What does a GP practice nurse do?

What does a GP practice nurse do?

GP surgeries have many other healthcare professionals working along aside the GPs.

One of the these is a GP Practice Nurse.  They have a vital role within the practice and many patients will see the Practice Nurse regularly.

The GP Practice Nurse is a registered nurse who has had further training in primary care.

Here are some things they can do for you:

1. Vaccination. If you need a vaccination, your Practice Nurse will do it including all the baby and pre-school vaccinations
2. Injections. Many people need regular injections of medications; and again it will be the Practice Nurse you book to administer these
3. Cervical smear tests. The Practice Nurse will also do cervical smears tests within the practice.
4. Dressing changes. They may do dressing changes. But often there is another nurse called a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) who will do these.
5. Chronic condition clinics. Many will run such clinics, and look after chronic illnesses including regular monitoring and annual recommended checks. This could include: cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure and CKD.
6. Treat minor illnesses. Some Practice Nurses have additional qualifications so can often see and treat minor illness and prescribe medications.

The training for a HCA requires is far less than a Practice Nurse; but they have a very useful skills and support the Practice Nurse and the nursing needs within a GP practice.

Your Practice Nurse is such a useful resource and actually can be more help sometimes than your GP!