ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an introduction to the role of the nurse and the health care assistant working in general practice. It identifies the unique position for the roles and outlines the value of skill mix within general practice. General practice nursing is a relatively new branch of nursing that makes a unique contribution to patient care and has a significant part to play in the development of primary care. The primary purpose of nursing is to provide holistic health care for patients, families, carers and communities. The Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct governs the actions of registered nurses. General practice nurses cannot be required to take on a new role or task if they do not consider themselves to be competent without breaching the Code of Professional Conduct and being open to a charge of professional misconduct. An health care assistants usually works with a registered nurse who will assess their competence to undertake a task.
