An exclusive survey via Nursing in Practice, discussed in the latest magazine issue, finds that two-thirds of nurses working in general practice have considered leaving the profession, with many saying they currently feel undervalued in their role and under pressure because of Covid.

Nearly two-thirds (60%) of nurses working in general practice have told Nursing in Practice that their job has changed for the worse since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Shockingly, only 33% of respondents to the survey said they were not considering leaving their job in the next year.

Of the two-thirds who said they were considering a change, the most common plan was early retirement (18%), followed by moving to a different nursing role outside general practice (11%), changing professions altogether (8%), retiring as planned (6%), and moving to a different role within general practice (5%). A further 14% said they were not sure how they would leave. 

Many said they felt overworked and underpaid, with too little time to do their jobs to do the best of their ability.

A practice nurse in North West England commented: ‘I feel I am not given the time I need to do my job to the standard that I would like to.’

Nurses also reported that staff shortages – driven in part by people leaving the profession – were impacting on workload and care quality.

In response to the survey, the Royal College of Nursing’s professional lead for general practice nursing, Heather Randle, told us: ‘Staff feel undervalued and invisible, and it’s desperately sad but not surprising that many are thinking of leaving their jobs. Even before the pandemic, the system was under strain with not enough skilled nurses. Now it is in crisis.’

Other topics featured in this edition of Nursing in Practice include: diabetes in pregnancy, HIV testing and prevention, the ongoing issue of aggression from patients, research on the implications of remote consultations, vaccine hesitancy, and more.

This Spring edition of Nursing in Practice introduced a new design for the magazine, with a fresh, clean look and a clear user journey through the magazine’s various sections.