Why choose district nursing: a district nurses’ perspective

District nurses provide complex care to patients in their home and residential care homes.

Roisin joined the Guild in 2019 with 25 years’ experience in nursing homes. With her wealth of knowledge, in November 2021, we asked Roisin if she would join our community team as a district nurse. We caught up with Roisin to hear about her journey and experience so far.  

“I was delighted when I was asked to become a district nurse as I had most of the skills required: palliative care, pressure ulcers, wound care, diabetic care, phlebotomy, peg feeds and many others. I am also given the opportunity to update my training and learn new skills when training becomes available.

Patients are often discharged from hospitals with a multitude of health needs, which requires nursing input. You mainly work alone and often make decisions using your own nursing knowledge and skills.

We start at 9am, get our calls and then work out in which order they need to be completed. As an agency nurse, you meet different staff and team members with every new placement. The team is welcoming and helpful, no matter how often I ask questions (especially on the computer) and I have felt part of the team in district nursing from the beginning.

There’s a daily briefing around 11am where we discuss any issues. It’s a good time to discuss concerns with the team and get advice. It is also a good time to ask for help or offer help to others if needed. Sometimes you can complete your calls without issue and have time available; other times, you may get held up on your calls and need help, so you may have to re-prioritise your calls. It’s real teamwork and we all pull together to get the job done.

I get great job satisfaction working in the community. I feel in control of my workload. Unlike in a hospital setting, I don’t have to go to lunch at a set time, and I can work around my patients and what works best on that day. I may work by myself most of the time, but I am never alone; there is always someone at the end of the phone if I need help or advice.

So, if you like meeting new people, planning your daily work, learning new skills and feeling confident in your nursing abilities, community and/or district nursing will give you the opportunity and job satisfaction to carry this out.”

Do you have the skill set to work in the community as a district nurse? Contact your local duty desk team to discuss opportunities.

If you’re thinking about joining the Guild why not check out our amazing benefits package here. From the best pay rates around, to paid NMC and NMBI fees, you don’t want to miss out!

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