How has it been working in the community in the city?
I love it. Being in the city there's a lot more patients that you'd probably find in a
county. It's an ageing population so the majority of our patients are elderly who
can't get to a clinic, which is unfortunate but that that's our job.
I love it. My colleagues are amazing, the management team are so
supportive and I love spending time with the patients.
What kind of patients do you have?
We have a variety of patients. I have patients that are quite
self caring but they just need support with say insulin administration. I have
palliative patients, patients that have leg ulcers that can't get to a clinic. We
have quite complex patients that have a variety of needs that have input from
physios and OTs (occupational therapists), myself probably the specialist nurses as well. We do
have some young patients as well that can't get to clinic and have a
variety of patients that are having long-term treatment so chemotherapy as
well - we have a wide range of patients. The reason I joined this job is
because I love doing holistic assessment. So if I go to a new patient I'm not
just considering the hole in the person I'm considering the person as a whole
and so I'll think about their environment, are they safe, do they need any equipment?
I consider the reason that they've been referred to - say it's
a wound - how have they got that wound? I'll be dressing it I need to refer them to
specialist services so there's podiatry we've got tissue viability nurses
there's vascular team, we've got the GPs, and then I've got other things to
consider, so how am I going to treat that patient? What's the most appropriate? I
use my knowledge looking to evidence. I can also talk to colleagues - we've got a complex care
nurse so I can talk to them get more advice, and so I
feel I can make such a difference because I'm using my knowledge, what I
learned as a student, and i'm applying it to that patient and that patient is quite
thankful and you build such a relationship with them and their family
and they're so grateful. I love it. I can go home thinking I have actually
made a difference and I love going to work.
What's
it like when a patient gets better because of things that you'v
There are patients that say if I see a patient three times a
week every week for six months you build a relationship with them and then you
are sad to see them go because you spent that time with them like they know a lot
about you and you know a lot about them and but then you obviously happy for
them that they are healed and you've made that difference that's all down to
you it's nobody else.
What would you say to someone who is considering their
nursing options perhaps that just qualified and they've seen a vacancy
working with the city community nursing teams?
I would definitely take it.
When I was a student I was advised not to go for district nursing. I was told
district nursing is something you do when you get older when you settle down and
have kids because it's more relaxed. It's not like that.
I found that I've learned so much in the past year that I've been here than I
would have learned anywhere else. I've developed so many skills. If I want
to go on an extra course I can and my management team are pushing me to do
continuing professional development, they want me to progress throughout my role.
I love getting up in the morning going to work and I can't
say that about any other job I've ever worked. I definitely would recommend this
to anybody, one hundred per cent.
Thank you very much.