Two universities in the West Midlands are piloting a general practice nursing programme for a year.
Birmingham City University and Worcester University have set up 'top-up' degree programmes under the supervision of Health Education West Midlands (HEWM) to train newly qualified nurses or hospital-based nurses looking to move into general practice. All applicants must have completed a year or less in general practice. The first cohort started in March and will finish in March 2016.
Worcester University's programme is split into three modules, each of which are half academic and half practice based.
The first module covers the core competencies, the second module is on long-term conditions and the third is an independent study based on a service or clinic the student wishes to either set up or improve in their place of work.
The course at Birmingham City University is a 60 credit top-up degree or post-graduate certificate for nurses new to practice nursing. The course covers all the core and essential skills to work as a nurse in general practice as well as an introduction to chronic disease management.
The courses are based on Health Education East Midlands' general practice nursing competencies.
They have been designed so that each student has a mentor in practice and has to complete a certain number of clinical hours in practice. The taught time in university will give them the knowledge base and theoretical background to complete those competencies.
Alison Rushworth, senior lecturer and module leader at Worcester University said: 'The programme fills a gap in practice nurse training that has been missing for years.
'There has been a big demand for places, which is really encouraging. Practice nursing is often seen as the poor relation when it comes to academic qualifications post-registration so its great that it's being received so well.'
Sue Shortland, senior lecturer at Birmingham City University and advanced nurse practitioner, said: 'The programme provides a foundation for further study and career development and supports new practice nurses in their professional, personal and academic development.'
The two universities have been funded for 10 places each this year. Ms Rushworth says it has not yet been confirmed whether they will receive funding from HEWM next year but that the course will continue anyway.
Ms Rushworth said that several other universities in the area are also keen to pilot the practice nursing programme.
Both universities will evaluate their programmes using the same method, meaning that it will be easier to compare the two programmes. There are interim evaluations at the end of each module and then a final evaluation when the students graduate. IN