QICN unveils new ‘Faculty of General Practice Nursing’

The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) has today launched a new ‘Faculty of General Practice Nursing’ – described as a ‘professional home’ for nurses in general practice.

Outgoing QICN chief executive Dr Crystal Oldman said the new faculty comes as the organisation recognises general practice nurses (GPNs) are ‘at a disadvantage’ compared to colleagues working in the NHS, including in access to professional development opportunities.

The Faculty of General Practice Nursing will be a ‘key reference point’ for the profession, with resources, information, a dedicated website page and a programme of webinars and events for GPNs available.

And it will bring together the QICN’s existing work to support GPNs, including the national standards of education and practice for general practice nursing, and its recently launched General Practice Nurse Network. 

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Dr Oldman said: ‘I’m delighted that we are able to launch the national Faculty of General Practice Nursing.

‘The creation of this new faculty will help consolidate our work supporting general practice nurses and their key role in primary care.’

She added: ‘It is recognised that GPNs are often placed at a disadvantage compared to colleagues working for the NHS and other services, for example in access to funded professional development opportunities.

‘The QICN aims to build meaningful recognition for the outstanding work of GPNs among employers, media and policymakers.

‘We are at a crossroads in terms of how much we value and invest in our GPNs to support the strategic plans of the NHS.

‘The Faculty of General Practice Nursing will be a key reference point for resources, information and intelligence for GPNs and policy makers.’

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An exclusive survey by Nursing in Practice recently revealed that almost 60% of practice nursing staff are not given any time for professional development or training on a weekly basis.

Only 7.5% of respondents said they were given just one hour a week for professional study or development.

Angie Hack, Queen’s Nurse and assistant director of nursing programmes (primary care), said the new faculty would be ‘a “professional home” for all nurses working in general practice, providing a network for all GPNs both in education and practice’.

‘General practice nursing and primary care are at the forefront of the NHS Long Term Plan 10-year strategy for the NHS in England.

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‘The QICN have strived to promote the role of the GPN, outlining the unique role, relying on autonomous accountable nurses, meeting the demands of primary care.’

The new faculty for GPNs is the first of nine planned for launch by the organisation, in line with the nine specialist and advanced community fields of practice for which the QICN has developed standards of education and practice.