Practice nurse
Work within a GP practice to give nursing and medical care to people of all ages.
About the job
What it's like
You would work within a GP practice to give nursing and medical care to people of all ages. The patients you deal with may be very upset or worried, and you would have to be able to reassure them that you would do your best to help them.Â
You would:
Set up and run clinics for conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart conditions and skin disorders
Offer advice on family planning and contraception
Take blood and urine samples and other specimens and swabs
Perform routine procedures such as ear syringing, applying and removing dressings and treating wounds
Offer advice on issues such as blood pressure, weight control and stopping smoking
Carry out vaccinations and travel immunisations
Give advice to patients on long-term medical and nursing needs
In larger GP surgeries you may work alongside other practice nurses and have the chance to specialise in particular conditions or age groups.
You’d need good knowledge of child protection and public health issues, as well as a solid understanding of infection control procedures.
You can see more about the role on the general practice nurse page on the NHS Career website.
Hours
You would generally work 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You may need to work occasional evenings or weekends, for example if you are running a health promotion clinic. Part-time hours and job sharing are often available.
Environment
You would work in a GP practice. The work can be physically and emotionally demanding and you may work with clients who are distressed and suffering with long-term illness.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- midwifery
- chronic disease management
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- asthma
- cytology
- automated external defibrillator
- anaphylaxis
- hypertension
- medical practice experience
- warfarin
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking initiative
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- empathising
- observation
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- cooperating
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Care
Childcare and Development
Human Biology
Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You need to be a registered nurse, usually within the child or adult branch, and take extra training relating to general practice.
To become a registered nurse you need a degree in nursing (SCQF level 9/10).
To enter a nursing degree (SCQF level 9/10) requires National 4/5 qualifications and a minimum of three Highers at C or equivalent qualifications such as a relevant HNC/HND or Scottish Vocational Qualification in Healthcare Support (SVQ level 2/3).
It is possible to enter a shortened graduate nursing programme with a relevant degree in another subject.
Qualifications that show understanding of health and wellbeing such as:
Health and Social Care (SCQF level 6)
SQA Wellbeing Award (SCQF level 3-5)
Once qualified you will need to:
Register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland
Complete a medical examination to ensure you are physically fit
Some employers may also look for you to have one or two year's post-qualifying experience.
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