Community nursing Resources

Psychological safety aims to reduce patient-related harm by creating high performing teams, which are open and transparent, functioning in the absence of retribution. Models for delivering nursing care, along with matrices designed to monitor their impact, can negatively affect the adoption of psychological safety in practice. Strategies have been designed at national level to ensure the adoption of psychological safety, while, at a local level, individual organisations can implement processes to improve psychological safety from floor to board.

It is an unfortunate fact of nursing life that much like below-inflation pay rises and other people’s bodily functions, occasional incidents of abuse come with the job.

A recent report from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) shed light on the issue with some shocking statistics showing that incidents of abuse and violence against staff in A&E departments had doubled since 2019, with nurses being punched, spat on and even threatened with guns and acid attacks (‘Nurses too scared to even go into work — as violence against A+E staff almost doubles in five years’ — www.rcn. org.uk)

Here, Amanda Young, director of nursing programmes (innovation and policy), Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing, looks at the opportunities that a career in community nursing can offer, from specialist practice qualifications to master’s degrees. She also emphasises the importance of ensuring that student nurses can undertake community-based placements to support them in becoming the community nurses of the future.

As the healthcare landscape in the UK increasingly shifts towards community-based care, attracting newly qualified nurses to these roles is essential for sustaining and enhancing services. This article explores strategies to engage student nurses in community careers at the point of registration, drawing on the experiences of two recently qualified nurses who have chosen to begin their careers in community nursing. Their insights, combined with available evidence, highlight key factors influencing career decisions, including mentorship, exposure during training, and awareness of the benefits associated with community nursing. The article offers practical recommendations for nurses and educators to inspire and support the next generation, emphasising the importance of pre-registration placements, role modelling, and structured postgraduate support. Additionally, it examines ways to ensure that newly qualified community nurses feel equipped in their roles, fostering retention and long-term commitment to this important area of healthcare.

This article explores the development of mental health first aid (MHFA) training and how the principles of first aid can be applied with a person experiencing mental health distress. MHFA was designed to reduce mental health stigma and improve the public’s awareness, but is suitable for nurses to complete to enhance their first aid response to both physical and mental health situations. This article seeks to encourage nurses to undertake MHFA training.

This article explores the multifaceted landscape of mental health inequalities and proposes a comprehensive approach for community nurses to address these disparities. Drawing on
legislative measures, healthcare delivery reforms, and community engagement initiatives, the article emphasises the pivotal role of nurses in advocating for equitable access to mental health services and promoting inclusive care practices. Key considerations include the impact of social determinants of health, the need for collaborative multidisciplinary approaches, and the importance of addressing systemic factors perpetuating inequality within the healthcare system.

As the UK population ages and greater numbers of people are living with long-term conditions (Office for National Statistics [ONS], 2014), increasing numbers of people are subsequently at risk of developing pressure ulcers (PUs). PUs are painful, costly and can negatively affect patient quality of life. They are particularly prevalent in the community setting, leading to high-costs in treatments, especially in those suffering from a chronic condition (Jaul et al, 2018). The prevention of PUs is therefore a key global care quality indicator, which is the focus of considerable quality improvements in primary care. Identifying a patient at risk of developing PUs is an action that should be undertaken at the first community visit. Nursing care to prevent PUs needs to be systematically planned, implemented and evaluated, following assessment of the patient and their
circumstances. As demonstrated by Clarkson et al (2019), integrating an interprofessional approach can reduce the severity of PUs in the community. There are a wide range of resources required to help prevent PUs, including nursing time, ensuring effective patient repositioning and risk assessment, as well as delivering the most appropriate pressure-relieving surfaces (Dealey et al, 2012).

In November last year, the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) joined the International Council of Nurses (ICN). The ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nurses’ associations representing more than 27 million nurses worldwide. Based in Geneva, it has a powerful role as an advocate of the nursing profession on the world stage and works closely with the World Health Organization and other international bodies. Since the QNI announcement, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has also joined the ICN after a gap of several years.

The National Community Nursing Plan 2021–2026 is coming. If you have not heard about this exciting opportunity to use your voice as a highly skilled nurse working in the community, you should get involved.

The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) has recently launched a new project to support recruitment of internationally trained registered nurses to community service providers in England, in line with the the overall national strategy to fill nursing vacancies and secure a sustainable workforce (www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/We-Are-The-NHS-Action-For-All-Of- Us-FINAL-March-21.pdf).
This work is supported by NHS England and Improvement and dovetails with the work they are undertaking to support six pilot sites around the country with their international recruitment to the community efforts (www.england.nhs.uk/nursingmidwifery/international-recruitment/). The QNI project is not limited to the pilot sites and may be of relevance to any organisation that employs registered nurses in the community. 
While the QNI does not employ nurses in a clinical capacity and is not in a position to support individual nurses who are applying from overseas, we hope that the information and learning from this project will make the process of coming to work in England smoother for employers, managers and overseas applicants alike.