Health visitor Or District nurse band 6s

[Adiza]

I am an adult qualified nurse since 2015, working in A&E, but on maternity leave at the moment, am due to go back in January but honestly the taught of going back to 12hrs shift is worrying me and have 2 boys, older one is 2

Have been contemplating on wheather to go back to uni and do another year of district nurse or health visitor, really don’t know which to go for.

Just to mention can’t applied health visitor directly, needs to be through nhs job sponsored by local nhs trust

Please any advice or suggestions. Thank u all

The HV training is one hell of an intense year but the job is so much more family friendly. It really doesn't compare to ward work in that respect.

Nordstrom; thank u really appreciate it

I am a health visitor, the course is super hard work, but I am so glad I did it. Couldnt imagine doing anything else now. Is there anyway you could shadow a health visitor to make up your mind?

I think shadowing a DN and HV would be a good idea.
Do you have any community nursing experience? As it would be highly unlikely that you’d be successful at application without it if you are going for a band 6 post.

I would do HV but that's because I intend to do exactly that after I finish maternity leave.

As it would be highly unlikely that you’d be successful at application without it if you are going for a band 6 post.

That's not true at all. At least it isn't in our trust.

DN roles are increasingly administrative and that is a major frustration within the profession at the minute, but agree with pp in that without community experience its unlikely you would get a place (although not unheard of - these DN students have really struggled in my experience) theres also a trend in moving from day teams and night teams to shifts in alot of places so keep that in mind x

Wow really! Certainly would be in my area! All the DN6 posts expect either a good few years of community experience and a willingness to do the DN course or already having it and preferably having independent prescribing as well.

I'm talking from a HV perspective.
Maybe it's different from DN?

Also I'm doing child nursing so perhaps that makes a difference as well.

Yeah must be Ribena tbh I don’t look at HV jobs so don’t know the ins and outs, I prefer my patients at the other end of the age scale 😂

I was a DN for 16 years, did the degree in 2001. I agree with the pp you'll need some community nursing experience to get seconded. Why not try a band 5 staff nurse post to see if you like it? Fwiw I have been in the community for 20 years now and it's suited family life brilliantly.

@faster, even if I do a top up course at uni, is it still unlikely to get the band 6 without community experience

Hi, thought I would mention that at RCN Congress this year it was noted that District Nursing training is ceasing and so DNs in position will be under more pressure than before.
Good luck in your endeavors.

Sorry, just remembered. Have you thought of Occupational Health Nursing? There's a variety of environments to work in. Much less chance of shift work. If you are an RCN member, use them as a resource and check out the OH Nurses group.

There is a shortage of qualified DN's so they may accept you in the course but that is the exception to the rule. Being a DN myself I think you would be putting a massive amount of pressure on yourself doing a very intensive course without prior experience unless you are very adept at autonomous working & decision making, staff management etc already. The role of a good community staff nurse is complex and very different to a ward based nurse and many struggle with this transition. We have had two nurses in my 7 years who have done the course without prior experience both really struggled - one went into the role and without sounding mean just isnt very good (but has improved with experience and support) the other never went into the role as it was just too complex for her. I would suggest trying to get some shadowing or similar as you really don't want to put yourself through all the hard work, cost and stress unless your sure whats suited to you.

I have two colleagues who went into HV and both love it, the only thing for them is many HV services are being moved under social care rather than nhs with considerations on pay and conditions. I think everywhere has the usual strains & politics so discounted that!

Yes community services is more family friendly in terms of routine but honestly, you are just as brain dead by the end of a shift, its hard work physically and mentally. Do your research in your local area. Occy health nursing is a really good shout, as is practice nursing if you get the right practice - much more opportunity for part time roles with development opportunities within core working hours.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

What about being a GP practice nurse?

@SIB09, definitely wouldn’t want to put unnecessarily pressure in myself without having the reward of it and having a regret, will look into occupational health and see 🤙👍. Thank you for giving me your time

@nutellanom, thanks for the suggestion

I work in a mixed community team. The DNs work shift patterns, much like ward staff. It's a recentish change for them and a couple have left as it's difficult to manage around a family.