Graduate and Post Graduate Certificate Fundamentals of General Practice Nursing
Incorporating fundamentals of long-term conditions management in primary care
CPD for healthcare professionals
For any queries regarding admissions or enrolments, please contact the Professional Development Unit Admissions team
Email: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 1752 586951
Visit: Professional Development Unit, Floor 9, InterCity Place, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 6AB, United Kingdom.
Opening hours:
Monday–Thursday 8:30–17:00
Friday 8:30–16:30.
Aims
Designed to equip healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and skills to deliver person-centred care, this programme aims to prepare healthcare practitioners who are joining, or have recently joined, general practice with the knowledge, skills and capability to deliver person-centred care across the life course. The programme explores the wider influences and principles of population health, generalist healthcare and integrated partnership working.
Education and training is quality assured and benchmarked against the national general practice nursing capabilities framework, to support individuals to practice safely and effectively within their scope of professional practice.
About
The Fundamentals of General Practice programme is made up of three modules:
Transition into General Practice ,
Embedding in General Practice and
Advancing within General Practice .
Credits
60
FHEQ Level
Level 6 (degree) or Level 7 (Master's)
You will be supported in your academic studies by an experienced GPN programme team. They will also provide comprehensive tutor support, with feedback available throughout the programme.
In your clinical area, your clinical team leader, lead nurse and the wider team will support and consolidate your clinical competencies.
The programme
The programme is undertaken over a nine-month period. It is delivered via blended learning consisting of face-to-face taught days, highly directed study (HDS) and remote sessions to facilitate regional or national speakers.
The programme includes clinical skills training in Immunisation of Children and Adults (aligned to National Standards), CVD monitoring, Learning Disability reviews and an optional Travel Health session.
Each module will include additional flipped classroom activities and e-learning which will form part of preparation for taught sessions and provide evidence to support competences.
The programmes’ assessed learning outcomes (ALOs) are module specific and slightly different, depending on whether you undertake level 6 or level 7 studies
Programme specification (pdf)
Overview of modules
Degree – level 6
By the end of the module, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the theory and practice of partnership working in the context of General Practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of care management and care co-ordination.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the opportunities and challenges of implementing primary and secondary preventative health strategies in General Practice.
- Explore the underpinning principles of risk assessment, risk management and safeguarding in maximising service user safety and harm free care in the General Practice setting or primary care networks.
- Evaluate the role and impact of epidemiology, social determinants and health inequalities on the experiences and wellbeing of service users, families and communities.
Master's – level 7
By the end of the module, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the theory and practice of partnership working in the context of General Practice and identify strategies for change and innovation.
- Demonstrate understanding and critical application of the principles of care management and care co-ordination.
- Critically analyse and evaluate the opportunities and challenges of implementing primary and secondary preventative health strategies in General Practice.
- Critically evaluate the underpinning principles of risk assessment, risk management and safeguarding in maximising service user safety and harm free care in the General Practice setting or primary care networks.
- Evaluate the role and impact of epidemiology, social determinants and health inequalities on the experiences and wellbeing of service users, families and communities.
Degree – level 6
By the end of the module, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the application of evidence-based practice to managing consultations and assessment of patients within General Practice.
- Demonstrate understanding of the principles of personalized care and supporting self-management.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically reflect on their personal, professional and academic learning and development.
- Explore the challenges and differences of providing life course healthcare incorporating a range of specialist areas such as paediatrics, mental health and frailty.
- Demonstrate how their learning and development will enhance service delivery and the quality of life for service users and carers.
Master's – level 7
By the end of the module, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate the application of evidence-based practice to managing consultations and assessment of patients within General Practice and identify strategies for change and innovation.
- Demonstrate understanding and critical application of the principles of personalised care and supported self-management.
- Demonstrate the ability to critically reflect on their personal, professional and academic learning and development and take on leadership within their context of care.
- Critically evaluate the challenges and differences of providing life course healthcare incorporating a range of specialist areas such as paediatrics, mental health and frailty.
- Justify proposed approaches to enhancing service delivery and the quality of life for service users and carers.
Degree – level 6
By the end of the module, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and capability in practice to undertake clinical competencies required to fulfil the role of a general practice nurse.
- Discuss and analyse the developing role of the practice nurse, within the Primary Care Multi-disciplinary team and the interface of general practice with the wider health community.
- Develop and evidence reflective practice recognising its centrality to the provision of quality patient care.
- Access and critically analyse the evidence base used to support current practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles involved in assessment and management of patients living with long term conditions.
