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What Does A District Nurse Do?

A district nurse cares for patients in their homes or other non-hospital settings. Most patients are elderly, have just come from the hospital, or are suffering from physical disabilities or terminal illness. As a district nurse, you'll be responsible for assessing, planning, and managing all aspects of their care, especially:

• Wound and catheter care
• Taking vitals
• Administering medicines
• Treating specialized illnesses such as diabetes

You'll also provide education and referrals and help patients acquire welfare benefits and disability aids. District nursing enables patients to avoid hospital stays, improve their independence, and get emotional support. District nurses may also be known as community health nurses or public health nurses.

Education and Training Required to Become a District Nurse

District nurses need a four-year bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) and must then pass a licensure exam. If you're a nurse who wants to change to district nursing, you can choose the RN to BSN degree or the LPN to BSN degree.

There are accelerated (12-18 month) degree programs available if you already have a bachelor's degree in a separate field but want to switch to district nursing. Online degree programs are ideal for RNs or LPNs wanting to earn the BSN credential because you can work at a more accelerated pace or make time for your existing job.

Typical Characteristics of a District Nurse

To be a district nurse, you should possess:

• Compassion
• An eye for detail
• Responsibility
• Reliability

You must be able to work independently, assess patients' conditions, and decide when further consultation is needed. Good physical health is required for constant standing, bending, and lifting. Lastly, you should be comfortable with the emotional aspects of dealing with patients in pain, emergencies, and stress.

High Demand for District Nurses

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment for nurses working in home health care services should be excellent, rising by 33 percent between 2008 and 2018. This is due to more elderly patients with functional disabilities desiring care at home, new technology allowing complicated treatments to occur outside of hospitals, and a desire to reduce the cost of health care. The median annual salary for registered nurses in home health care services was $58,740 in 2008.