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Welcome to the General Practice Nursing (GPN) Framework information page.

General practice nurses (GPNs) are integral and essential core members of the general practice multi-disciplinary team. The GPN Knowledge and Skill Framework describes the knowledge and skills required by GPNs in Scotland. The framework can be used by individuals developing their current and future practice; organisations reviewing or developing their services for their local populations; and educators supporting achievement of knowledge and skills.  The GPN knowledge and skills framework supports the refreshed Transforming Roles Paper 6: The role of the General Practice Nurses (Scottish Government 2025).

GPN Development Framework Overview
GPN Framework image

General Practice Nurse (GPN) Knowledge and Skills Framework

The General Practice Nurse (GPN) Knowledge and Skills Framework focuses on the role of the GPN in Scotland. It is aligned to, and includes, generic content from the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) Development Framework (NHS Education for Scotland 2023).

The GPN framework should be read in conjunction with a refreshed paper titled “Transforming Roles Paper 6: The Role of the General Practice Nurse - 2025 Review and Refresh” (Scottish Government 2025).

The intended outcome and impact of the framework:

  • Describing the knowledge and skills required by GPNs within general practice in Scotland. The framework can be used by individuals developing their current and future practice; organisations reviewing or developing their services for their local populations; and educators supporting achievement of knowledge and skills.   
  • Enabling current and aspiring GPNs to benchmark their existing knowledge and skills and plan their career development at the same level of practice or in promoted positions. 
  • Supporting recruitment and succession planning as general practices can use the framework to help define the knowledge and skills required for current and future services. 
Explore the Framework in Action

To make it easier to visualise and understand the levels, roles and responsibilities described in the framework we have created a series of short, informative videos featuring GPNs.

These videos showcase each level of the framework, offering real life examples of GPN roles and responsibilities, skills, and key education undertaken.

Whether you are in training or looking to advance your career, these videos will provide valuable insights into the role of GPNs at each level of the framework.

Level 5 Practitioner

In this short video Linda McCardy describes her role as a Level 5 GPN.

For more information about Level 5 practice go to p.24 of the framework.

Download Transcript

 

Level 6 Senior/Specialist/Enhanced Practitioner

In these short videos Danielle Rennie and Andrew Brown describe their roles as Level 6 GPNs and their career journeys.

For more information about Level 6 practice go to p.31 of the framework.

Download Transcript
Download Transcript

 

Level 7 Advanced Practitioner

In these short videos Aileen Marsh and Julie Goldie describe their Level 7 GPN roles and their career journeys.

For more information about Level 7 practice go to p. 41 of the framework. 

Download Transcript
Download Transcript
Transforming Roles Links
Learning Needs Analysis (LNA)
Supporting Resources

Here you can find a variety of resources to help you stay informed, support your development and engagement with the GPN Framework

General practice nursing (GPN) | NHS Education for Scotland 

for information about funded university modules

NMAHP Development Framework 

this includes a Development Needs analysis Tool (DNAT)

General Practice Nursing | Scotland Deanery 

for CPD learning resources 

Reflective Template GPN knowledge and skills framework

to help reflect on your current job role and to identify areas where you may benefit from further training, education and development to enhance or develop in your current role and to or to support progress in your career.

Webinar Sessions

Here you will find the presentation and the recordings from the 3 webinars held in February and March. The recordings have been edited into sections so that you can choose to listen to relevant parts as appropriate or choose to access the full webinar.

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