General Practice Nursing Foundation School Receives Strong Endorsement
9 January 2025
A pioneering educational initiative for General Practice Nurses has received strong endorsement following an independent evaluation.
Pilot Project
The General Practice Nursing Foundation School (GPNFS) was developed to address the lack of a standardised, consistent approach in preparing new General Practice Nurses. The School commenced in September 2023 as a pilot project in Staffordshire, with the ambition to develop it into a national GPN Deanery. It was designed for both newly qualified nurses and those new to general practice nursing, organised in a similar way to the GP training scheme and utilising a centralised employment model.
Each trainee has a funded place on the Fundamentals of General Practice Nursing university course and attends the GPN School for one session a week. The school has a complementary curriculum focused on the core capability and career framework to enhance university sessions. It includes a bespoke leadership programme, wellbeing, resilience, clinical supervision / peer support and clinical topics.
It is wonderful to see the next generation of GPNs progress and to be part of developing a pipeline of competent and confident GPNs for the future. The QNI evaluation report of the first year of the Foundation School has highlighted the importance of consistent GPN training, which balances practical elements with theoretical knowledge and skills, along with support and clinical supervision. The community of practice that has evolved within the School is beneficial not only for safe patient care, but for the wellbeing of the GPNs too. This improves retention of new GPNs and retaining experienced staff. It has also generated ideas for quality improvement in practice.
Gill Boast, GPN Foundation School Training Programme LeadThe General Practice Nursing Foundation School addresses critical challenges in the recruitment and retention of General Practice Nurses. It offers much-needed reform by introducing a standardised and high-quality training and education pathway. This evaluation underscores that the model is pivotal for the future of GP nursing, setting a benchmark for training excellence. With its demonstrated success, the programme provides a clear vision for national implementation, ensuring sustainable growth and development of the Primary Care nursing workforce.
Rachel Viggars, GPN Foundation School Director and Strategic Nurse Lead (Staffordshire Training Hub)Independent Evaluation
The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) was asked to conduct an independent evaluation of the programme to determine what could be learned from its pioneering phase of operation. The evaluation was carried out by Professor Alison Leary MBE, Dr Lesley Baillie and colleagues, under the auspices of the Queen’s Nursing Institute’s ICNO (International Community Nursing Observatory).
The mixed-method evaluation presents rich detail from the nurses enrolled on the programme. Some key measures of success identified were:
- Stakeholders believed the School developed more competent GPNs more quickly
- Trainees were enthusiastic about GP nursing and could foresee career pathways in primary care
- Professional practice developed over the assessment period, with trainees self-reporting becoming more reflective in action rather than retrospectively
- Trainees reported a rise in confidence and a decline in stress and uncertainty associated with taking on a new role.
National Significance in Primary Care
The School aims to raise the profile of GPNs and value their unique nursing role, providing comprehensive development and growth opportunities in Primary Care. Ultimately, the programme facilitates career progression to Specialist Practice or Advanced Practice roles.
On completion of Cohort 1, the School has an impressive 93% retention rate and is driving change, developing a national culture for GPN training and education that helps address pressing workforce issues in general practice.
Download the full Evaluation here.
It has been an honour and delight to be able to support the team in the development of the Staffordshire GPN Foundation School. The programme sets a gold standard for the education and practice for nurses new to General Practice based on the expertise, commitment and passion of the team for development and retention of GPNs. The evaluation report offers insight to the positive outcomes of the GPN programme, acknowledging the challenges faced by the team and GPNs. It also supports the call for consistency in GPN education and practice across Primary Care.
Angie Hack QN, Assistant Director of Nursing Programmes, The QNIPhoto courtesy of the General Practice Nursing Foundation School.
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