Practice Nurse

Typical Salary

£24,907 To £44,503

Typical Hours

38 to 40 a week

evenings / weekends occasionally

How To Become a Practice Nurse

You can get into this job through:

applying directly

College / University

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship are not listed for this job.

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

You must be a qualified and registered adult, child, mental health or learning disability nurse to work in general practice.

You may have an advantage when applying for jobs if you've got experience in:

chronic disease management, like diabetes or asthma
childhood immunisation
cervical cytology
phlebotomy - taking blood

Some employers may also ask that you've completed a Specialist Practitioner - General Practice Nursing course, approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

If you've been out of nursing for a while you could do a Return to general practice nursing course. You don't need previous general practice experience, as you can do placements in the community to help you move into general practice roles.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
knowledge of psychology
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
sensitivity and understanding
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
to be flexible and open to change
customer service skills
knowledge of English language
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

As part of your day-to-day duties, you could:

set up and run clinics for conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart problems and skin disorders
offer advice on family planning and contraception
take blood and urine samples and other specimens and swabs
perform routine procedures like ear syringing, applying and removing dressings and treating wounds
offer specialist information and advice on blood pressure, weight control and stopping smoking
carry out infant injections, vaccinations and travel immunisations
give advice to patients on long-term medical and nursing needs

Working Environment

You could work at a GP practice.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a practice nurse from Health Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks