General Practice Nursing

The content of this module links to the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP, 2012) General Practice Nurse Competencies.

The teaching strategies consist of classroom-based teaching. You are required to attend for 6 consecutive weeks 5-8 pm at the Preston campus and one further attendance to undertake the assessment.

Web-based software (Blackboard) facilities will further support the nurse in their studies.

This module has been developed to enable nurses to obtain knowledge of working in general practice.

Specific content:

• General practice organisation/structure
• NHS legislation / contracts
• Legal and ethical issues in general practice – scope of professional practice
• Risk management
• The multi-disciplinary team
• Communication with patients, consultation skills, history taking
• User perspective and participation
• Working in the ‘treatment room’ – infection control, health and safety, policies and procedures, clinical governance
• Treatment room procedures – minor surgery, immunisations and vaccinations, wound care, ear care management
• Triage and dealing with emergencies
• Diagnostic and screening tests
• Common medical conditions
• Supporting Long Term Conditions

Learning outcome and aims

The aim of this module is to enable nurses to obtain knowledge of working in general practice and to prepare them for role development to meet the ever changing needs of primary health care. The nurse will critically examine the ways of working in general practice thus promoting an adaptable and responsive nurse who promotes the highest standards of client care. On successful completion of this module a student will be able to:

• Critically reflect on the evolving role of the general practice nurse within the modern NHS.
• Critically analyse the implementation and monitoring of quality assured standards of care by effective and efficient management of finite resources
• Explore the variety of acute and long term presentations within general practice