General practice nursing Resources

Fit for the Future aims to move care from hospital to community through neighbourhood health services, elevates prevention as a national priority and commits to stronger workforce development. For nurses working in general practice, this creates opportunity: neighbourhood reform is located in and around general practice, and prevention priorities align with core general practice nurse (GPN) work in screening, immunisation and long-term condition management. However, the plan does not identify general practice nursing as a distinct workforce group, leaving role definition, staffing assumptions and development routes to local implementation. Without early engagement in neighbourhood design, GPNs risk limited influence on workforce models and uneven access to chapter 7’s ‘best employer’ offer, particularly for practice-employed nurses. This article outlines the plan’s implications and argues that visible nursing representation is essential to secure investment and progression pathways.

General practice nurses (GPNs) have a unique part to play in meeting the future needs of populations in primary care. Their role has evolved rapidly over the past three decades driven by an increase in long-term conditions, an ageing population, and the need to address workforce challenges in primary care. GPNs provide a broad range of patient services, including health promotion, preventative screening, assessment and management and management of acute care. There have, however, been challenges about differences in education as, unlike training for other healthcare professions such as district nurses or health visitors, there has been a lack of standardised training pathways for GPNs. Many GPNs have had a piecemeal training with a fragmented approach to their education. Despite these challenges, publication of the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN, 2023) Field Specific Standards for Education and Practice for Community Specialist Practitioner Qualifications (SPQ) built on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency has led to clear educational pathways for new GPNs.

General practice nursing and primary care are at the forefront of the NHS Long Term Plan 10-year strategy for the NHS in England (NHS England, 2025). Recognition of the key role that general practice nurses (GPNs) have always had in the delivery of the shift of prevention and care at home must be highlighted and valued, as this is not a new concept for GPNs.

Clinical placements play a crucial role in the education of pre-registration nursing students, enabling them to gain practical experience and exposure to diverse clinical settings. This article explores the development and pilot of the Leeds primary care student leadership placement, a novel approach to address the challenges posed by limited general practice nursing clinical placement opportunities. The placement, developed and implemented as part of the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) Community Nursing Innovation Programme 2022–2023, provided four final-year adult nursing students with access to a general practice placement spanning a primary care network (PCN). Under a structured programme of support, these students led on NHS health check clinics across multiple sites. The project’s findings indicate that the placement resulted in increased knowledge and understanding of the general practice nursing role, preventative healthcare, health needs and health inequalities, digital health, inclusion and leadership skills and attributes. Moreover, the concept raised awareness of career pathways available in general practice among new registrants and established a sustainable practice learning model, which is adaptable to all healthcare settings. This demonstrates the value and potential of innovative clinical placement approaches in nursing education.

Covid-19 was a healthcare emergency that affected everyone in the UK to varying degrees. Even leaving out the tragic number of deaths and long-term effects of the infection itself, the restrictions and isolation measures led to huge changes, some of which have continued to echo throughout our lives. Many of us have yet to resume a full social life through anxiety or losing touch with friends, and businesses — particularly those in the hospitality sector — have yet to fully recover, and many workplaces have yet to welcome workers back.

‘What exactly does a general practice nurse (GPN) do?’ Does that question sound familiar to you? It is one that has been frequently posed to me throughout my career as a GPN and my initial reply would inevitably be ‘Where do I start?’

The role is huge, diverse and continually evolving and can be a very rewarding career choice. However, there are myths and misconceptions that circulate which can serve to deflect nurses away.

Here, Ellen Nicholson, course director/lecturer, School of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, explores what the plan means for general practice nurses (GPNs) and how this key document will affect their role in general practice.

Health promotion: influenza vaccination

Seasonal influenza places a substantial burden on the elderly population, with approximately 90% of UK influenzarelated deaths occurring in adults aged 65 years and over. Vaccination remains the best way of preventing influenza disease and it is particularly important for this age group. However, the seasonal influenza vaccines currently available in the UK confer suboptimal levels of immunogenicity and efficacy in adults aged 65 years and above, primarily due to immunosenescence, i.e. weakening of the immune system, which occurs with age. There is a clear need for more effective vaccines that induce stronger immune responses and provide higher rates of protection in the elderly. This paper addresses the issues around seasonal influenza vaccination in older adults, and provides best practice points for the general practice nursing community in managing the unique needs of elderly individuals.