Master's – level 7
By the end of the module, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and capability in practice to undertake clinical competencies required to fulfil the role of a general practice nurse.
- Critically analyse and evaluate the developing role of the practice nurse, within the Primary Care Multi-disciplinary team and the interface of general practice with the wider health community.
- Develop and evidence reflective practice recognising its centrality to the provision of quality patient care, innovation and leadership
- Access and critically analyse the quality of evidence base used to support current practice.
- Access, appraise and interpret the principles involved in assessment and management of patients living with long term conditions.
Graduate or Post Graduate Certificate Fundamentals of General Practice
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![General Practice Nursing]()
Equips healthcare practitioners with the knowledge and skills to deliver person-centred care in General Practice.
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![Nursing and midwifery]()
Undertaking continual professional development is a major investment in your future that can significantly enhance the quality of your professional and personal life.
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![A general practice nurse in her practice environment and with her mentor]()
The three modules of Fundamentals of General Practice Nursing follow a structure known as the spiral curriculum (Bruner, 1960) whereby topics are revisited and built upon to deepen knowledge and understanding through the programme.
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![Nurse talking to young child and mother courtesy of Shutterstock]()
Your teaching team will actively encourage you to access the wide range of resources available to you as a postgraduate student to enhance your study.
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![General practice nursing]()
General practice nursing
The Fundamentals of General Practice Nursing programme (PGCert) delivered by the University of Plymouth, greatly enhanced my skills and confidence as a GPN. The support from the lecturers, Sharon, Fiona, and Michelle, as well as encouragement and shared learning from GPN peers, created a supportive environment which strengthened my knowledge, reflection, and clinical practice.
Katie Chalmers
GPN Fundamental Alumni and winner of the Southwest Community and Primary Care Child and Young People Nursing Award 2025.
GPN Fundamental Alumni and winner of the Southwest Community and Primary Care Child and Young People Nursing Award 2025.
Application process
These programmes are not open to international applicants who will require a Student Route (formerly Tier 4) visa to enter the UK.
To apply for either of these programmes please follow the relevant link below.
In addition, applicants will also be required to submit with their application:
- Personal Statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Copy of Degree Certificate or equivalent
- Copy of Evidence of your professional registration (e.g. NMC registration)
Course details and entry requirements
Level: Grad Cert (Degree Level 6) or PgCert (Master’s Level 7)
Duration: Part-time - delivered in 24 days over one year
Duration: Part-time - delivered in 24 days over one year
Delivery method: A blended approach to learning with face-to-face taught days, highly directed online study, remote taught days, and work-based learning
Entry requirements for Graduate Certificate level 6:
For entry to the GCert programme the student would normally already hold a Diploma or an honours / non-honours degree in a health or health related subject.
Those individuals without a degree but with appropriate practice related experience relevant to the programme may be eligible to apply.
- Currently registered with professional body or awaiting PIN if newly qualified.
- Employed within General Practice or appropriate primary care setting.
- Evidence of ability to study at selected academic level.
Entry Requirements for Post Graduate Certificate (Master’s Level 7):
Each PGCert applicant is assessed for their ability to study at Master's level.
Applicants will normally be employed within a General Practice or appropriate primary care setting, and have a first degree, BSc (Hons) at 2.2 or above, or European first cycle equivalent plus a professional qualification in health or social care. Those individuals without a degree but with appropriate practice related experience relevant to the programme may be eligible to apply but will normally be required to submit a short piece of writing as part of the admissions process to assess the potential student’s ability to study at Master's level.
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential, are considered and if suitable, accepted for Recognition of Prior learning, following University regulations and Faculty procedures.
Fees for Grad Cert and PgCert in 2026/27: £1300 per 20 credit module.
Other key facts: Students will remain as part of the workforce and continue to contribute to patient care whilst working towards their qualification.
Programme lead:
Mrs Sharon Evans
Transition module lead:
Mrs Fiona Cook (L7) /
Mrs Michelle Clapham (L6)
Embedding module lead:
Mrs Sharon Evans
Advancing module lead:
Mrs Fiona Cook
Other key facts: Students will remain as part of the workforce and continue to contribute to patient care whilst working towards their qualification.
Programme lead:
Transition module lead:
Embedding module lead:
Advancing module lead:
Offers are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) report.
You can contact the Professional Development Unit with any queries
Prospective student enquiries:
Email: PDUAdmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Phone: +44 1752 586951
Current student enquiries:
Email: pdu@plymouth.ac.uk
Professional Development Unit, Floor 9, InterCity Place, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 6AB
Monday – Thursday 08:30–17:00 and Friday 08:30–16:30