[As a GPN] you gain more skills, have more autonomy, and decision making than anywhere else.
By Wendy Hoban, GPN SNN Ambassador (North)
Q: How long have you been working in primary care?
A: 2 and a half years
Q: What inspired you to enter primary care?
The desire to help people live at home in their communities as well as possible, to prevent hospital admissions and provide continuity.
Q: Did you face any barriers when entering primary care and if so, how did you overcome them?
A: I don’t remember facing any barriers, I may have been fortunate the practice were forward thinking and felt I could do the job. I had only been qualified 12 months when I started working in general practice (so had my interview/enquired about 8 months newly qualified).
I don’t remember facing any barriers, I may have been fortunate the practice were forward thinking and felt I could do the job. I had only been qualified 12 months when I started working in general practice.
Q: What kinds of patients do you work with most?
A: I do a lot of respiratory work, which I love. But enjoy a good variety of all aspects of general practice from wounds, immunisations, travel, cytology and chronic disease management.
Q: What size team do you have and what is the skill mix?
A: We have 6 advanced nurse practitioners, 15 practice nurses, 2 research nurses, and 12 health care assistants. Some work part time and some full time.
Q: Can you describe a typical workday for you?
A: A mixture of patients for respiratory, wounds, immunisations, travel, cytology and chronic disease management.
Q: What nursing skills do you personally use the most?
A: All nursing skills! Particularly history taking, communications and consultation skills.
All nursing skills! Particularly history taking, communications and consultation skills.
Q: What has surprised you about working in primary care?
A: The opportunities, enjoyment and rewarding career.
Q: What has been the best part about working as a GPN? The most challenging?
A: Everything has been the best part. At times practice can be more challenging, like in any area, but nothing specific challenging.
Q: What is the career potential like for nurses working in primary care?
A: At present, appears very good for development and career progression I think.
Q: There are so many myths about nurses and general practice – that you’ll lose your nursing skills, that primary care is not a career path but somewhere to retire to – what do you say in response to those myths?
A: You gain more skills, have more autonomy, and decision making than anywhere else.
Q: Any last comments or words of wisdom for student nurses interested in primary care?
A: Enjoy, and take every opportunity.
Enjoy, and take every opportunity.
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