General Practice Nurse (GPN)

Role Description

A General Practice Nurse (GPN) is a registered nurse who works autonomously within a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) within General Practice (GP) surgeries as part of a Primary Healthcare Team and is usually employed by the General Practitioners.

Working as part of a team, the role of the GPN is to assess, screen, and treat patients of all ages, including babies, children, and adults. GPNs also offer health promotion advice in areas such as contraception, weight loss and smoking cessation in addition to emphasis on promoting Women’s and Men’s health and providing national health prevention services like cervical screening and baby immunisations.

GPNs are usually directly employed by the GP practice on an individual employment contract.

What can a General Practice Nurse offer to patients in a Primary Care setting?

GPNs provide traditional aspects of nursing care such as –

Minor and complex wound management including leg ulcer management.
Child immunisations and advice
Travel health advice and vaccinations
Sexual health services
Cervical cytology sampling
Provide clinics for patients with Long Term Conditions such as asthma, heart disease and diabetes.
New patient and NHS health checks
Well men and women health clinics.

Registrable Qualification

Part 1 of Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Register registered as adult, child, mental health, or learning disability nurse.

Additional Qualifications Required for Primary Care (not limited to)

Ideally but not always necessary a General Practice Nurse qualification
Immunisation and vaccination
Sexual and reproductive health
Long Term Condition (LTCs)
Managing Unplanned and Emergency Presentations in Primary Care
Mental Health in Primary Care

Regulatory Body

Nursing & Midwifery Health Council (NMC)

Supervision Requirements

New to General Practice GPNs should have a named supervisor with regular supervision from a Senior GPN and/or an ANP
GP and/or Senior GPN/ANP for day-to-day queries
Access to peer support