Practice nurse
Work within a GP practice to give nursing and medical care to people of all ages.
About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£538
Entry level
£962
Experienced
Monthly
£2,333
Entry level
£4,167
Experienced
Yearly
£28,000
Entry level
£50,000
Experienced
64,200
people are currently employed
High growth
3,500 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would work within a GP practice to give nursing and medical care to people of all ages. The patients you deal with may be very upset or worried, and you would have to be able to reassure them that you would do your best to help them.
You would:
Set up and run clinics for conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart conditions and skin disorders
Offer advice on family planning and contraception
Take blood and urine samples and other specimens and swabs
Perform routine procedures such as ear syringing, applying and removing dressings and treating wounds
Offer advice on issues such as blood pressure, weight control and stopping smoking
Carry out vaccinations and travel immunisations
Give advice to patients on long-term medical and nursing needs
In larger GP surgeries you may work alongside other practice nurses and have the chance to specialise in particular conditions or age groups.
You’d need good knowledge of child protection and public health issues, as well as a solid understanding of infection control procedures.
You can see more about the role on the general practice nurse page on the NHS Career website.
Hours
Environment
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Practice nurse'
Select qualification level(s)
Other careers that you might like
Nurse - Adult Nurse - Child District nurse Health visitor Nurse - Learning Disability Nurse - Mental Health
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Life sciences Healthcare
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- taking initiative
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- empathising
- observation
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- cooperating
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Care
Childcare and Development
Human Biology
Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You need to be a registered nurse, usually within the child or adult branch, and take extra training relating to general practice.
To become a registered nurse you need a degree in nursing (SCQF level 9/10).
To enter a nursing degree (SCQF level 9/10) requires National 4/5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers at C or equivalent qualifications such as a relevant HNC/HND or Scottish Vocational Qualification in Healthcare Support (SVQ level 2/3).
It is possible to enter a shortened graduate nursing programme with a relevant degree in another subject.
Qualifications that show understanding of health and wellbeing such as:
Health and Social Care (SCQF level 6)
SQA Wellbeing Award (SCQF level 3-5)
Once qualified you will need to:
Register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland
Complete a medical examination to ensure you are physically fit
Some employers may also look for you to have one or two year's post-qualifying experience.
Explore over 22,000 courses in Scotland
Find the perfect course to boost your career.
