The Benefits of Clinical Placements in General Practice for Nursing Students

Nursing placements in General Practice offer several benefits for nursing students including:

• Enhance practical skills
• Provide exposure to real healthcare settings
• Improved patient interactions 

About Your Placement 

Your placement is organised by the Clinical Placements team at the Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) on behalf of the University you attend and in accordance with your mandatory teaching requirements.   Your placement in General Practice is a mandatory placement and failure to attend will be addressed directly by your respective university.

Your university will advise you of your allocated placement, including the name of the practice and the RN preceptor contact details, usually four weeks prior to placement commencing.

Two weeks prior to the commencement of your placement you will receive an email and SMS reminder from the Clinical Placements team at the GCPHN asking you to complete an orientation which is a mandatory requirement prior to being permitted to commence placement.

Details such as start date, practice address and contact details are placed in SONIA for your reference. 

Nursing students undertaking placement in General Practice must ensure they meet the following criteria:

• Placements are on a full-time capacity (38-40 hours per week) and can include public holidays, weekend and evening shifts.  The full allocation of hours must be met in order to pass the unit.
• Students are NOT permitted to undertake placement with a family member or partner, in a facility where a family member or partner is employed or in a facility where the student is employed .
• Students are NOT permitted to undertake placement if they are a patient of the GP/Practice and neither is their partner, or any member of their family. 

We hope you are looking forward to your upcoming General Practice placement.

In preparation for your placement, you will have received an email from the Clinical Placements Team with a request for you to view an orientation video presentation specific to the university you attend.  

The orientation videos are University specific and can be accessed below should you need to view again: 

Watch on YouTube.

Watch on YouTube.

Once you have watched and actioned all requirements outlined in the video, the following Student Nurse Orientation Checklist form must be completed and can be found here Student Nurse Orientation Checklist.

Upon completion of your nursing placement the GPCHN Clinical Placements team will invite you to participate in a feedback survey about your experience on placement. This feedback is valuable to both the University and the General Practices and supports the continued growth and improvement of the program.

You can also access this Post Placement Feedback Survey at:

Nursing students feedback – Gold Coast Primary Health Network

Feedback from the RN preceptors hosting students and the nursing students completing placement in General Practice is invaluable as it provides insights for improvement, enhances understanding and fosters growth in our nursing placements program.

Below are some testimonials that showcase feedback received from our RNs and nursing students.

Year 2 Undergraduate Nurse: 

Gaining practical skills and applying theoretical knowledge in real world scenarios, building connections with industry professionals and exposure to health industry practice. My RN Preceptor was not only genuinely nice but also incredibly supportive throughout my placement. Their constant encouragement and guidance played a pivotal role in fostering my learning and professional development. They took the time to explain complex concepts, patiently answered my questions, and provide constructive feedback, creating a positive and nurturing environment. Their unwavering support and belief in my abilities boosted my confidence and motivated me to strive for excellence in my role. I am truly grateful for their mentorship and the impact they had on my overall experience.  Thank you for supporting and believing in me! 

Year 3 Undergraduate Nurse: 

Working with lovely staff, building rapport with patients, completing wound cares, and assisting doctors with procedures.  Provided me opportunities to practice my skills and provided constructive feedback when needed. Keep doing what you are doing. 😊