
A Clinician's Survival Guide to District Nursing
- 1st Edition - October 3, 2024
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Editors: Neesha Oozageer Gunowa, Michelle McBride
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 2 4 8 1 - 5
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 2 5 5 0 - 8
A Clinician’s Survival Guide to District Nursing covers the specialist skills and knowledge nurses need to join the rapidly expanding, increasingly important community nursing w… Read more

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Request a sales quoteA Clinician’s Survival Guide to District Nursing covers the specialist skills and knowledge nurses need to join the rapidly expanding, increasingly important community nursing workforce.
The book is a quick reference guide designed to support autonomous decision making amid the wide range of conditions district nurses are expected to manage, recognising and highlighting the advanced skills of district nurses. It will help the reader understand what it means to work in the community, acquire the fundamental knowledge of clinical skills necessary to ensure best practice, and explore ways of working to ensure optimal care delivery through joined-up health and social services.
Written by specialists in community nursing, this indispensable new book is ideal for students exploring district nursing as a career option, as well as nurses transitioning to a district nursing team role.
The book is a quick reference guide designed to support autonomous decision making amid the wide range of conditions district nurses are expected to manage, recognising and highlighting the advanced skills of district nurses. It will help the reader understand what it means to work in the community, acquire the fundamental knowledge of clinical skills necessary to ensure best practice, and explore ways of working to ensure optimal care delivery through joined-up health and social services.
Written by specialists in community nursing, this indispensable new book is ideal for students exploring district nursing as a career option, as well as nurses transitioning to a district nursing team role.
- Covers important issues including leadership, quality improvement and the integrated care system
- Up-to-date and contemporary - incorporates changes to clinical care and management, including the impact of COVID-19
- Clear, concise and easy to follow
- Bullet points and diagrams make it easy to understand difficult concepts
- Reflective activities reinforce learning
- Case studies highlight best practice
- Complements university programmes focusing on community services
- Title of Book
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Foreword
- PREFACE
- Contributors
- CHAPTER 1. The Role of Community and District Nurses
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 The Role of Community Nurses in Care Homes
- 1.3 History of District Nursing
- 1.4 Policy and District Nursing
- 1.5 Nurse Education in the Community
- 1.6 District Nursing as a Career Choice
- 1.7 Career Transition Into the Community
- 1.8 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 2. Community Nursing and System Working
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Background
- 2.2.1 Collaboration
- 2.2.2 Commissioning
- 2.3 Recent Policy Context
- 2.4 Integrated Care Systems
- 2.5 The Role of the Community Nurse in Commissioning
- 2.6 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 3. Economic Value of Community Nursing
- 3.1 Introduction
- Personal Value
- Technical Value
- Population Value
- 3.2 Demonstrating the Value of Community Nursing
- 3.3 Patient-Reported Outcomes in Community Nursing
- 3.4 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 4. Autonomous Practice and Safe Ways of Working Alone
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Autonomous Practice as a Skill
