A roundtable meeting run by Nursing in Practice highlighted concerns about the recruitment and retention of general practice nurses (GPNs) to meet increasing challenges in patient care.
Nursing in Practice: GPN Manifesto Roundtable: Recruitment, retention and pay
Objectives
Earlier this year, Nursing in Practice released its manifesto for general practice nursing in 2024, speaking to GPNs to identify their top 10 points for action for 2024.
The manifesto highlights key areas in which nurses want to see improvements.
As part of the series, Nursing in Practice held its first roundtable meeting, on Recruitment, retention and pay in May, asking delegates their views on what needs to happen for general practice to be an attractive place for experienced nurses to work.
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Our approach
Using our extensive database of trusted experts and key opinion leaders, we welcomed five nurses to the roundtable on Recruitment, retention and pay: Jenny Aston, advanced nurse practitioner working in a large primary care network outside Cambridge; Sara Baldwin, nurse manager in a GP practice in the northwest of England and an advanced clinical practice lead at a training hub; Julie Roye, head of primary care nursing at East London NHS Foundation Trust; Rebecca Shearer, lead nurse at Westwood Medical Centre and an advanced nurse practitioner; and Joanna Vintis, nurse lead and head of workforce development for Newcastle GP services.
Delegates explored the ongoing challenges around pay, terms and conditions and the barriers to recruitment and retention within the sector.
The Nursing in Practice GPN Manifesto calls for action on pay, conditions and recruitment, retention to help resolve widespread job vacancies in general practice, and the number of GPNs who are approaching retirement or choosing to look for roles elsewhere.
Megan Ford, news editor at Nursing in Practice spoke to the delegates about how vital it is that ‘general practice is visible, attractive and accessible to those seeking a nursing career and that efforts are made to recognise, value and ultimately retain those in post’.
Joanna Vintis says: ‘I will stand on this hill forever, that practice nurses are fundamental to the care that goes on in primary care. Without practice nurses, we have nothing so, for me, that’s the biggest negative – that we are seen as slightly less than our ANP sisters and brothers’.
Two further roundtables followed, covering aspects of the importance of the general practice nurse role in patient care, and a fourth is planned for September.
Since launch, the roundtable report has been promoted to our community of healthcare professionals, via a variety of tactics, including online advertising, emails, and social media – via Nursing in Practice and also via our sister publication Healthcare Leader.
Outcome
- 900+ report views
- 121% uplift in engagement time
Recruitment and employment are by far the biggest issue for our readership, consistently bringing in traffic and engagement that far exceeds any other topic.
The report has generated fantastic engagement and discussion with over 900 views, and a 121% uplift in engagement time compared to the rest of site.
Nursing in Practice provides a platform for primary care and nurses to stay up to date with all the incisive news, features, opinions and clinical advice. Through our regular roundtables and reports, we share innovative ideas, and are a unique opportunity to promote your brand alongside this significant content, reaching and engaging with our audience.
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