GPN Foundation Programme
General Practice Nurses (GPNs) are essential to delivering high quality holistic care of patients of all ages. Where GP practices are expanding their nursing team or succession planning, ensuring nurses new to general practice receive appropriate education, training and support is key to embedding new members of the team.
The programme supports the delivery of Community by Design. Supporting all GPNs to develop new skills helps maximise the impact nurses and the wider team make to patient care through delivery of the GMS contract.
An expansion in the number of practices hosting nursing student placements has inspired many newly qualified nurses to take their first steps to a fulfilling career in general practice. The GPN Foundation Programme can support new registrants and experienced nursing moving into general practice to upskill at pace.
What is a GPN
General Practice Nurses (GPNs) work in GP surgeries where they plan and provide care, treatment and health education to patients of all ages. As registered nurses working autonomously, they provide both first contact and continuing care for the population.
GPNs have a skillset enabling them to provide a wide range of services. These include managing long-term conditions like chronic heart disease and diabetes, supporting those with mental health problems, learning disabilities or dementia, delivering immunisation programmes, contraceptive services, cervical screening and many more.
They are key members of a multi-professional team that includes doctors, pharmacists, therapists and other professionals delivering person-centred care.
There are over 1,000 GPNs working in GP practices across Wales.
Framework for GPN
The ‘Framework for General Practice Nursing’ sets out the key skills and competencies of a GPN across the career pathway. It supports employers and GPNs to take a clear and consistent approach to preparing and developing nursing roles, teams and careers in general practice
GPN foundation programme
The programme offers a blend of national and local education alongside work-based learning and skills development. The curriculum has been mapped to the framework.
The benefits of this programme for nurses are:
-
Formal training over a 9-12 month period during their first employed role in general practice
-
A fully funded education package aligned to the GPN Framework
-
Protected time for skills development and learning
-
Access to an educational supervisor
-
Focused career development leading to more rewarding clinical practice
-
A peer network of other nurses and networking opportunities.
The benefits of this programme for GP Practices are:
-
An accelerated process to embed and upskill nurses new to General Practice
-
Local training by subject matter experts
-
Improved retention within primary care settings
-
Fully funded education and training
-
Development of GPN practice supervisor role within the practice.
Case studies
Two recently qualified GPNs - Eve Grant and Florence Edwards - have shared their experiences of developing confidence, autonomy and capability through the GPN Foundation Programme.
Read more about Eve and Florence’s trainee experiences here.
HEIW recognises the vital role that general practice nurses play within primary care, and this programme aims to develop and inspire future GPNs to support patient care for years to come. For more information regarding the GPN Foundation Programme, please contact your local Primary and Community Care Academy team for local programme details.
