Foundation Programme for Practice Nurses, Who are New to General Practice

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 at 9.30am 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.

1. Study days, including self-study days

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

2. PHM022 – Key concepts in practice nursing, including self-study days

Start time will be 9.30am until 4.30pm, unless otherwise notified.

Dates as follows:

• Wednesday 27 January
• Wednesday 3 February
• Friday 5 February. This is a shared learning day with public health students (i.e. CCN/DN/HV/SN) delivered by people with lived and living experience of long-term conditions.
• Wednesday 10 February
• Wednesday 17 February (asynchronous)
• Wednesday 3 March
• Wednesday 17 March
• Wednesday 24 March

3. PHM024 – Cervical Cytology (non-credited course)

Dates are as follows:

• Thursday 11 March
• Thursday 18 March
• Thursday 1 April
• Wednesday 7 April
• Thursday 8 April
• Wednesday 14 April
• Wednesday 28 April
• Wednesday 5 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.

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).

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

1. 3,000-word essay
   • Covers the 15-credit module
   • Assesses critical appraisal and evidence-based practice skills.
2. 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.

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

The programme team will suggest course material during classes.