Kick start a career in General Practice with five new nurse training posts in Northamptonshire

Stephanie Archer

he Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership Training Hub is calling for newly qualified nurses, nurses who are returning to practice or nurses wishing to transfer to a career in general practice, to apply for a five new General Practice Nurse training posts starting in September 2020.

This is a unique opportunity for nurses to prepare and train for a career in general practice and combines working in a local GP practice in Northamptonshire, with one day a week spent on a structured training programme at Leicester’s De Montfort University. The nine-month programme is only open to registered nurses and the deadline to apply is 5th July 2020.

Jo Stewart, the Training Hub Workforce Development Project Manager said, “We’re delighted to offer these exciting posts which build on the success of our 2019 general practice nurse training pilot. General practice nursing is a hugely rewarding area of nursing.

Based in local GP practices, the nurses help people of all ages manage conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or cardiovascular diseases. They help people to stay well and promote healthy lifestyles, as well as assessing, screening and treating adults and children. We encourage nurses motivated to embark on a career in general practice nursing to apply now ready to start their new career journey in September.”

The role includes studying for a BSc or PGCert in General Practice Nursing at De Montfort University one day a week, plus working four days a week in general practice under supervision. The programme is a fixed-term contract of nine-months and candidates will receive a salary and a unique package of support. After qualification nurses can apply for general practice nursing posts across the county.

One nurse who has recently undertaken the training programme is Alison Bullock. Alison had been keen to become a practice nurse when she first qualified in 2007, but at that time she couldn’t find a way into primary care. After working as a medical services adviser for a charity and then a phlebotomist in London, Alison relocated to Northampton where she took time out to raise her young family.

In January this year she completed the University of Northampton’s Return to Practice programme and successfully applied for the GP Nurse Training Programme. She is currently training at Albany House Medical Centre in Wellingborough.

Alison said: “I am really enjoying the programme and it has given me the pathway to pursue my career as a general practice nurse.  It combines a structured study programme at De Montfort University along with real experience within my practice. Without this opportunity, I would not have the breadth of understanding of the role of a general practice nurse or its potential.”

Stephanie Archer started her nursing career in 2011 at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, where she worked on a variety of wards before moving to the A&E department at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire. Before joining the GP Nurse Training Programme she was a nurse disability analyst for the Department for Work and Pensions. Now she’s taking the opportunity to fulfil a personal ambition to move into general practice and get back to nursing patients and making a difference.

Stephanie is undertaking her training at Dryland Surgery in Kettering and her long-term ambition is to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

“My practice colleagues have been so supportive,” she said. “Their help and experience has been invaluable in helping me to develop the skills needed to work in general practice.  It is also great to be part of the Northamptonshire group on this programme as we are able to help and support one another.”

Northants GP is one of the key partners in the ‘Best of Both Worlds’ recruitment campaign. The campaign brings together the University of Northampton, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northampton General Hospital, Kettering General Hospital (KGH), St Andrew’s Healthcare and aims to recruit nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals to live and work in Northamptonshire.

To find out about vacancies across Northamptonshire, visit http://bestofbothworlds.uk.net/