Community/District Nurses

[abeanbaked]

Hoping I can get a helping hand here. I am hoping to go into community nursing when I return from maternity leave next summer. I currently work in acute and have 4 years experience in a couple of medical specialities. I have a couple of years experience in community as a student but not since being registered and the jobs are always in such high demand. Are there any district nurses here that can give me an idea of the kind of questions I may be asked at interview? What is currently going on in community nursing in the way of policy and change? I'm hoping to start looking soon and I will go back early if the right job comes up (not until my DS is atleast 9 months though). I hope they don't overlook me as a mum who now wants an 'easier' life in community as I don't think it is easier, I just have a strong desire to do it! I loved it as a student and ideally would hope to do my masters in district nursing eventually. Thanks!

OP I am not a community nurse or even a nurse anymore. However I have several friends who are and in our part of the country they are really struggling to recruit. A colleague's partner works in the community and their team currently has 5 vacancies and not one applicant at the last recruitment round.

Even when I was newly qualified back in the late 1990s, all those working within the community would be extremely resentful of people seeing the role as 'an easy option' because you are usually working alone and have no idea what you could be walking into. I suspect the complexity of patient needs will have increased over this time and also services are far more stretched. I now work in a profession which has close links to health visiting and school nursing and again there are huge shortages in these areas. I have noticed that all are now employed on comparatively much lower bands and the requirements to move to even band 6 are extensive. You will also still need to work unsociable hours, although maybe not night shifts. My professional role now requires me to work autonomously to manage risk, although still part of a team, and to be honest this suits me far better than ward nursing which I found quite limiting and frustrating. It is not for everyone so consider if this is something you are happy with.

@willstarttomorrow unfortunately that isn't the case in my area. The community roles are sought after and primary care have seen more and more critical care nurses looking to move away from the wards and into the community. The jobs are few and far between here. The care they are providing in the community has changed a hell of a lot in the last few years I can imagine but I have varied experience of palliative care, emergency care etc so I am well qualified for the job - just out of touch with community nursing. I feel trapped in the ward, the job goes nowhere and at a band 5 you're just a number - no forward thinking or change happening atall. It's frustrating. I love the autonomy of community and the relationships you can build with patients.

Hi Op
I'm a district nurse so please ask any questions.
My trust has an internal transfer scheme so that may be an easier route in.
Community nurses are very skilled so not an easy option and you will be lone working. You will have support from your team leaders though. Your experience on an acute ward will be a good start for you.
You will need to make on the spot decisions, onward referrals, speak with GP's etc.
Lots of mums in the community. No nights where I am but the service operates between 8-8 seven days a week. Some work long days some 8-4 or occasional 12-8.
Your should be able to apply for flexible working as a mum but will obviously depend on the needs of the service if it is granted.
You will probably be asked about time management, prioritising patients, how you will deal with a crisis when you meet a patient. Eg. Hypos, falls etc. The job description will give you a good idea of what is expected.
Community may have slightly different policies for treatments but as with the wards these should all be accessible to you on the trust intranet.
I love community and wouldn't work anywhere else. Lots of room for progression and most trusts will offer a secondment to do the district nurse course.

It sounds like you have the transferable skills, hopefully some one working in community nursing will come along and can offer more relevant advice. I applied for a job whilst on maternity leave (I am now a social worker) and although I maybe did not have the experience of other applicants they liked my potential and I got it. It was pretty niche and on paper really interesting although after a few years I moved on to frontline child protection which I love and have stayed in for 15 years and counting. I always thought I would end up in adult mental health. These jobs have so many options and I know if there comes a time to move on I can find another role, but it will need to be as interesting and diverse as this one or I am totally burnt out and counting the days until retirement. I am sure you will get where you want to be in the end if you are committed to the role and know what it entails. Good luck.

Sorry if I gave the impression that I think community nursing is an easier option, that isn't the case atall. I absolutely know that it is equally as or even more challenging than ward nursing. I just remember the team leader telling me as a student that a lot of acute nurses think community is an easy option when it's not the case atall. @FlorencenotRatchet thank you for that. The service where I am work 8-5 then one weekend in ever 3 or 4. I am well used to prioritising and taking charge, dealing with emergencies etc so none of this would be new to me. I've worked a lot with complex needs patients, MDT involvement etc so I know I could be a great community nurse. Which sounds very big headed but I am a good nurse. I don't think I'm good at many things but I do take a lot of pride in my job and how I do it. I just interview terribly

Op
You definitely sound like you have all the skills. Like I said before I would use the job description to guide you for the interview. In our trust there is always a contact name on the job spec so it might be worthwhile calling for an informal chat. That should give you an idea of what they are looking for and you can use
that to help with your interview.
Good luck

Likely to be asked:

Trust based value questions
Safeguarding
Pressure ulcer care/prevention
MDT working
Falls

Thank you all!

Have you considered being a Specialist Public Health Nurse? They are crying out for health visitors.

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou it has crossed my mind but it's not something I am passionate about. I have an interest in long term conditions and palliative care, particularly heart failure and I don't particularly enjoy working with children and parents. Love my own child but anxious mums must be difficult (I am one) 😂

That's fair enough.
I'm currently doing the SCPHN course and some of our lectures are with district nurses.
I only started the course 4 weeks ago so I can't be on any help - best of luck with your interview!

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou good luck with the course, am I right in thinking it is a masters?

[quote abeanbaked]@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou good luck with the course, am I right in thinking it is a masters?[/quote]
Theres the option of the masters but I didn't take it.
A lot of uni's only offer the masters, and next year our uni will as well.

Old time DN here I would say

Research the trust values

Scenarios - there will definitely be "what would you do if" questions

Clinical governance

What can you bring to the role? Ie transferable skills

Good luck, it's a very very busy role but I've been in community for 23 years and it's been ideal for family life.

Thank you all for the help/advice!