What is a GP practice nurse?
GP surgeries have many other healthcare professionals (HCPs) working along aside the GPs.
One of the these HCPs is the Practice Nurse. They have a vital role within the practice and many patients will see the Practice Nurse regularly.
The Practice Nurse is a registered nurse who has had further training in primary care.
If you need a vaccination, your Practice Nurse will do it including all the baby and pre-school vaccinations. Many people need regular injections of medications; and again it will be the Practice Nurse you book to adminster these.
The Practice Nurse will also do cervical smears tests within the practice. They may also do dressing changes. But often there is another nurse could a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) who will do these. 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.
Many Practice Nurses have additional qualifications so can often see and treat minor illness, prescribe medications, and look after chronic illnesses including all the annual recommended checks.
Your Practice Nurse is such a useful resource and actually can be more help sometimes than your GP!
