The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) has launched a new division dedicated to the support and development of general practice nurses (GPNs).
This week, the QICN – formerly the Queen’s Nursing Institute – has announced the creation of a Faculty of General Practice Nursing.
“General practice nursing and primary care are at the forefront of the NHS [10 Year Plan] for the NHS in England”
Angie Hack
This new wing of the QICN will act to consolidate the organisation’s existing work supporting GPNs, chief executive Dr Crystal Oldman said.
This includes the General Practice Nurse Network, which launched last year, and the QICN’s accreditation programme for GPN education programme that meet its bespoke standards.
As well as this, the faculty will host a series of webinars, events and resources for GPNs.
The GPN faculty is the first of nine that the QICN plans to launch in the future aligned with the nine specialist and advanced community fields of practice covered by its education and practice standards programme.
These are:
- Adult social care nursing
- Community children’s nursing
- Community mental health nursing
- District nursing
- General practice nursing
- Inclusion health nursing
- Health and justice nursing
- Community learning disability nursing
- Palliative and end of life care nursing
“I’m delighted that we are able to launch the national Faculty of General Practice Nursing,” said Dr Oldman, who is retiring in July and will be replaced by her current deputy, Steph Lawrence.
GPNs, Dr Oldman said, were often disadvantaged in terms of opportunities for professional development, compared to their NHS counterparts.
She said she hoped the QICN could build “meaningful recognition” for the work of GPNs through the faculty.
Crystal Oldman
Dr Oldman added: “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.”
Angie Hack, QICN assistant director of nursing programmes (primary care), added: “It is our great pleasure to announce the QICN primary care faculty as 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 [10-year plan] for the NHS in England.
“The QICN has strived to promote the role of the GPN, outlining the unique role, relying on autonomous accountable nurses, meeting the demands of primary care.”
