Introduction

IGPNEA launched its Principles of General Practice Nursing course in January 2023.

2023 was a very successful 1st year for our Principles of General Practice Nursing Course.

The NEC officers & Education Committee are delighted to announce that the course will run twice in 2025 – in March & September.

The course is aimed at those nurses in the early stages of their general practice careers and those nurses considering joining general practice from another setting. It gives an understanding of the role carried out by general practice nurses (GPNs); the wide variety of skills required to work safely; information on how to link to evidence-based educational resources for further learning and the opportunity for further career development within the general practice setting.

All participants will have access to a recording of each module (except Module 6) following each live meeting.

The course content has been strategically planned to orientate the participant to practice safely in their new working environment. The therapeutic relationship in general practice differs from that of the acute healthcare setting. Care interventions span all age groups, throughout the life course and across all fields of nursing. The course will afford the participant the opportunity to consolidate his/her prior learning with the knowledge and skills to manage and deliver quality care in a range of issues in the primary care environment, within the realms of wellness and prevention of chronic disease and multi morbidity.

Optimal support and direction will be provided for those who are taking the course while undertaking other significant work and family commitments. The course values peer to peer learning and utilises the experience of those more established GPNs to give practical advice on working in real-life settings, integrating theory and practice, which optimises patient care and practitioner development.

The course shall consist of 12 modules, delivered virtually via zoom, over a 6-week period followed by a face-to-face practical skills day. NMBI Category 1 approval has been received for each module.

There will be a limit of 70 participants per course. All of the module tutors are experienced in working in general practice and will bring a unique insight into the practicalities of working in this exciting environment.

We are very pleased to announce that our hugely successful, Principles of General Practice Nursing Course was shortlisted for a Irish HealthCare Award in 2024.

We received ‘Highly Commended’ at the awards ceremony in Dublin on 4th December 2024.

We are very proud of our course and we work hard to develop the course each year.

We received very positive feedback from the judges:

”This educational initiative for nurses in general practice is highly practical and comprehensive, providing valuable upskilling opportunities in daily topics. Its cost-effectiveness at €16,000 per intake reflects excellent value for the extensive training offered.”

Course Fees

IGPNEA Members –         €300

Non Members –         €400

Book Here:

March/April 2025 Intake:

Course Dates: 

Week 1: Tuesday 4th March 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 1: Thursday 6th March 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 2: Tuesday 11th March 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 2: Thursday 13th March 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 3: Tuesday 18th March 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 3: Thursday 20th March 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 4: Tuesday 25th March 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 4: Thursday 27th March 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 5: Tuesday 1st April 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 5: Thursday 3rd April 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 6: Tuesday 8th April 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Week 6: Thursday 10th April 2025, 2.30pm-5.30pm

Skills Day: Saturday 12th April 2025 9am-3.30pm

New: Recordings Included

Online access to the recording of each session for 4 weeks after each session (these would be available approximately 24/48 hours after the module).
This will allow you to look back, make more notes, or view any missed modules.
Please note you must attend the Sexual Health Module and the Skills Day in person, in order to receive your final course certificate. We would recommend attending module one and the immunisation modules live, if possible, as these are very interactive with a great opportunity to ask questions.
Downloadable GP Letter to Support Attendance of Principles Course

Course Modules

The exact order of the modules will be confirmed in the coming weeks once the speakers availability is confirmed.

The subjects covered are:

  • Scope of Practice, Professional Development, The General Practice Setting
  • Asthma
  • Obesity, Inflammatory conditions, End of Life Care
  • Immunisation – Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme (PCIP)
  • Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Disease Management
  • Wound Care, Dermatology  
  • Sexual Health
  • COPD, Smoking Cessation
  • Women’s Health
  • Men’s Health, Adult Immunisation, Cancer Referral Pathways
  • Mental Health Presentations, LGBTI
  • Diabetes
  • Skills Day:  Blood pressure, ECG, Respiratory, Immunisation, Dressings, Protocols

Week One

Order of each week subject to change. As soon as the speakers availability is confirmed each module date will be set.

Module One

Scope of Practice, Professional Development, The General Practice Setting

  • Therapeutic relationships in general practice, different from acute care setting
  • Spans all age groups, throughout the life course, across all fields of nursing
  • Contract / indemnity
  • NMBI – division on register / minimum RGN
  • PPPGs – over-arching work in general practice setting
  • PCRS – the business end of general practice
  • Social media policy / HR issues
  • Slaintecare
  • IGPNEA membership
  • Phlebotomy and sample requirements, request forms
  • What we can’t undertake if no GP on site

Module Two

Asthma

  • Definition and diagnosis / pathophysiology
  • Treatment guidelines – GINA
  • Under 6’s and adults
  • Inhalers and techniques
  • Acute exacerbations
  • Chronic disease management (CDM Programme)

Week Two

Module Three

Obesity

  • Definition and pathophysiology
  • Starting the conversation
  • Stigma
  • Behavioural interventions
  • Pharmacotherapy

