robust nursing teams.
General Practice Nursing will continue to develop to plan and deliver care for patients in the community setting.
- Clinical Practice – This holds centre place, which includes both primary and secondary prevention and work to mitigate health inequalities; Clinical work includes long term condition management, minor illness and injury management and many nurses have developed skills in triage. Experienced GPNs have developed generic knowledge and skills, often alongside specialist areas of practice, conducting almost one third of all general practice consultations. It is within this role that safe, effective and person-centred care surrounds a holistic approach within the community.
- Facilitation of Learning – learning is continuous within General Practice Nursing in the development in their own role as well as that of the wider team. Learning is a directive from the NMC and a necessity for evidence-based practice.
- Leadership – As General Practice Nursing evolves the nursing teams develop, leadership of the nursing team and integration with the wider health care providers are key to success in the practice setting.
- Research and development – evidence-based practice underpins work undertaken by the General Practice Nurse. Implementation of evidence based current practice is essential to relate quality health outcomes for patients.
- Accountability – All nurses are accountable for their practice, the revised NMC code (2015) is an important document which nurses will use to benchmark their revalidation against ensuring fitness to practice and professional accountability.
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Interested in becoming a practice nurse? To find out more view our “GPN Education” page.
The majority of general medical practices, general ophthalmic practices, community pharmacies and general dental practices are independent contractors and provide services in line with nationally negotiated contracts.
There will also be in this section reports and plans from the Scottish Government in primary care.
