Discovering a Nursing Career in General Practice
Everything you need to know
- Start date: January 2027
- End date: January 2027
- Module leader: Emma Parker
Introduction
Nursing careers in General Practice are open to nurses from all fields and settings. However, despite the current GPN workforce shortages, getting a first position in General Practice often proves challenging; most practices seek nurses who can “hit the ground running” and who possess the requisite experience, knowledge, and skills for working in Primary Care.
Who the course is aimed at
This fully online module is supported, recognised, and funded by NHS England. It is aimed at Pre-Registration Student Nurses, Registered Nurses (from all areas of practice), Student Nursing Associates and Nursing Associates.
‘Discovering a Nursing Career in General Practice’ is designed to provide you with an insight into the world of General Practice and what is involved. Upon completion of this module, it is anticipated you will have a good understanding of what it is like to work in Primary Care and will feel more confident about applying for a role in General Practice. It will also help you to develop the additional knowledge and skills required to become a fully competent nurse working in Primary Care/General Practice.
This module is available at academic level 6 (20 credits). There is also a non-accredited option available. It is available to individuals from all four fields of nursing: Mental Health; Learning Disability; Adult and Children’s Nursing.
What you will learn
Topics include:
- Organisation, funding, history of General Practice and how it fits into the wider health care system.
- Working in the Primary Care environment: in terms of different roles, professions, and activities
- The role of the General Practice Nurse
- Communication skills
- Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: in terms of population health management, exploring demographic data, working with diverse communities.
- Developing your career in Primary Care/General Practice: applying for jobs and future career options.
A key theme of the module is tackling health inequalities. The module assessment consists of small group work, which enables you to develop a proposal for service development to address patient access in underserved population groups. This will involve considering a specific GP practice and its population demographics and barriers to health care for a certain population to propose a service development to address inequalities in access and uptake of services.
How you will learn
The module will typically be delivered in person at Collegiate Campus by Nurse Educators from the South Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce and Training Hub, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University. The learning content will be delivered through presentations, discussion, and simulation of a General Practice Nurse clinic with facilitated small group discussion to support your learning. Additional learning materials will be available between sessions on Blackboard (BB).
The module assessment will consist of the required minimum attendance (50%), an audio-visual presentation and an individual reflection on your learning from the module.
There will be a maximum of 30 places available on the module.
Fees and Funding for 2026/27
| Indicative price for stand-alone module |
Home / EU student: £950 - a limited number of places are funded by NHS England Workforce Training International students: N/A - not open to International/EU |
|---|---|
| How to apply |
You can apply for this module using our online admissions form. After you have registered or logged in, select the module title under "Please choose your first module". |
-
Entry requirements
The module is fully funded through NHS England Workforce Training. It is therefore free to access for all applicants. It is available in two forms: For current level 6 students, evidence of current level 6 study is required. For qualified nurses or Nurse Associates, evidence of recent study at level 6 is required.
-
Attendance
Delivery Method:
Blended learning (in-person and online learning activities). A mix of on-campus and online learning, with both in-person sessions and digital activities included in your course. We will require all non-British and non-Irish students to attend campus for an in-person verification check to comply with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements at the start of their first module.
View our statement on notional study hours »
Provisional timetable
January 2027
12 and 19 January (9.00am – 4.00pm) at Collegiate Campus. -
Assessment
- Level 6 (20 credits) with a formal assessment (short A/V presentation)
Further details
For further information please contact the module leader Emma Parker - emma.parker@shu.ac.uk