Addressing staffing shortages: benefits and challenges of employing newly registered nurses in general practice settings
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Addressing staffing shortages: benefits and challenges of employing newly registered nurses in general practice settings

Sarah Butler Lecturer and programme director, PGCert Clinical Practice, University of Hull, Hull, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To enhance your awareness of the complexity of achieving a sustainable workforce in general practice

  • To consider different solutions that can be implemented to address the shortfall in general practice nurses

  • To better understand why general practices need to employ a mix of experienced and novice nurses

The NHS is facing a critical shortage of general practice nurses (GPNs), which is projected to worsen significantly by 2030, threatening the sustainability of primary care services. Contributing factors include rising appointment volumes and patient registrations, alongside high stress levels and fewer benefits for GPNs compared with secondary care nurses. This article discusses various solutions to address this shortfall. Employing newly registered nurses (NRNs) in general practices offers several advantages, such as the opportunity to shape and develop new talent. However, it also presents significant challenges, including the additional strain on existing staff, who have to provide NRNs with extensive support and preceptorship. Integrating NRNs into the workforce is essential for long-term sustainability, but it is crucial that the immediate need for experienced nurses who can provide high-level care without extensive oversight is also addressed.

Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2025.e1856

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@SarahLouButler1

Correspondence

s.l.butler@hull.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Butler S (2025) Addressing staffing shortages: benefits and challenges of employing newly registered nurses in general practice settings. Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2025.e1856

Published online: 08 January 2025

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