- 4.3 Autonomy and Critical Thinking Skills
- 4.4 Working Within One’s Sphere of Knowledge
- 4.5 Significant Developments in Nursing Autonomy
- 4.6 Work-Based Pressures
- 4.7 Recognising Safety in the Patient’s Home
- 4.8 Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work
- 4.9 Duty of Care
- 4.10 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 5. Infection Prevention and Control in the Community
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Background
- 5.3 Infection Prevention and Control in District Nursing Practice
- 5.3.1 Standard Precautions
- 5.3.2 Hand Hygiene
- 5.3.3 Personal Protective Equipment
- 5.3.4 Waste Management
- 5.4 Decontamination of Equipment
- 5.4.1 Uniforms
- 5.4.2 Wound Management and Infection
- 5.4.3 Invasive Devices and Procedures
- 5.4.4 Environmental Cleanliness and Hygiene Issues
- 5.5 Keeping Your IPC Practice Up to Date and Evidence Based
- 5.5.1 Staff Education
- 5.5.2 Accessing Resources
- 5.6 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 6. Promoting Equity in Community Nursing
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 International Policy
- 6.3 Definitions of Equity and Equality
- 6.4 Health Outcomes
- 6.5 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 7. Intersecting Pathways: Exploring Population Health, Public Health and Health Promotion
- 7.1 Population Health, Public Health and Health Promotion
- 7.2 Population Health and Community Nursing
- 7.3 Public Health in Community Nursing
- 7.4 Health Promotion in Community Nursing
- 7.5 Behaviour Change in Community Nursing
- 7.6 Making Every Contact Count in Community Nursing
- 7.7 Environmentally Sustainable Care in Community Nursing to Linking Sustainability to Public Health in Community Nursing
- 7.8 Climate Change and Health
- 7.9 Lower Carbon Care
- 7.10 Community Nurses and Environmentally Sustainable Care
- 7.11 Examples in Focus: High-Quality Care in the Community
- 7.12 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 8. Clinical Assessment
- 8.1 Introduction
- 8.2 Background
- 8.3 Holistic Assessment
- 8.4 Initial Impression
- 8.5 Developing a Rapport
- 8.6 Privacy and Dignity
- 8.7 History Taking
- 8.8 Differential Diagnosis
- 8.9 Physical Examination
- 8.10 Appropriate Investigations
- 8.11 Diagnosis and Continuous Assessment
- 8.12 Patient Empowerment
- 8.13 Effective Communication
- 8.14 Mental Capacity
- 8.15 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 9. Long-Term Conditions Management
- 9.1 Introduction
- 9.2 Support Planning for People With LTCs
- 9.3 Self-Care for People With LTCs
- 9.4 Motivational Interviewing
- 9.5 Collaborative Working
- 9.6 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 11. Mental Health in Community Nursing
- 11.1 The Mental Health Impact of Living With a Physical Long-Term Condition
- 11.1.1 Introduction
- 11.1.2 Considerations and Skills for Community Nurses
- 11.1.3 Building Therapeutic Relationships
- 11.1.3.1 Showing Genuineness, Empathy and Listening to the Person
- 11.1.4 Referral to Mental Health Services
- 11.1.5 CONCLUSION
- 11.2 Mental Illness and Concurrent Physical Health Issues
- 11.2.1 Introduction
- 11.2.2 Background and Context
- 11.2.3 Principle Statistics
- 11.2.4 Health Disparities
- 11.2.5 Parity of Esteem
- 11.2.6 Assessment Approaches
- 11.2.7 Make Every Contact Count
- 11.2.8 Trauma-Informed Care Principles
- 11.2.8.1 Be Trauma Informed
- 11.2.9 CONCLUSION
- 11.3 Learning Disabilities: Key Considerations for Community Nurses
- 11.3.1 Introduction
- 11.3.2 Statistics
- 11.3.3 Conceptual Approaches
- 11.3.4 Classification of Learning Disabilities
- 11.3.5 Degree of Learning Disability
- 11.3.6 Health Disparities
- 11.3.7 The Mental Capacity Act
- 11.3.8 Diagnostic Overshadowing
- 11.3.9 CONCLUSION
- CHAPTER 12. Palliative Care by Community Nurses
- 12.1 Introduction
- 12.2 Personal Choices at End of Life
