Getting back in the learning game helped Louise land a new nursing role

A new job developing and promoting the work of nurses who work in GP practices awaits a healthcare professional after she took a University of Northampton ‘skills refresher’ course.

Louise Tarplee, from Lilbourne, Northamptonshire starts working as the Head of Nursing within the General Practice Allliance Primary Care Federation this month, after successfully completing the Return to Professional Practice (RtP) course at University of Northampton.

Return to Professional Practice (RtP) lasts for 16 weeks and lets qualified nurses who have taken a break from treating patients and have let their NMC registration lapse to brush up their nursing know how to return to clinical work.

The course is also designed for nurses or midwives who may require dual registration.

Louise said: “It’s been a long time since I first qualified, so I was a bit worried I wouldn’t be able to write an assignment or meet the set competencies, but the course cohort and lecturers were very supportive.

“It was interesting and really enjoyable getting back into the learning game, but I’m a nurse at heart, so knew I wouldn’t have forgotten all of my skills. You’re always a nurse at heart.

Louise has more than 30 years’ experience in the sector but had worked in managerial roles for the past decade, treating patients less often.

After taking up a post with the Nene Clinical Commissioning Group five years ago, Louise had no clinical contact with patients, so let her registration with professional regulator the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) expire.

Her new role will see Louise working with and developing GP practice nurses, supporting those practices with inspections from health regulator the Care Quality Commission, supporting student nurses during their work placement in GP practices and promoting primary care as a career option worth pursuing.

Louise will also be treating patients for one day a week, meaning she had to take the RtP course to renew her NMC registration.

She also marked a first for the University’s RtP course, launched in February 2016, as Louise was the first primary care practitioner to sign-up.

Louise also encourages nurses who have retired or are on a career break to take up the course, adding: “I’d say to anyone who was considering getting back into practice, go ahead and do it. I felt like something was missing when I let my registration lapse, so my confidence has increased no end since taking the course.

“I wouldn’t have had this wonderful opportunity without studying at the University, so I’m really looking forward to starting a new and exciting role next month.”

More information about the Return to Professional Practice course at University of Northampton.