NHS Opportunity: District Nurse

District nurse Current Vacancies

2006-11-27:

District nurses, also known as community nurses, provide nursing care for people of all ages in a variety of non-hospital settings including patients homes, GP surgeries or residential nursing homes.

District nurses are responsible for assessing, planning and managing the care of patients.

Duties include: administering drugs, checking temperatures, blood pressure and respiration rates, assisting doctors with physical examinations, giving injections, cleaning and dressing wounds, and administering blood transfusions and drips.

District nurses manage a caseload of patients, and may progress into management, leading a team of more junior staff or teach nursing students.

They work with other health professionals supporting the family and carers of the patient.

District nurses are normally based at a health centre, as part of a community health care team.

The work can be very physically and emotionally demanding.
There is a steady demand for new district nurses.

There are also opportunities to work in research, education or for a statutory nursing body, developing training or giving careers advice.

There are promotion opportunities available in clinical specialisms, health service management or teaching.

There are opportunities to work abroad, especially in developing countries.

District nurses earn between 27,500 and 32,000 a year.
Nurse consultants can earn up to 51,000. (Permalink)