Practice Nurse Essentials
The Learning and Development Centre offers a wide range of courses for clinicians and non-clinicians working in Primary Care. We have identified the essential courses for Practice Nurses starting their General Practice career, whether they have nursing experience in other settings or if they are newly qualified and working in practice for the first time.
This page provides the course information and dates for these essential training topics, enabling Nurses to complete the full range of competencies before undertaking other courses from our catalogue.
We recommend that Nurses don't take on too many topics at the same time, especially the Cervical Sample Taker Training and Immunisations Foundation courses as these can be quite time-consuming to complete. New dates for all of these topics will be available at least every 6 months, and we can notify delegates when new dates are published; just ask to be added to the Request List or submit a Wish List note from your Learning and Development Centre account.
Please ensure that all bookings are made in the name of the person that will be attending the course. If there are any queries about how to do this, please contact the Learning and Development Centre in the first instance.
If there are any queries please do contact us! [email protected]
Immunisations Foundation for Registered Healthcare Practitioners
One of the cornerstones of the Practice Nurse role is giving immunisations.
Our hugely popular Immunisations Foundation course is delivered by Tricia Smith and Emma Edwards over two days; a full-day face-to-face training session and a virtual half-day session, during which our experienced trainers will guide you through the complexities and correct delivery of Flu, Covid, Shingles, Pneumococcal and childhood vaccines. Our inclusive and interactive course includes a sumptuous buffet lunch on the first day and free parking at the venue.
Trainees will be asked to complete a workbook in advance of the first session, and there is an online multiple choice test to be completed after the second day. Following completion of the course, trainees are provided with a competency document to complete in practice with a suitably qualified mentor.
Trainees receive a Certificate of Attendance on completion of the theory sessions; this combined with the completed competency document constitutes the immunisations qualification. Trainees need to attend an annual Immunisations Update to remain eligible to give immunisations.
Next available course:
Immunisations Foundation for Registered Healthcare Practitioners - 5th and 12th July 2024
Cervical Sample Taker Training
Taking Cervical Samples is completely different to any other Practice Nurse activity. Our RCN accredited Cervical Sample Taker Training programme begins with two days of in-person initial training, and a bespoke virtual session for the Mentors that will be working with Trainees in practice. Following the initial training, the Learning and Development Centre specialist educators support our Trainees to complete their training programme in 6 months, culminating in a final clinical assessment leading to their qualification as a sample taker.
Since starting the programme in 2019, we have been delighted to welcome back many of our former Trainees as Mentors and Independent Assessors.
Before booking a place on this programme we request that all Trainees and Mentors read all of the information and documents shown on the website booking page. We also recommend undertaking fewer training topics until this programme has been completed, as Trainees will need to prioritise their Cervical Sample Taking appointments to ensure completion within timescales.
We have Cervical Sample Taker Training opportunities on these dates:
Cervical Sample Taker Training - Cornwall - July 2024
Hypertension
Specialist Nurse Educator Judith Magowan brings two essential Hypertension courses to our course catalogue. The first is Primary Prevention: Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension and CVD, which is designed to equip healthcare professionals working in primary care with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to proactively detect and manage cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, to reduce CVD mortality and morbidity.
These half-day courses are delivered in convenient and accessible virtual sessions. Delegates receive a Certificate of Attendance on completion.
A new course date is coming soon! Contact us to be added to the Request List for early bird bookings.
Further development opportunities:
- Secondary Prevention: Introduction to Managing Patients with Existing Cardiovascular Conditions
Introduction to Asthma
Specialist Respiratory Nurse Laura Rush shares her brilliant Introduction to Asthma course with the Learning and Development Centre as a virtual, interactive two-hour presentation in which delegates are introduced to the impact of asthma on the UK population, how asthma affects the human airways, asthma symptoms, how to take a good history, what makes asthma more or less likely, how to assess and manage asthma, and the asthma guidelines.
Delegates receive a Certification of Attendance on completion.
Our next Introduction to Asthma course:
Introduction to Asthma - 14th May 2024
Why not search our catalogue for the rest of our Asthma and Respiratory Courses?
- Asthma Update
- Asthma Advanced
- Clinical Examination of the Chest
- Paediatric Asthma
- Inhaler Technique
- Asthma and FeNO Masterclass
Introduction to COPD
Specialist Respiratory Nurse Laura Rush brings her Introduction to COPD course to the Learning and Development Centre as a virtual, interactive two-hour presentation in which delegates are introduced to what COPD is and its impact, the difference between a normal airway and a COPD airway, the symptoms associated with COPD, the diagnostic process including history and investigations, assessing and managing COPD including both the pharmacological and non pharmacological options and the COPD guidelines.
Delegates receive a Certification of Attendance on completion.
