Case studies

'...there is no job out there I would rather do. District Nursing is definitely my calling."

I lead a team of nurses and healthcare assistants in the community, providing care to patients in their own homes. My patients are mainly housebound and unable to visit a GP surgery or clinic, so I provide whatever care they would get from these places at their own home. The nursing caseload is very complex due to the variation and speciality of the procedures and care we provide.

Since our caseload involves the housebound, these patients usually have complicated health problems and often difficult living circumstances; my role is to ensure the patient is safe to be at home, and ensure that they get care specifically tailored to their nursing requirements This is a highly challenging part of the role, and entails the full support of myself and wider team.

I usually work on my own, visiting patients in the mornings, discussing patients during team handovers in the afternoons and catching up with admin tasks; team management, making referrals etc, before embarking on more home visits later in the afternoon I am always busy,  but enjoy the challenge the job brings. I am also responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of our staff and implementing the policies and guidelines set by the Trust.

What you love about your job?

I am very proud to be in a position where I can make an immediate and positive difference to people’s health and their quality of life. In the past, many of the patients I see would have been unable to live unsupported at home, and have  ended up  being admitted to  hospital or a care establishment,  when they would have  preferred to stay at home. My role helps support people to stay in their own home and provide the health support and education to enable them to do this.

I am very proud to work for the NHS and see the difference our service makes to some of our most vulnerable patients on a daily basis. Despite the challenges it brings, there is no job out there I would rather do. District Nursing is definitely my calling.

Proudest moment so far?

It would have to be the positive feedback from patients and their relatives after looking after them through end of life care. I have been lucky enough to have mentions in The Chronicle from families following the death of their loved one,  as well as receiving kind letters and cards from relatives pleased with the care and skills I have provided. It was also a very proud moment when I graduated in 2014 as a Specialist Practitioner.

Any tips for finding a job that you love?

Be brave and give it your all to get where you want to be. Sometimes you just have to believe in yourself no matter what anyone else says and make it happen through your own doing.

Tell us about any travel and / or unusual aspects of the job

Our role is very unpredictable at times; we meet patients of a wide range of characters and backgrounds. I remember once being called out  urgently to visit a lady, presuming this was a health problem, only to find she wanted me to save a bird that fell from its nest after she had accidentally knocked down from a tree in the garden. Must have missed that class in University. We never quite know what you are walking into sometimes! Most people would not believe me if I was to tell them some of the situations I come across on a daily basis.

What are your usual working hours?

I usually work between the hours of 08:30 to 5pm Mondays to Fridays, working one weekend in every four. District Nursing is a 24 hour service covering every day of the year. I specifically work for the day service but occasionally work as extra on the evening shift.

What training is needed for your job?

I completed my 3 years pre-registration training in 2006-2009, undertook a Mentorship qualification in 2011 and became a Community Nurse Prescriber in 2013. To become a District Charge Nurse and lead a team, I undertook a specialist BSc to become a District Nursing Specialist Practitioner in 2013.