This week Jack* has a rather eventful team-building exercise with his practice colleagues!

We have teamed up with newly-qualified nurse Jack,* one of Health Education England’s GPN Ready Scheme nurses, to find out exactly what it is like to make the move from nursing student straight to GP nurse! Every week, we will be hearing from Jack* and finding out about his week in General Practice. Over to you, Jack*!

*name has been changed for confidentiality purposes

How has your week been? 

This week has been rather an eventful week. We had a team-building exercise at work; this saw us having a picnic and playing rounders at a local park. I really enjoyed this and it really made us stronger as a team, despite one of the GPs tripping over and dislocating his elbow, needing us to call an ambulance (I know…in a group full of doctors and nurses!) This week I also attended another study day hosted by the GPN ready scheme.

What have you mostly been doing at the Practice this week?

This week in practice has seen a large amount of NHS Health checks; this is a routine check for patients aged 40-72 with no pre-existing health conditions, like a mini-MOT. This tied in well with the health-promotion study day that I attended by the university. This helped me to guide patients to useful websites and self-help information.

Have you done anything this week that you have never done before? How did it go?

This week I called an ambulance for the first time (for the GP at rounders) – this was quite a scary thing to do, even as a healthcare professional myself, so I can understand and empathise as it must be scary for patients when they are in stressful situations.

One important thing that you learned this week?

This week I learned the importance of keeping calm and the importance of evaluation and assessment. keeping calm helps to diffuse a situation, whilst giving reassurance to the patient and giving you time to put an action plan in place. The saying, “Keep Calm and Carry On” is very true in healthcare.

What was your favourite part of the week? Why?

This week I really enjoyed working as a team; I feel that we are all a mini professional family that works very well together. It really is a supportive team and I am very lucky to work with such a great bunch of colleagues.

What was your worst part of the week? Why?

This week the car had to go in for an MOT…this cost me a small fortune!

What have you done this week to relax?

This week I had a good catch-up with one of my friends from university who I hadn’t seen in a while; time really does seem to fly by. It is really good to have catch-up time to reflect and share stories with one another.

This upcoming week I will be working with a work experience student and we have a new student nurse starting at the practice…it’s all go! This is what I really enjoy about General Practice, it is very fast-paced and constantly changing.

This week Jack* reflects on the great quality support and one-to-one learning that can be found in General Practice nursing.

We have teamed up with newly-qualified nurse Jack,*one of Health Education England’s GPN Ready Scheme nurses, to find out exactly what it is like to make the move from nursing student straight to GP nurse! Every week, we will be hearing from Jack* and finding out about his week in General Practice. Over to you, Jack*!

*name has been changed for confidentiality purposes

How has your week been? 

This week I have had a really productive week, I have managed to discharge a large number of long-standing patients undergoing wound care, as all of their wounds had healed. This week I have also had a meeting with my manager to discuss further career development and to get me booked onto my long-term conditions courses. I will start with Asthma first; this is something that I am really looking forward to. I really feel that General Practice has developed me as a nurse and I think that this is an excellent career pathway for a newly-qualified nurse, motivated to progress in an ever-growing role. I love it!

What have you mostly been doing at the Practice this week?

Lots and lots of ears again this week, I have just started doing ear-irrigation on my own after being under supervision. Lots of wax removed and lots of satisfied patients = Happy Nurse!

Have you done anything this week that you have never done before? How did it go?

This week I took charge when working alongside my colleague working in Baby Clinic. I feel more confident now and I have been able to research the different vaccinations and learn the required vaccination schedule. This is something that I will be undertaking independently again soon, again, all very exciting.

One important thing that you learned this week?

Supervision, Supervision, Supervision. I cannot express how much support and one-to-one learning experience you get in general practice. I have found it to be really beneficial being a newly-qualified nurse in General Practice as the learning opportunities are amazing.

What was your favourite part of the week? Why?

I have had a really good week. I love General Practice and the variation of patients and situations that you get to come across on a daily basis.

What was your worst part of the week? Why?

Nothing to report.

What have you done this week to relax?

This week I have spent some quality time with my parents and my dog. I love these types of weekends, having a catch-up and eating lots of lovely food.

This week coming, we have a team-building afternoon at work and I have a study day on health promotion by the GPN Ready Scheme, it should be a really good week. I hope you have a lovely week too.

This week Jack* discovers the importance of reviewing clinical guidance to deliver safe practice.

We have teamed up with newly-qualified nurse Jack,* one of Health Education England’s GPN Ready Scheme nurses, to find out exactly what it is like to make the move from nursing student straight to GP nurse! Every week, we will be hearing from Jack* and finding out about his week in General Practice. Over to you, Jack*!

*name has been changed for confidentiality purposes

How has your week been? 

This week has been a mixture of treatment room duties; I have been reviewing lots of ears. This week has also seen lots of minor injuries from patients having accidents over the Bank Holiday, so lots of dressings. It is always really busy the Friday before a Bank Holiday and the Tuesday after a Bank Holiday. This week I worked on the Tuesday, something I really enjoyed as Tuesday is normally my day off, so it was nice to work with different staff members who I wouldn’t normally see.

What have you mostly been doing at the Practice this week?

This week has seen a large influx of patients requiring vaccinations. I enjoy vaccinations as you have to use patient group directives (PGDs) and have to be very autonomous in your practice to risk assess to ensure suitability and patient safety.

Have you done anything this week that you have never done before? How did it go?

