Fundamentals of General Practice

Entry requirements

Please see the university website course page for information on entry requirements for this course.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

This course will provide a solid foundation to further develop your career as a General Practice Nurse. The course will develop your clinical, academic and research skills. You will focus on the health needs of the general practice population alongside the core skills required to work as part of the interdisciplinary team. You will develop skills within your professional scope of practice working under the direction of a registered nurse.

Core skills, for example immunisation, cervical screening, ear care, wound care, contraception, and sexual health are covered in the first 20 credit module, Core Skills for Working in General Practice: Caring across the Lifespan. A focus on consultation and communication skills will develop your confidence in building rapport with people seeking care across the lifespan. The second 20 credit module Long Term Conditions and Population Health provides a comprehensive introduction to epidemiology, population health and the care of people with long term conditions. You will explore the impact of health inequalities on health outcomes. You will have the opportunity to learn about and practice motivational interviewing to support people through behaviour change. The third and final 20 credit module Professional Issues and Quality Improvement for General Practice Nurses will enable you to explore the general practice nurse role in the context of UK general practice services and appreciate the impact of policy on quality and the ethos of general practice. All 3 modules must be successfully completed to achieve the award.

What's covered in this course?

General practice is a rewarding and compelling environment in which to work, you have the privilege of caring for people from ‘cradle to grave’, engaging with the communities and families you care for. You will get to know them over several years through many life transitions. Understanding these transitions and the needs of people at different stages of their life is threaded throughout the course. Your role being the prevention of ill health as well as empowering people to manage and live well with health-related issues. Yet general practice today is also a demanding and high-pressured environment to work in, General Practice Nurses can feel isolated at times in comparison to working in a hospital setting. You will be consulting with large numbers of people and be under considerable time pressure. Therefore, managing your own stress, work-life balance and wellbeing is essential. You will be supported in developing your own strategies throughout the course to manage this and to be able to support others in your team. Communication, consultation, and time management skills underpin everything you do and there is a focus on this throughout the course. As your confidence and capability grow you will develop into an integral and key member of the team.

The course is delivered over 12-months with the three core modules delivered online synchronously via MS Teams. This means you will interact in real time with your fellow students and lecturer’s, except for the ½ day cervical screening practical session which is delivered on campus. The 3 modules equate to 32 study days in total and in addition you will require a minimum of 40 hours of supervised practice in the workplace with a practice assessor. We have experienced lecturers with a background in primary care nursing supported by subject specialist lecturers. You will learn through a variety of methods including simulation, role play, debate, and case study approaches. Options for on-campus tutorials are offered for those who wish to take this up, equivalent sessions will be offered online. Your learning will be supported by a practice assessor and supervisors within your work setting and this learning is an integral part of the course. The course team will support you and your assessor to create opportunities for you to develop in your role and successfully graduate from the course. You will be supported by a personal tutor from the teaching team throughout the course.

Information for international students

Applications from international applicants with equivalent qualifications are welcome. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.