- 12.3 Planning and Supporting End-of-Life Care
- 12.4 Supportive and Palliative Care in Socially Excluded Groups
- 12.4.1 Poverty
- 12.4.1.1 Gypsy, Roma, Travellers
- 12.5 Working in Multidisciplinary Teams
- 12.6 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 13. Caseload Management
- 13.1 Service Planning and Caseload Allocation
- 13.1.1 Introduction
- 13.1.2 Background
- 13.1.3 Caseload Management
- 13.1.4 Caseload Review
- 13.1.5 Complexity of Caseloads
- 13.1.6 Service Planning
- 13.1.7 CONCLUSION
- 13.2 Skill Mix in the Community
- 13.2.1 Introduction
- 13.2.2 Professional Judgement and Skill Mix
- 13.2.3 Barriers to Implementing Skill Mix
- 13.2.4 CONCLUSION
- 13.3 Effective Hospital Discharge Planning Onto Community Caseloads
- 13.3.1 Introduction
- 13.3.2 Hospital Discharge Back to the Community
- 13.3.3 Communication and Information Sharing
- 13.3.4 Hospital Discharges
- 13.3.5 Mental Status/Capacity
- 13.3.6 Immediately Prior to Discharge
- 13.3.7 Barriers to Discharge Planning
- 13.4 Discharge Planning
- 13.4.1 Discharge of Patients from District Nurse Caseload
- 13.4.2 CONCLUSION
- 13.5 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 14. Leadership and Career Progression
- 14.1 Introduction
- 14.2 Definition and Importance of Leadership in Community Nursing
- 14.3 Leadership Theories and Models
- 14.4 Essential Leadership Qualities in Community Nursing
- 14.5 Professional Development and Continuous Learning
- 14.5.1 District Nurse
- 14.5.2 Leadership Courses and Programmes
- 14.5.3 Leadership Roles
- 14.5.4 Clinical Leadership Roles
- 14.5.5 Management Positions
- 14.5.6 Research and Education
- 14.5.7 Professional Networks and Associations
- 14.5.8 Continuous Self-Assessment and Reflection
- 14.5.9 Mentoring
- 14.6 The Role of Social Media and Building a Professional Network
- 14.6.1 Creating A Professional Network Using Social Media
- 14.7 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 15. Quality and Safety in the Community
- 15.1 Patient Safety
- 15.1.1 Introduction
- 15.1.2 Background
- 15.1.3 Safer Culture And Safer Systems
- 15.1.4 The Study Of Human Factors
- 15.1.5 Learning From Excellence
- 15.1.6 Learning From Harm
- 15.1.6.1 The Role of the Community Nurse
- 15.1.7 Risk
- 15.1.7.1 Managing Risk
- 15.1.8 CONCLUSION
- 15.2 Patient Documentation
- 15.2.1 Introduction
- 15.2.2 The Legal Aspect Of Documentation
- 15.2.3 Effective Record Keeping
- 15.2.4 Involving Patients In Record Keeping
- 15.2.5 Information Technology And Barriers To Effective Record Keeping
- 15.2.6 CONCLUSION
- 15.3 Measuring Quality and Patient Outcomes in the Community
- 15.3.1 Introduction
- 15.3.2 Quality Management System
- 15.3.3 Using Data Day To Day
- 15.3.4 Application To Practice
- 15.3.5 The Four Qs: Fundamental Components Of Quality Management
- 15.3.5.1 Quality Planning
- 15.3.5.2 Quality Control
- 15.3.5.3 Quality Assurance
- 15.3.5.4 Quality Improvement
- 15.3.6 CONCLUSION
- 15.4 Medicines Optimisation and Nurse Prescribing in the Community
- 15.4.1 Introduction
- 15.4.2 Medicines Administration In The Community
- 15.4.3 Medication In The Patient's Home
- 15.4.4 Administration Of Medication In The Patient’s Home
- 15.4.5 Medicines Administration Record (Mar) Charts
- 15.4.6 Managing Errors Or Incidents In The Use Of Medicines
- 15.4.7 Storage Of Drugs In The Community
- 15.4.8 Controlled Drugs
- 15.4.8.1 Drug Reactions
- 15.4.9 Disposal Of Medication In The Community
- 15.5 Prescribing in the Community
- 15.5.1 History
- 15.5.2 The Independent Prescriber Course
- The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- The Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
- 15.5.3 Limitations Of Prescribing And The Scope Of Practice
- 15.5.4 CONCLUSION
- CHAPTER 16. Introduction to Digital Health Management
- 16.1 Introduction
- 16.1.1 Engaging Patients Through Digital Tools
- 16.1.2 Electronic Health Records
