College of Health, Wellbeing and Lifesciences; Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield , S10 2BP, UK.
BMC Prim Care. 2023 Oct 21;24(1):216. doi: 10.1186/s12875-023-02165-8.
There is a shortage of general practice nurses worldwide to deal with an ever-increasing workload, and the need to attract new staff into general practice nursing is therefore vital. As part of this, a one-year Vocational Training Scheme (VTS) for new to general practice nurses was developed in 2020 by the South Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce and Training Hub.
The aim of the study was to examine the VTS trainees' views on general practice nursing as a career. A pragmatic, convenience sample of trainees was recruited. Of the 21 trainees, 17 agreed to take part in the study. Data were collected from the trainees using a series of four regular, timed, online focus groups designed to follow the trainees' trajectory on the programme over a 12-month period. The data were analysed using framework analysis.
The timed nature of the focus groups meant that the analysis of the data was linked to the trainees' trajectory over the course of the year. Three themes were generated from the data: 'pathways into general practice'; 'learning to be a GPN'; and 'the future GPN'. In theme one, the trainees talked of the difficulties in accessing general practice as a new graduate, specifically the need for prior experience and how to get it. In the second, the transition to being a general practice nurse was discussed, and the expectation of being able to 'hit the ground running' once in post. The new graduate participants were also concerned over the opportunities for clinical supervision and support in the role after the programme. Finally, the participant s expressed concern over future opportunities for professional development and the prospects for a long-term career in general practice.
To address the worldwide workforce 'crisis' in general practice nursing, sustainable career pathways are needed to encourage new graduate nurses to consider working in general practice. Starting at university, changing the culture and providing the necessary infrastructure to support ongoing professional development in general practice nursing are key to its success.
全球范围内普遍存在全科护士短缺的问题，难以应对日益增加的工作量，因此吸引新员工加入全科护理行业至关重要。为此，南约克郡初级保健劳动力和培训中心于 2020 年为新入职的全科护士开发了为期一年的职业培训计划（VTS）。
本研究旨在调查 VTS 受训者对全科护理职业的看法。采用实用便利抽样法招募受训者。在 21 名受训者中，有 17 名同意参与研究。通过一系列 4 次定期的、定时的在线焦点小组收集受训者的数据，这些小组旨在在 12 个月的时间里跟踪受训者在项目中的轨迹。使用框架分析法对数据进行分析。
焦点小组的定时性质意味着数据分析与受训者在一年课程中的轨迹相关联。从数据中产生了三个主题：“进入全科医学的途径”、“学习成为一名全科护士”和“未来的全科护士”。在第一个主题中，受训者谈到了作为应届毕业生进入全科医学的困难，特别是需要以前的经验以及如何获得经验。在第二个主题中，讨论了向全科护士过渡的问题，并期望一旦入职就能够“立即上手”。应届毕业生还对该角色中临床监督和支持的机会以及在该计划之后的专业发展机会表示担忧。最后，参与者对未来的专业发展机会和在全科医学领域长期职业发展的前景表示担忧。
为了解决全球范围内全科护理劳动力“危机”，需要可持续的职业发展途径来鼓励应届毕业生考虑在全科医学领域工作。从大学开始，改变文化并提供必要的基础设施，以支持全科护理的持续专业发展，是其成功的关键。
