About me
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Name: |
Gemma |
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Current role: |
General Practice Nurse Lead |
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Work setting: |
General Practice in Mansfield |
I am a General Practice Nurse Lead currently working in a busy General Practitioner (GP) surgery, providing care and support to patients across all ages. My role involves everything from long term condition management to health promotion. The joy of general practice nursing is we get to see and care for patients of all ages from newborns to end of life.
I have been a qualified nurse for 10 years now and worked as a general practice nurse for the last 9 years. I previously worked in general practice in a variety of roles (receptionist, phlebotomist and Healthcare Assistant (HCA)) before undertaking my nurse training at university.
My work is varied and I get to work closely with a variety of other healthcare professionals such as GPs, healthcare assistants, and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
The joy of general practice nursing is you get the opportunity to be trained in a variety of areas which can really support long term professional knowledge and development.
My career journey
I didn’t always know I wanted to be a nurse but I was drawn to the healthcare sector, although consider many roles over the years.
I originally started as a volunteer in a local hospital trust working within the sonography department. I then gained a paid employment role working as a radiotherapy support officer and part time admin clerk for the oncology research team. Eventually I moved to a general practice receptionist role local to my home as was easier to travel and juggle childcare. This is then where my career development led me to my current role. Over time I was supported to undertake my phlebotomy training and then HCA training. I really enjoyed learning new clinical skills and it was from the support of the nursing team within that practice that I finally took the plunge and applied to undertake my BSc Adult Nurse training at a local University.
After qualifying I worked as a community nurse for a year, until I could find a practice nurse role. Practice Nursing was always the nursing role I wanted to come back to as I like the way of working and also understood and appreciated the long-term training and development opportunities available to me.
Over the years I have done a variety of accredited and non-accredited training. I have a PG Cert in long term condition management; I have completed my professional nurse advocate training and have a variety of accredited modules in areas such respiratory care and diabetes management. I have recently completed my non-medical prescribing and am already looking to the future and next steps within my career such as the advanced practitioner training or even considering more specialist nurse roles in the future.
General practice nursing is an amazing way of learning a variety of skills and developing your clinical knowledge and experience in a huge variety of areas.
How I got into this role
I completed a BSc in Adult Nursing, followed by a period of preceptorship as a community nurse. When I transitioned into primary care, I undertook additional training including:
Cervical cytology
Childhood immunisations
Wound care training
Long term condition management (e.g., diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary heart disease (CHD), atrial fibrillation (AF) etc.)
Women’s Health- Contraception and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) training
Independent and supplementary prescribing (later in my career)
My route wasn’t traditional — I didn’t go straight into nursing from school. I worked, gained life experience, and entered healthcare gradually. That background has helped me relate to patients and understand the realities of everyday life.
What my role involves
Day to day, my work includes but is not limited to:
Running nurse led clinics
Administering vaccinations for children and adults
Performing cervical screening
Wound care and dressings
Managing long term conditions
Health promotion and lifestyle advice
Womens Health
No two days are the same — and that’s part of what makes the role so engaging.
What I enjoy most
I love the continuity of care. In General Practice, you get to know patients and their families over time, which makes the work incredibly rewarding. Seeing someone improve, gain confidence, or manage their condition better because of your support is a privilege.
I also enjoy the autonomy of the role. Nurses in primary care often lead their own clinics and make clinical decisions, which is empowering and professionally fulfilling.
Challenges
General Practice can be fast paced, with high demand and complex patient needs. Balancing time pressures with providing compassionate care can be challenging.
Some patients come in anxious or frustrated, and supporting them requires patience and strong communication skills. The role also involves keeping up with changing guidelines and new treatments, which can feel overwhelming at times — but there is always support from the wider team.
Skills you need
Communication
Listening, explaining, reassuring
Teamwork
Working closely with GPs, Healthcare Assistants, Pharmacists
Organisation
Managing clinics, documentation, follow ups
Compassion
Understanding patients’ concerns and experiences
Problem solving
Assessing symptoms and planning care
Clinical confidence
Making safe, informed decisions
Adaptability
Every day brings something new
My advice
If you’re thinking about working in health or care, start by exploring roles that let you get close to patients — healthcare assistant roles, volunteering, or shadowing opportunities.
The best way to learn is by being curious and asking questions. Nursing is a career where you grow constantly, and there are many routes in, no matter your background.
Don’t worry if you didn’t follow a straight path. Many of the best nurses come from varied careers and bring valuable life experience with them.
Career tips and next steps
Consider starting as a Healthcare Assistant to gain experience.
Look into Nursing Associate and Nursing apprenticeships as an alternative route.
Explore Adult Nursing degrees or degree apprenticeships.
After qualifying, seek training in:
Immunisations
Cervical cytology
Long term condition management
Minor illness
Have a look at your local Training Hub's website for more information and useful resources to support your development. For Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, you're already in the right place!
Read more 'Day in the life' of primary care workers
We've pulled together all these personal journeys to showcase the diversity of primary care roles and give a hollistic, honest view of the highs and lows that come with the job. We believe primary care is a rewarding career path and our goal is make Nottingham and Nottinghamshire a great place to work, so our workforce can deliver the best possible care.
This case study forms part of our work experience activity. It is perfect for students aged 14 or over (school or college), career changers, or anyone interested in exploring careers in health and social care. If you complete 5 activities you can achieve a gold level certificate. Already downloaded your pack? Read more stories! Want to join this work experience? Click to start!
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