Background: The growing burden of chronic conditions and an ageing population has prompted an increased focus on health care services delivered in the community. General practice nurses (GPNs) have an important role in community-based care and significantly contribute to positive health outcomes. The increasing complexity of health care needs have amplified the demands for nurses in general practice. However, the GPN workforce is ageing with many GPNs approaching retirement. To ensure the GPN workforce has sufficient nurses to meet these demands it is important to understand how nurses new to practice perceive the role. To date, little is known about how undergraduate nursing students are prepared to work in this setting or their perceptions of general practice nursing as a career. Aim: This thesis explores final-year undergraduate nursing students’ perceptions of general practice nursing, and preparedness to work in general practice following graduation. Methods: This sequential exp
Aim: To explore final year nursing students' perceptions of the general practice environment and their priorities when choosing a workplace. Design: Online survey, reported following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Methods: The validated Profession Scale from the Scale on Community Care Perceptions (SCOPE) tool was used to identify characteristics within the general practice environment and the importance of these in choosing a workplace. To explore the factor structure, exploratory factor analysis was undertaken which was used to revise the survey language and flow before widespread dissemination. Results: Three hundred and fifty-five responses were received. Factor analysis revealed three factors: Provision of care, Employment conditions and Nature of work. Respondents exposed to general practice in the Bachelor of Nursing program or who had a general practice clinical placement had significantly different perceptions