Student nurse placements in general practice – Are we ready?

02 October 2024
Volume 35 · Issue 10

The integration of student nurse placements in general practices offers a holistic solution to the aging GPN workforce crisis. By providing students with diverse, unique experiences and equipping them with skills that are vital for the future of general practice nursing and primary care. Accommodating STNs, fosters a workforce that is not only sustainable but better prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients.

Why does general practice appear reluctant to accommodate?

Hannah Crowther, GPN, South East London Worforce Development Hub Placement Lead has given an insight into what it is currently like to try and place student nurses within general practice.

‘Having had my final managerial placement in general practice and then going on to work as a GPN in the same surgery, I am able to see the huge value in hosting learners. But with moral low in general practice adding in supporting a student can feel overwhelming and challenging, resulting in GPNs or practices overlooking the integral part student nurses have in our future workforce. If we can introduce student nurses to general practice before qualification, they are much more likely to choose this as a first destination career choice. Over the last 3 years, having worked with university of Greenwich to place more student nurses, we have seen exactly this happen. Across SEL we have been able to get student nurses into practices from year 1 of study and have multiple placements within the surgery throughout their undergrad programme. This has resulted in more student’ nurses joining general practice on qualifying. Hosting students can of course be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Its amazing to be able to see these students evolve and progress into fully fledged General Practice Nurses… and we all know we need more of them!

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