Every day, community nurses perform a wide range of critical work with patients in the community. Because they frequently work alone or in small groups, it’s easy to overlook how important their role is. Let’s explore more who they are, and what they do in this new blog.
What is community nursing?
JP Medicals fosters community nursing excellence in order to improve the health and well-being of the people of the UK. This brings us to the question of what exactly we mean by community nursing.
Community nursing is any nursing care done outside of an acute hospital setting. This includes healthcare administered at home as well as in other venues, such as General Practice, a community hospital, a police station’s custody room, a school, or a care home.
Community nurses operate independently to care for a patient’s holistic requirements, respond to the needs of vulnerable adults, and maintain continuity of treatment after a referral from acute care, rehabilitation units, general practitioners, and other organisations.
Abilities the community nurses need to possess
In addition to managing a difficult workload and schedule, community nurses frequently treat patients with a wide range of illnesses or disabilities. Therefore, in addition to the fundamental abilities needed for any nursing position, being a community nurse also requires you to be well-organized, independent, and adaptive. Good communication and problem-solving abilities are also necessary.
As a community nurse, you will be put to do several of the following activities.
Pay home visits
You will visit patients in their homes as a “guest in the patient’s house.” In the locations where you work, you will see varying levels of deprivation and prosperity. Homes are not designed to give nursing care, so the difficulty is to adapt and provide this care securely and with the same level of cleanliness as in a hospital setting. Note that the administration and management of drugs differ in the community environment.
Physical abilities
To see your patients, you must be comfortable traveling. You may have to walk a long distance from one patient’s home to another.
The usage of a car is especially relevant for community nurses working in outer London districts because public transportation is less frequent and there are longer distances between patient sites to be visited.
You must be aware that you will be required to transport the equipment required to treat your patients. There are adequate backpacks or wheelie bags available.
Working alone
As a community nurse, you will be working alone, with no direct supervision. Each trust will have a lone worker policy that details the practices and procedures that you and your management must follow in order to stay safe.
Despite the fact that you will be working alone, you will have access to phone numbers for help and support throughout your shift. Personal safety alarms and other personal safety equipment are provided.
Deal with diverse groups of patients
The majority of the patients you will see will have chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions like COPD, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as renal urological conditions, muscular-skeletal conditions, care requirements for dementia, and cancer.
Some individuals may require additional care for their mental health issues or learning disabilities in addition to their physical health needs. The provision of “end-of-life care” at home and related support are other important areas of care.
Essential clinical skills community nurses should have
You will require a variety of essential abilities to perform your job as a community nurse.
- Infusion therapy
- Nutritional assistance
- Nursing evaluation and care coordination
- Assessment of wounds and leg ulcers
- Palliative nursing
- Physiological studies
- Diagnostic procedures
- Pharmacy management
- Managing the bowels and bladder
Role of the community nursing
Nurses that work in the community will typically:
- Evaluate patients and make plans for their ongoing care.
- Execute clinical nursing procedures
- Collect urine and blood samples, provide medication, bandage wounds, and set up drips
- Manage registered and non-registered employees, as well as those under training.
- Support patients’ and their families’ emotional needs.
To be eligible for community nursing work, you must have one to two years of experience as a qualified Adult Nurse, as well as a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) accredited degree. It will also be advantageous to have earned, or be working toward, qualifications in management and leadership.
How much does a community nurse make?
A community nurse’s income ranges from £26,041 to £34,876, with team managers earning up to £41,000 per year. Some community nurses must be available after hours and work evening and weekend shifts.
If a full-time position does not suit your needs, a locum community nurse position may be a better fit for you.
What are the advantages of working as a community nurse?
Any nursing position could be satisfying. A community nursing position, though, can seem especially meaningful. You’ll frequently be helping people stay in their own homes and maintain their independence.
The attention and assistance you give them will also have a real-world impact that you can observe. You’ll be able to advance your knowledge and experience because you’ll be dealing with a variety of situations. Interacting with other health and social care professionals can help you learn a lot and give you new perspectives.
The wider NHS and social care services benefit from funding for community nursing.
What chances are there in community nursing for personal growth?
You will be urged to advance your knowledge and abilities through ongoing professional development, as is the case with all nursing positions (CPD). Additionally, there are chances for job advancement. You could, for instance, work as a team leader, a sister, or a matron in the community, while some community nurses opt to work as healthcare managers or in clinical academic research.
How do you enter the field of community nursing?
You may submit an application to complete a specialist practitioner program in community nursing if you are a fully qualified and HCPC-registered adult, child, mental health, or learning disability nurse. Typically, training lasts between one and two years, and it includes community service.
Locum Community nurse positions - Contact JP Medicals
Although working in a permanent position may be the better option, you may discover that a locum position can provide you with a more diversified and valuable experience. As a result, it is critical to analyse the benefits and downsides of both solutions.
At JP Medicals, we have written a variety of blogs about the beginning and navigating of your nursing career. Browse our jobs to find your next position as a community nurse.