What does a practice nurse do?
A practice nurse works as part of a clinic or GP surgery. Depending on the nature and size of their practice, a practice nurse might take on certain roles or take on many roles themselves. A practice nurse works within their local community as opposed to working from a hospital. As practice nurses have to be diligent and work well under stressful conditions, being a practice nurse can be a high-pressure job with great personal reward.
Practice nurses work with patients with different needs, from vaccinating children and babies to providing health advice to older patients. As patients have so many diverse needs, the role of a practice nurse might change on a day-to-day or seasonal basis (for example in the case of seasonal flu vaccination services).
Practice nurse skills and qualifications
As a practice nurse is responsible for a diverse array of responsibilities, it is worth specifying that you are looking for someone who is a good multitasker. Other skills and qualifications to look for in a practice nurse include:
- An ability to prioritise tasks in order of importance;
- Calm and unflappable in first aid scenarios;
- The temperament to be able to cope in a high-pressure environment;
- An ability to solve patient problems and provide diagnoses even under pressure;
- Good communication with the rest of their practice team, including asking for assistance when required;
- A scientific background and the ability to apply knowledge correctly to each situation.
Practice nurse experience requirements
A practice nurse often has several years’ experience working in the community as a community nurse. This might be especially useful if a practice needs a candidate who is able to handle a lot of complex tasks across different roles. Therefore, employers looking to hire a practice nurse might advertise that they are looking for this kind of experience or similar. They might also look for traits like familiarity with counselling patients as well as examples of problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
As practice nurses often have to use a computer in order to update patient records, it is worth advertising for candidates that are computer literate.
Practice nurse education and training requirements
A practice nurse might have a PGCert/BSc in Practice Nursing. This is offered to already registered nurses who are looking to gain the skills and knowledge for working as a practice nurse.
When advertising for a more senior role, employers might want to look for additional training. Similarly, if hiring for an advanced nurse practitioner, it could be a good idea to look for a Master’s degree in a relevant nursing subject. You might look for a prescribing qualification as well, as these are required of advanced nurse practitioners.
Practice nurse salary expectations
According to Indeed UK salaries, the average salary of a practice nurse is £36,375 per year. Salary may depend on the exact job duties and responsibilities, the employer, location and experience.
Job description samples for similar positions
If a practice nurse job description isn’t quite right, then have a look at these similar job descriptions to see if they are closer to what you need:
Practice nurse job description FAQs
What should you look for in a practice nurse CV?
First, it is worth looking for candidates who are already registered as a nurse. This helps you to filter out candidates who have the basic qualifications to complete the job. Good practice nurses have often been working in their local community for a few years already, perhaps as a community nurse. As a practice nurse works with their local community, they might already have a great reputation — and their CV demonstrates years of hard work.
How can you make your practice nurse job description stand out?
State clearly that you are looking specifically for a practice nurse, as there are a lot of other types of nurse jobs out there. Outline duties and responsibilities clearly, as well as any qualifications you need. This can include being a registered nurse. In this way, you can filter out any unwanted candidates who are not qualified for the job. Employers that offer any perks or pension plans can include this in their job description in order to entice top candidates.
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