RN’s taking students generally find it a very rewarding experience as it’s:

• Supporting a student’s progression and giving back to the Nursing profession.  
• Invigorating for themselves due to a student’s enthusiasm.  

Whether you have participated in a GP Undergraduate Student Nursing Placement Program before or are new to taking nursing students we encourage you to be involved where your skills, expertise, and invaluable insight into General Practice can be provided to nursing students eager to be exposed to the specialty of General Practice.   

Benefits for Undergraduate Nursing Student

GP Clinical Placements for undergraduate nursing students provide students the opportunity to work in real healthcare settings, under the supervision of qualified Registered Nurse Preceptors. The aim is to give students hands-on experience and exposure to real patient care, allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting and develop essential clinical skills. Clinical placements in general practice are crucial for building competence and confidence in future healthcare practitioners. 

From the Registered Nurse Preceptors

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia guidelines require nursing students to have direct supervision by a Registered Nurse.  The supervision of students can be shared between practice nurses. 

• The RN must have a minimum 12 months clinical experience  
• RN’s must hold current, full, unrestricted registration with AHPRA and advise us should this situation change             
• Students are NOT permitted to undertake their 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 
• In addition, if they are a patient of the GP/Practice and neither is their partner, or any member of their family 
• Placements are on a full-time capacity, with a minimum 38 hours per week and can include public holidays weekend and evening shifts if required
• Block duration varies between 2 to 7 weeks 

New preceptors are required to attend a Preceptor Training Workshop and experienced trainers a minimum once every two years.  These workshop’s are provided at no cost to the RN/Practice.  

• Training hours may contribute to CPD points 
• Supervisor/preceptor hours may contribute to CPD points 
• Supervisors operate under the preceptor model of supervision 
• The RN or RNs are comfortable with hosting the student and can provide the key elements of the placement 
• Preceptors gain immense job satisfaction in supporting future nurses 

The Practice must be accredited against RACGP guidelines. 

Payment Incentives for Hosting Nursing Students

Practices who host nursing students are paid a nominated fee per day per student for each placement day completed. 

The GCPHN Clinical Placements team provide the practice with a prepopulated invoice that is completed by the RN at the end of the placement based upon the days attended by the student. 

This is returned to the GCPHN Clinical Placements team and processed within a 5 to 8 week period with the practice receiving the funds for hosting a student after this time.  

Nursing Student responsibilities during placement

Prior to the commencement of a nursing student undertaking placement the student is required to follow these steps: 

• Complete a GCPHN orientation specific to nursing prior to the commencement of placement 
• Contact the practice they have been allocated to two weeks prior to placement to speak to the Registered Nurse and:  
  • Identify themselves as a nursing student, what University they attend and what cohort they are in 
  • Provide their full name and preferred name 
  • Confirm which RN they have been allocated to 
  • Confirm the dates of their placement and start times 
  • Provide the RN and practice manager or delegate with their contact details

There is a range of potential opportunities for you to become involved in nursing education, and contributions are flexible in relation to individual preferences.  

Types of Nursing Placements 

You can choose to participate in all types of placements from either or both Universities. The placements that are currently available are: 

Year 2 Student Nurse Undergraduates

Griffith University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Southern Cross University and the GCPHN Clinical Placements team warmly extends
this invitation to you and welcomes your participation in the General Practice Nursing Student Placement Program 2025.

Whether you have participated as an RN Preceptor in the program before or are new to hosting undergraduate nursing students, we encourage you to be involved so your skills, expertise, and invaluable insight into General Practice can be shared with undergraduate nursing students eager to be exposed to the specialty of General Practice.

For those that have previously participated, we cannot thank you enough for your continued support!

To be involved in the 2025 program you will need to submit your availability via the following link no later than Friday 1 November, 2024 .

Join the program here

ANSAT Information

Completing the ANSAT via SONIA is a top priority for Preceptors and students, as these discussions play an important role in the students training.  As this gives both the preceptor and student the opportunity to discuss the performance ratings and learning outcomes.

Instructions on how to complete the ANSAT are assessable via your ANSAT practice specific login that will have been provided to you by Griffith School of Nursing and Midwifery or Southern Cross University specific to hosting nursing students with the PHN.   

Scope of Practice 

Please follow the Scope of Practice accessible via SONIA or contact the Clinical Placement Coordinator for clarification or to raise any concerns or questions you may have pertaining to the student.   

GCPHN Clinical Placements Team Support 

The Clinical Placements team at the GCPHN are always here to assist where able in relation to nursing student placements.  Our team can be contacted Monday to Friday.  

To further assist you with hosting students, the clinical placements team provide face to face visits with new and existing practices.  If you would like a us to schedule a visit, please contact our team. 

Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) 

Nursing (griffith.edu.au) 

SCU – Bachelor of Nursing – 2023 

RN preceptors that are new to the program will be required to attend a Preceptor Training Workshop prior to hosting students. Experienced preceptors will need to attend a workshop at least once every two years. 

Some of the benefits of attending a RN Preceptor Workshop are: 

• Supervisor/preceptor hours may contribute to CPD points 
• Supervisors operate under the preceptor model of supervision 
• The RN or RNs are comfortable with hosting the student and can provide the key elements of the placement

Please see below Griffith and Southern Cross Universities RN Preceptor Workshop slides from 2023.

Preceptor Workshop 2023

RN Preceptors Workshop – Learning outcomes and Evaluation Summary

SCU Professional Experience Placements

To find out more about our upcoming RN Preceptor workshops click here.