Nursing in the community

Summary

This transcript shares the experiences of community nurses, highlighting their passion for providing holistic care that goes beyond just medical tasks. Nurses explain how their work allows them to spend more time with patients, support them emotionally, and help keep them at home rather than in hospitals. They emphasize the wide range of skills involved, including advanced nursing techniques and compassionate communication. The nurses reflect on the rewarding nature of their work, its challenges, and the strong bonds they form with their patients, encouraging others to consider community nursing as a fulfilling career.

Takeaways

• 😊 The speaker became a community nurse to spend more time with patients and provide holistic care, valuing autonomy and personalized care planning.
• 🏥 Community nurses provide care for patients of all ages, from 18 to end-of-life, adapting to unpredictable days and situations.
• 💉 The role involves a variety of nursing skills, including injections, intravenous drugs, and advanced assessments, breaking the misconception that community nurses only perform basic care.
• ❤️ Emotional support is a key part of community nursing, particularly for end-of-life patients, where nurses provide both medical and psychological care.
• 👐 The speaker takes pride in forming personal connections with patients, often becoming a friend and confidante, which positively impacts patient well-being.
• 📦 Holistic care extends beyond physical health, with nurses considering patients' living conditions, mental health, and even helping create memory boxes for families.
• 🚶 Community nursing offers flexibility and autonomy, allowing nurses to manage their own schedules and provide patient-focused care.
• 🎯 Communication skills are essential in community nursing, as understanding patient needs often goes beyond the medical aspect to include emotional and psychological support.
• 👩‍⚕️ The speaker appreciates the continuous learning opportunities in community nursing, having developed more skills than during hospital work.
• 🌟 The speaker finds immense fulfillment in their work, stating that community nursing is not only rewarding but essential for keeping patients out of the hospital and providing comprehensive care.

Q & A

Why did the speaker choose to become a community nurse?

The speaker wanted to spend more time with patients, plan their day flexibly, and make a difference in patients' lives by ensuring those who want to stay at home can do so.

What range of patients does the community nurse care for?

The community nurse sees patients from ages 18 to the elderly, providing care for any nursing needs, from physical health to emotional support.

How does the speaker feel about the unpredictable nature of community nursing?

The speaker enjoys the unpredictability, as they appreciate the challenge of not knowing exactly how their day will unfold and finding satisfaction in helping patients, even in uncomfortable situations.

What holistic approach does the speaker take in community nursing?

The speaker looks beyond just medical tasks, considering where the patient is sleeping, their diet, mobility, spiritual support, and overall well-being when delivering care.

How does the speaker describe their relationship with long-term patients?

The speaker describes their relationship with long-term patients as friendly, sometimes playful, and built on mutual respect and care.

What groups does the community nursing service reach out to beyond the general population?

The community nursing service supports vulnerable groups like the homeless, sex workers, asylum seekers, gypsies, and travelers, ensuring they receive care and assistance, especially when admitted to hospitals.

What did the speaker’s colleague encourage them to do, and how did it change their career?

The speaker's colleague encouraged them to pursue nurse training despite their initial doubts. This led them to complete their training and begin a fulfilling career in community nursing.

What are some of the emotional challenges the speaker faces as a community nurse?

The speaker finds it emotionally tough to care for patients nearing the end of life, but they balance these difficult moments with lighter activities like exercise classes, making the work more varied.

What is the common misconception about the skills used in community nursing compared to hospital nursing?

There is a misconception that community nurses do not use advanced nursing skills. However, the speaker explains that community nurses use a wide range of skills, including advanced assessment, prescribing, and specialized care for long-term conditions.

What personal story does the speaker share about a patient's memory box?

The speaker recounts a conversation with a patient who wanted to create a memory box for her 13-year-old son. The patient reminded the speaker that the memory box is also about receiving memories from others, not just giving.