This programme will support your transition into primary care. The programme team consists of former general practice nurses, ensuring the programme is grounded in real clinical experience.
Foundation Programme for Practice Nurses, Who are New to General Practice Course overview
Specific areas taught include the national immunisation programme; an introduction to travel health, ear care assessment and irrigation and cervical sample taker training.
Who is it for?
Registered nurses who are newly employed as General Practice Nurses.
Timetable
The university induction day will be Tuesday 5 January 2027 @ 09.30am on site at City St George’s, University of London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB.
Further details will be provided prior to this date concerning the venue of the university induction day.
Start time will be 10.00am (until 4pm) for all the following dates:
Wednesday 20 January
Wednesday 24 February
Wednesday 31 March
Wednesday 21 April
Wednesday 12 May.
Benefits
Delivered by an academic team of former general practice nurses, the programme offers a unique and insightful perspective on the evolving role of today’s General Practice Nurse.
What will I learn?
The programme content is as follows:
PHM022 – Key concepts in practice nursing (15 credit postgraduate – Level 7) module.
- The national immunisation programme,
- An introduction to travel health,
- Anaphylaxis: recognition, management & treatment,
- An introduction to common mental health conditions in primary care,
- Ear care: otoscopy and integrating national ear care guidelines for ear irrigation into clinical practice, Health Promotion.
PHM024 – Cervical Cytology (RCN credited course)
- Rationale for screening, the NHS cervical screening programme and local implementation,
- Risk factors and natural history,
- Related anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology,
- Clinical session: taking a cervical sample,
- Current and future developments in cervical cytology
Other taught sessions include:
- Resilience
- Leadership
- Using SMART to develop your career objectives
- Preparing for a formative presentation (13 May 2026).
Assessment and certificates
Teaching
The majority of the taught content of the programme will be delivered on site at City St. George’s, University of London.
Lectures will be the main format of teaching delivery, including specific clinical skills sessions.
Assessments
Students complete four summative assessments to fulfil programme requirements
- 3,000-word essay
- Covers the 15-credit module
- Assesses critical appraisal and evidence-based practice skills.
- Cervical Cytology Course (three elements)
- Skills schedule
- Initial assessment
- Final clinical assessment
Upon successful completion of all cervical cytology assignments, participants receive a Certificate of Achievement. After passing the 3,000-word essay, students are issued a university transcript documenting their mark for the 15-credit module.
This course is provided by the School of Health & Medical Sciences.
Credits
This course is worth 15 credits toward eligible programmes.
Eligibility
Candidates must be employed as General Practice Nurses to apply for the programme.
English requirements
For those students whose first language is not English the following qualification is also required:
- IELTS: 7.0
Recommended reading
The programme team will suggest course material during classes.