This review of General Practice Nurses summaries the challenges and opportunities facing this vital part of the Primary Care workforce.
This QNI report is based on an online survey carried out by the QNI in 2015.
Over 3400 nurses working in general practice contributed to the survey, which was published in January 2016.
Headline findings:
- 33.4% of General Practice Nurses are due to retire by 2020
- Men are under-represented, comprising only 2.0% of the General Practice Nurse workforce
- 43.1% did not feel their nursing team has the right number of appropriately qualified and trained staff to meet the needs of patients
- 53.0% reported that their employer always supports their professional development
- 10.6% hold an NMC recordable specialist practice qualification in General Practice Nursing
- 32.6% of General Practice Nurses are independent prescribers
- Just 27.0% of the employers offered placements for pre-registration nursing students, compared to 61.5% offering placements to medical students
- 22.8% of nurses working in General Practice have two jobs
- 32.6% of General Practice Nurses reported working evening sessions (after 6pm) and 18.5% work weekends
- Over 38.3% indicated that they undertook visits to patients at home
- Only 35% felt that their salary reflected their role within the practice.
Back to Resources 