District Nurse

Also known as:

Community Nurse
Nurse, District

Introduction

District nurses work with patients in the home and in the community. Patients may be people recently discharged from hospital, elderly, terminally ill or long term sick. They provide nursing care, health education and advice. They take specialist training after qualifying as a nurse.

Back to Top

Work Activities

District nurses assess, plan and evaluate health care for patients in the community. Patients may be people who have been recently discharged from hospital, or people who are house-bound, elderly, terminally ill or long-term sick.

As well as providing treatment and practical nursing care, district nurses advise patients and their families on health care and the prevention of illness. They are also involved in health education programmes.

The work of district nurses is similar to that of hospital based nurses, except it usually takes place in people's homes. The nurse will discuss any needs or problems with the patient and family, change dressings, help with medication, complete progress reports and so on. They probably have a lot more lifting to do than hospital nurses because there may not be anyone around to help if the patient needs moving.

District nurses are responsible for patients within a geographical area or those on a general practitioner's practice list. They work closely with other professionals such as general practitioners, health visitors, school nurses and social workers.

Back to Top

Personal Qualities and Skills

District nurses need to be able to take the initiative, adopt a responsible approach to decision making, and be flexible enough to devise the most appropriate health care plan for each individual.

Tact, patience, sympathy, adaptability and good communication skills are essential. District nurses work closely with other health professionals, so you must be prepared to work as part of a team.

Back to Top

Pay and Opportunities

National Health Service (NHS) employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities.

On the NHS Agenda for Change, pay scales, district nurses are on the Band 6 scale. From April 1, 2008 this has been £24,103 - £32,653 a year. District nurse team leaders are on Band 7: £29,091 - £38,352 a year.

District nurses work a basic 37.5-hour week, which may include day, evening and weekend work. Some district nurses may be required to work shifts and be on call.

Most district or community nurses work for the NHS. There are current moves to amalgamate the jobs of public health nurse, district nurse, family health nurse and school nurse. The new job, combining the functions of all four professions, will be called General Community Health Nurse. This change will take place in the first instance in spring 2008 within four regions: Lothian, Tayside, Borders and Highland.

There are opportunities to work in other countries, especially in developing countries. (Some countries require additional qualifications).

Back to Top

Adult Opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. To start training as a nurse, you must be aged at least 17 in Scotland (17 and a half in England) on the day the course starts. You must be at least 16 before you can apply for the course.

If you don't have the qualifications that are usually needed to enter a degree or DipHE in nursing course, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course, eg, Access to Nursing. You don't usually need any formal qualifications to start an Access course, but you should check individual course details.

Other possible routes into nursing training can be a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 3 in a relevant subject, modular course credits from the Open University and Return to Practice courses.

Shortened or accelerated training courses are available for some graduates. For example, you can take a two-year nursing diploma if you have a degree in a relevant subject area, such as life sciences, social sciences or in health-related topics.

Students on a pre-registration nursing or midwifery DipHE or degree course are eligible for a bursary.

Other sources of funding include local health authority trust funds and charities.

The Royal College of Nursing also administers a number of post-registration scholarships and awards for experienced and qualified nurses.

The Government is keen to welcome qualified and experienced people back into the NHS.

If you have not practised for five years and want to return to the NHS, you will need to join a Return to Practice programme (approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council). The courses refresh clinical skills and include classroom sessions to discuss theory.

Return to Practice courses are part time and last two years. Funding may be available through the Scottish Government.

• 33% of nurses work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 2% of employees work on a temporary basis.

Back to Top