Our next course date:
Introduction to COPD - 16th July 2024
Further development opportunities:
Search our catalogue for the rest of our COPD and Respiratory Courses:
- COPD Update
- COPD Advanced
- Clinical Examination of the Chest
- Inhaler Technique
Diabetes Foundation
Diabetes Specialist Nurses Michelle Ford and Lizzie Moore present their Diabetes Foundation course as an accessible, virtual presentation in which all delegates have a chance to interact, share their knowledge and ask questions. Usually taking a full morning to complete, this course is a comprehensive introduction to the Diabetes topic that promotes up to date practices in Diabetes Care.
A Certificate of Attendance is issued on completion of this course.
Our next available dates are:
Diabetes Foundation - 9th May 2024
Diabetes Foundation - 9th July 2024
Diabetes Foundation - 18th September 2024
https://www.learninganddevelopmentcentre.co.uk/courses-events/diabetes/diabetes-foundation-18th-september-2024/
Further development opportunities:
- Diabetes Foot Checks and Doppler Assessments
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Freestyle Libre Systems
Introduction to Wound Assessment and Dressings Selection
Alexandra Bishop is the Lead Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and her lively virtual presentation on Wound Assessment and Dressings Selection is an essential course for all primary care practitioners. Delegates will be introduced to the types and variations of wounds seen in primary care and how to treat them, with a summary of the most suitable dressings for each presentation.
A Certificate of Attendance is issued on completion of this course.
Next available training date:
Introduction to Wound Assessments and Dressings Selection - 10th July 2024
Further training:
- Complex Wounds Management
Travel Immunisations Foundation for Registered Healthcare Practitioners
Tricia Smith and Emma Edwards team up again to deliver the essential Travel Immunisations Foundation for Registered Healthcare Practitioners.
Please note that delegates on this course should have completed the Immunisations Foundation course before undertaking this topic.
Delivered over two virtual half-day sessions, Tricia and Emma detail the complexities, contra-indications and correct application of all the travel vaccines that can be given in General Practice. Delegates should attend an annual Travel Immunisations Update in order to remain eligible to give travel immunisations.
A Certificate of Attendance is issued on completion.
A new course date is coming soon! Contact us to be added to the Request List for early bird bookings.
Introduction to Phlebotomy
Clinical Educator Sister Claire May has been taking bloods for longer than she cares to remember! This in-person training session provides all the theory required to undertake this procedure in practice, and a fake arm is available to work on during the session.
A Certificate of Attendance is issued on completion of this theory course and delegates are provided with a competency document to be completed in practice with a suitably qualified Mentor. These documents combined constitute the Phlebotomy qualification.
Our next available course dates are:
Introduction to Phlebotomy - 11th June 2024 - Ivybridge, South Devon
Introduction to Ear Care for Practice Nurses
Our Ear Care specialist Tracey Owen is well known around the region for her brilliant Ear Care Introductions and Updates, all supported by training pathways and materials produced by Rotherham Ear Care and Audiology Services.
This comprehensive course covers all aspects of ear irrigation and instrumentation.
Our next available course is:
Introduction to Ear Care for Practice Nurses - 10th July 2024
Further training:
- Ear Care Update
Women's Health
Frankie Brown and Hanna Smith are renowned for their Women's Health knowledge, expertise and effective training events. They share the Introduction to Contraception and Introduction to Menopause Management in Primary Care courses with the Learning and Development Centre, which are delivered as a series of half-day, virtual sessions.
Introduction to Contraception
Trainees taking this course will be able to offer complementary support for the contraceptive and reproductive health service in their practice, with their more experienced colleagues. The knowledge gained on this course provides the best possible platform from which to undertake further training.
A new course date is coming soon! Contact us to be added to the Request List for early bird bookings.
Introduction to Menopause Management in Primary Care
This very comprehensive course explores the Menopause and the years before and after it occurs. Trainees will be able to discuss different treatments, take appropriate histories and lead Menopause consultations, being confident that they are giving good advice and following the correct referral pathways. Trainees will learn about the symptoms that can present, using case studies to embed best practice. Time is also given to the menopause management of people with special needs.
A new course date is coming soon! Contact us to be added to the Request List for early bird bookings.
Further development opportunities:
- Contraception Update
Ongoing Training
The Learning and Development Centre is proud to be able to support Primary Care practitioners with all their training needs across a wide range of healthcare disciplines. In addition to the GPN Essentials, we offer regular updates to ensure that all staff are knowledgeable in the most up to date practices and clinical developments. Some of these are requirements for continued practice, others are highly recommended and enhance existing knowledge and skills.
Annual updates are required for the following topics:
- Immunisations
- Travel Immunisations
- Ear Care
Updates are highly recommended for the these topics:
- Contraception
- Asthma
- COPD
We have a range of other courses to complement existing practices. Explore our catalogue to discover the following topics of interest:
- Mental Health First Aid
- Personalised Conversations (Health Coaching Skills)
- B12 and Pernicious Anaemia
- ECG Workshop
- Supporting Patients with Sleep