- 16.1.3 Virtual Wards
- 16.1.4 The National Health Service App
- 16.1.5 Telehealth And Remote Monitoring
- 16.1.6 Patient Online Learning Modules And Educational Resources
- 16.1.7 Digital Coaching And Support Systems
- 16.2 Digital Inclusion and Exclusion
- Enhancing Wound Care Equity With Digital Visual Solutions
- Background
- The Procurement Process
- Implementation and Impact
- Evaluation
- Summary
- 16.3 Challenges of Implementing Digital Healthcare Technologies
- 16.3.1 Inadequate Stakeholder Engagement And User Resistance
- 16.3.2 Insufficient Organisational Readiness And Change Management
- 16.3.3 Interoperability And Data Integration Issues
- 16.3.4 Privacy, Security, And Regulatory Compliance Concerns
- 16.3.5 Disruption To Clinical Workflows And Inefficiencies
- 16.3.6 Insufficient Evaluation And Continuous Improvement
- 16.3.7 Lack Of Leadership And Sustained Commitment
- 16.4 Governance
- 16.5 Cultivating a Mindset of Lifelong Learning and Adaptability
- 16.5.1 National Health Service Digital Academy
- 16.5.2 National Health Service Digital Innovation Hubs
- 16.5.3 Networks And Forums
- 16.5.4 National Digital Shared Decision-Making Council
- 16.5.5 Regional Councils
- 16.5.6 Shuri Network
- 16.5.7 Florence Nightingale Foundation Innovation And Entrepreneurship Subject Expert Group
- 16.5.8 Digital Health Networks Chief Nursing Information Officer Network
- 16.6 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 17. Nursing Research in the Community
- 17.1 Introduction
- 17.2 Funding Streams
- 17.2.1 The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
- 17.2.2 Funding Programmes
- 17.2.3 Investing in Infrastructure
- 17.2.4 Delivering National Research Studies
- 17.2.5 Engaging And Partnering With the Public
- Community Nursing Top 10
- 17.3 Community Nurses and Research
- 17.3.1 Embedded Implementation Research and Coproduction
- 17.3.2 Critically Appraised Topics
- 17.3.3 Training Researchers
- 17.3.4 Applicability to Community Nursing
- 17.3.5 Dissemination of Research
- 17.3.6 Dissemination Plans
- 17.4 Conclusion
- CHAPTER 18. Health and Well-being of District and Community Nurses
- 18.1 Introduction
- 18.2 Community Nursing and Psychological Well-being
- 18.3 Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement Model
- 18.3.1 The Four Key Aspects to the A-Equip Model Explained
- 18.3.1.1 Restorative Clinical Supervision
- 18.3.1.2 Personal Action for Quality Improvement
- 18.3.1.3 Education and Development
- 18.3.1.4 Monitoring Evaluation and Quality Control
- 18.3.2 Role of Professional Nurse Advocates
- 18.4 The Power of Self-compassion
- 18.4.1 Why is Self-Compassion Important For Nurses?
- 18.4.2 Developing the Skills of Self-Compassion and Self-Forgiveness
- 18.4.3 Self-Forgiveness
- Self-Forgiveness Journaling Exercise
- 18.4.4 Taking Things Forward
- 18.5 Practical Support for Your Mental Health and Well-Being
- Exercise
- 18.5.1 Stress Factors
- 18.5.2 Neurodivergence
- 18.5.3 Inclusive Workspace
- 18.6 Conclusion
- Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: October 3, 2024
- Imprint: Elsevier
- No. of pages: 312
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443124815
- eBook ISBN: 9780443125508
NG
Neesha Oozageer Gunowa
Dr Neesha Oozageer Gunowa is the Pathway Lead for Community Nursing at the University of Surrey. She combines this role with that of Community Nurse Fellow at NHS England. During her early clinical years, Neesha was employed as an Associate Matron and District Nurse at a large South London integrated Trust where she provided managerial and clinical professional leadership to Community Nursing Teams.
Affiliations and expertise
Senior Lecturer and Community Pathway Lead, School of Health Sciences, The University of Surrey, Guildford, UKMM
Michelle McBride
Affiliations and expertise
Senior Lecturer, Nurse Education, University of Roehampton, London, UK