Inflammatory conditions

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Arteritis
  • Definitions and pathophysiology
  • Treatments and monitoring

 End of Life Care

  • Enhance quality of life and wherever possible to positively influence the course of illness

Module Four

Immunisation -Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme (PCIP)

  • PCIP – Seasonal vaccines / occupational health vaccines/ travel vaccines
  • National Coldchain ordering process and out of date returns
  • Consent issues – parents/guardians/foster family
  • Immunisation administration – medication interactions / schedules / catch up
  • Maintaining immunisation records / completing data returns
  • Fridge – temp monitoring / coldchain breach / storage issues

Week Three

Module Five

Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Disease Management

  • Hypertension – measurement / treatments / prevention
  • B/P monitoring – mercury/ aneroid/ digital/ ambulatory advantages and disadvantages
  • Atrial fibrillation / Heart Failure /Angina / CVA / CVD/ MI / Atherosclerosis
  • ECG – devices / technique
  • Chronic disease management – CDM / OCF / Preventative programme

Module Six

Wound care

  • Types of wounds – bites (animal and human)/ burns / lacerations / skin tears / traumatic
  • Assessment – immediate care / early interventions / Tetanus booster??
  • Dressings – different types and when to use
  • Wound healing – stages / processes
  • Infections – recognition / treatment
  • Sterilisation of reusable instruments v single use instruments HIQA guidelines

Dermatology

  • Skin conditions – eczema / acne / psoriasis / genital
  • Assessment and Treatments
  • Allergic reactions

Week Four

Module Seven

Sexual health

  • History taking
  • Men and women affected
  • Fertility
  • Contraception – methods /contraindications / emergency
  • Free contraception scheme
  • Crisis pregnancy – referral pathway
  • STI’s – identification / screening tests /blood borne v contact lesions

Module Eight

COPD

  • Definition and diagnosis / pathophysiology/ Spirometry
  • Treatment guidelines – GOLD
  • Inhalers and technique
  • Chronic disease management (CDM Programme)
  • Pulmonary HUB referral pathway

Smoking Cessation

  • Motivational interviewing / MECC
  • Support services
  • Smoking cessation aids

Week Five

Module Nine

Women’s Health

  • National screening programmes – cervical / breast / bowel
  • Vaginal ring pessary – changes
  • Menstrual issues – premenstrual disorders / menorrhagia / amenorrhoea
  • Menopause – HRT / breast cancer / Osteoporosis
  • Endometriosis / Pelvic inflammatory disease /Polycystic ovary disease
  • Fertility – Contraception* / Preconceptual care / antenatal care / postnatal care
  • Vaginal discharge – abnormal / physiological
  • Infections / Incontinence / Vaginal organ prolapse
  • Vulval problems

Module Ten

Men’s Health

  • Cancer referral pathways -bowel /breast / prostate
  • Urinary infections
  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Testosterone deficiency
  • Testicular pain / cancer / promoting self-examination
  • Midlife crisis and depression
  • Toxic masculinity
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Sleep apnoea
  • Alcohol

Cancer Referral Pathways

  • Lung
  • Skin – colorectal – radon
  • Head and Neck
  • Ovarian / uterine / cervical / breast

Adult Immunisation 

Week Six

Module Eleven

Mental Health Presentations and LGBTI

  • Chronic conditions and mental health
  • Discussing mental health issues with patients – language / stigma
  • Anxiety / depression / stress
  • Perinatal mental health
  • Eating disorders / body dysmorphia
  • Gender dysphoria
  • LGBTIQ+
  • Suicide awareness / gatekeeper training
  • Compassion fatigue / practitioner burnout

Module Twelve

Diabetes

  • Definition and pathophysiology
  • Prevention – exercise / weight management / healthy eating / alcohol
  • Diagnosis – impaired fasting glucose / impaired glucose tolerance / GTT / HbA1c
  • Treatment options – lifestyle modifications / pharmacotherapy
  • Monitoring – glucometers (or not) / footcare and footwear
  • Diabetic foot exam – chiropodist / podiatrist
  • Retinal screening programme – referral and follow up
  • Chronic disease management (CDM Programme)
  • Diabetes HUB referral pathway
  • Long term illness (LTI) card

Skills Day

Skills day:

Station 1 – Blood pressure – monitoring devices

Station 2 – ECG – lead placement

Station 3 – Respiratory – spirometry – inhaler technique – sample devices

Station 4 – Immunisation – administration technique – demo doll – fridge temp recording

Station 5 – Dressings – available on stock order form – samples

Station 6 – Protocols (sample PPPGs)- stock ordering (pink form) – vaccine returns

Terms and Conditions

  • Attend all modules to achieve Course Completion Certificate
  • Certificate of attendance for each module attended
  • If module is missed, may attend module on next course
  • Satisfactory internet connection
  • Course delivered through zoom platform
  • Screen recording is not allowed
  • All course content is copyrighted to the IGPNEA/Module Presenter
  • NMBI Cat 1 approval for each module – course total = 36 CEUs