This week I saw a two and a half year old who was advised that they needed a pneumococcal booster as they had low anti-bodies. Initially I thought it would be a straight-forward re-vaccination, however on reviewing the patient’s vaccination history and reviewing the “Green Book” (aka the Practice Nurse Bible) it advised that she required the adult dose of the pneumococcal vaccination. This is why it is very important to review clinical guidance to ensure high quality patient care whilst delivering safe practice.

One important thing that you learned this week?

When delivering patient-centred care, it is really important to: Access, Plan and Implement.

Access– Check patient suitability and if this is the right treatment pathway for them.

Plan – Include the patient in all aspects of their care and ensure that they understand the treatment plan.

Implement– Deliver the discussed treatment pathway.

What was your favourite part of the week? Why?

I really enjoyed problem-solving this week and developing a solution to the problem. That’s what we do as practice nurses; we face barriers and look at ways to overcome them.

What was your worst part of the week? Why?

Trying to get through to departments at the hospital and being on the phone for ages listening to cheesy 80s lift-music while being on hold!

What have you done this week to relax?

This week I went to Leeds for the day; I love the culture and the vibe of Leeds. I enjoyed tapas and cocktails. This next week I have nothing planned at the moment, so I will look forward to seeing what the week will bring. Hope you have a lovely week.

This week Jack* has training in Ear Care & Irrigation and puts his new-found skills into practice!

We have teamed up with newly-qualified nurse Jack,* one of Health Education England’s GPN Ready Scheme nurses, to find out exactly what it is like to make the move from nursing student straight to GP nurse! Every week, we will be hearing from Jack* and finding out about his week in General Practice. Over to you, Jack*!

*name has been changed for confidentiality purposes

How has your week been? 

This week it has been all about EARS! This week I attended my Ear Care & Irrigation course delivered at the Primary Care Training Centre. The course was very interactive and very informative, especially for a novice like myself who had no experience of the anatomy and physiology of the ear. There were only 12 of us on the course and we were all new nurses to Primary Care. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone new or old to ear care.

What have you mostly been doing at the Practice this week?

Since doing my ear course the practice have been very supportive, ensuring that I have supervision delivering ear care to make sure that I am confident in the delivery of my practice. I have spent most of the week examining ears and working alongside staff to deliver ear irrigation. This is very satisfying both for the patient and for yourself, when they get their hearing back.

Have you done anything this week that you have never done before? How did it go?

Apart from doing my first ear irrigation, this week I had to work collaboratively with microbiology and infection control to treat a chronic wound infection for a patient with long-standing leg ulcers.

One important thing that you learned this week?

Ensure that you have a good support network around you. Don’t be afraid to ask if you are unsure.

What was your favourite part of the week? Why?

This week I really enjoyed my Ear Irrigation study day. It was an excellent course and I can’t recommend it enough, I think everyone should do it!

What was your worst part of the week? Why?

An excellent week, nothing to report.

What have you done this week to relax?

This week I attended the wedding of my future step-sister. It was a beautiful wedding at Sheffield Town Hall. The weather was beautiful and the meal and evening venue were very glamorous…and the food was yummy!

This week I have lots of ears booked in for examination and irrigation. This week I am also looking forward to doing liquid nitrogen clinic and taking the lead as I will be doing future clinics on my own, something I am looking forward to!

This week Jack* attends a peer support day and catches up with old friends from his nursing course.

We have teamed up with newly-qualified nurse Jack,* one of Health Education England’s GPN Ready Scheme nurses, to find out exactly what it is like to make the move from nursing student straight to GP nurse! Every week, we will be hearing from Jack* and finding out about his week in General Practice. Over to you, Jack*!

*name has been changed for confidentiality purposes

How has your week been? 

This week has been a very enjoyable week, filled with lots of sunshine and catching up with old and new friends. This week I have seen a few of my fellow nursing colleagues who I graduated with, it is lovely to catch up and see how they are getting on. This week I have been carrying out lots of pill checks, I really enjoy this however there is quite a lot to remember. I have also attended a peer support day hosted by the university; this session was on behaviour change and motivational interviewing.

What have you mostly been doing at the Practice this week?

This week has seen lots of pill checks and I have assisted with minor operations carried out within surgery. I enjoy assisting with minor operations as I get to see procedures that I wouldn’t normally see and get to ensure that my clinical skills are up-to-date.

Have you done anything this week that you have never done before? How did it go?

This week I attended a peer support day. I really enjoy these sessions as you can reflect and discuss issues and concerns with other colleagues. I also found the motivational interviewing tips and techniques very useful and look forward to reviewing my practice to enhance these skills. I believe these skills are essential in practice nursing in the encouragement of health promotion and well-being.

One important thing that you learned this week?

Accurate, relevant and factual documentation is a key part of safe nursing practice. “If it isn’t documented, it hasn’t been done.”

What was your favourite part of the week? Why?

This week I really enjoyed assisting with minor operations; I particularly enjoyed assisting with the excision of an infected cyst on a patient’s back. This was just like something from ‘Dr Pimple-Popper!’

What was your worst part of the week? Why?

This week it has been really hot in surgery, unfortunately we don’t have air conditioning.

What have you done this week to relax?

This week has been a chill-out weekend, spending time in the garden, doing household chores and preparing for the week ahead.

I am really looking forward to the week ahead as I am on my Ear Care & Irrigation study day on Monday. I have really been looking forward to this as I have observed this being done in surgery but have never had a go. I was booked onto the course in January and have been super-excited, however I can’t believe how fast the time has gone.