General Practice Nursing

Entry requirements

Either

• A lower second-class Honours degree (2:2) in a Health-related subject.

• Qualifications and experience considered to be equivalent to the above.

Months of entry

September

Course content

The Post Graduate Certificate in General Practice Nursing programme is dynamic, exciting, contemporary and developed by experienced clinicians to support General Practice Nurses (GPN) who are new to the role or who have transitioned from other nursing backgrounds. The course will aim to equip the individual nurse with the diverse knowledge and skills that are required to practice effectively in the rapidly changing primary care environment.

At Worcester, we recognise the challenge of level 7 study and this transformative course will offer you a structured programme to develop the specialist knowledge and core skills that are fundamental for the role in a thorough and cost-effective way. It is designed to encourage diversity, self-awareness and recognition of every patient’s personal religious and cultural needs or beliefs , and how this impacts on health care choices.

The University of Worcester promotes inclusive teaching and learning and our student-focussed approach will ensure that you are fully supported in your academic and professional development as you create your own, individual pathway towards a new career.

The course is mapped against the new joint Queen’s Nursing Institute Standards of Education and Practice for Nurses New to General Practice Nursing 2020, to ensure that you receive the most innovative and contemporary training.

Clinical competencies are assessed in the practice learning environment by using elements of the Royal College of General Practice Foundation /RCN 2015 competency framework for GP Nurses. This framework is used nationally by both nurses in practice and Higher Education Institutes to demonstrate the achievement of safe and effective clinical knowledge, skills and competence in your role as a Registered Nurse in General Practice.

Key features

• Offered as a Post Graduate Certificate (Level 7)
• A flexible programme delivered by specialist lecturers and practitioners with extensive experience in General Practice Nursing
• A blend of face to face sessions, tutorial support and online learning sessions that enable you to learn effectively at home/work or in University classrooms
• Gain confidence in complex decision-making, develop your critical reflection skills and assist in shaping future General Practice complex care provision
• Demonstrate GPN specialist knowledge and core clinical skills through clinical simulation at the University, alongside clinical supervision in the workplace and assessment of your competence

Teaching

You are taught through a blended learning approach, with a combination of on-line activities including lectures and seminars, and face to face practical clinical skills workshops. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures, and clinical workshops are focused on developing subject specific skills and applied individual and group project work.

Learning in practice provides General Practice Nurses with opportunity to practise and develop their skills under the clinical supervision of a General Practice Nurse and other healthcare professionals, a minimum of 72 hours of supervised practice is expected.

Your progression in the practice setting will be facilitated by your clinical supervisor, the established GP Nurse mentor team and by the University of Worcester Practice Liaison Team and further details can be accessed via the GP nurse mentors video.

Academic liaison librarians for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Care are available to help you to use information effectively and confidently throughout your course and beyond. You can book an individual appointment via the Library services page. You can also email askalibrarian@worc.ac.uk or message the library team through the chat function.

Our Study Happy programme, meanwhile, is designed to help you to study healthier, happier and smarter and includes a year-round programme of events and advice.

In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least two occasions throughout the course.