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:
- Vaccination. If you need a vaccination, your Practice Nurse will do it including all the baby and pre-school vaccinations
- Injections. Many people need regular injections of medications; and again it will be the Practice Nurse you book to administer these
- Cervical smear tests. The Practice Nurse will also do cervical smears tests within the practice.
- Dressing changes. They may do dressing changes. But often there is another nurse called a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) who will do these.
- 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.
- 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!
