what is a community nurse?
Community nursing involves providing health care services to the population. As a community nurse, you deal with minority groups and provide services to people who cannot go to the hospital. You provide the services on behalf of the government or non-profit organisations. Your role involves providing nursing care and managing infectious diseases.
As a community nurse, you perform the same procedures as other nurses due to prior experience in nursing. However, unlike other nurses who focus on treatment, you also promote the prevention of infectious diseases and other illnesses. For instance, you help communities practise positive health and wellness techniques. You also initiate programmes to create a safe environment for optimal health.
Your primary role is to educate and advise the public on health issues. You develop programmes that create awareness of threats and conditions affecting their health. You may also be involved in policy development to improve community wellbeing. Whenever there is a disease outbreak, you educate people on ways to stay safe and prevent the spread of infection. You also organise vaccination drives in communities and encourage people to participate.
As a community nurse, you meet with people from diverse backgrounds and demographics. You have to be culturally aware and sensitive to avoid offending people. You also need experience in dealing with adults and children to provide effective care.
Would working in health as a community nurse suit your positive coping skills and cultural awareness? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a community nurse role.
average salary of a community nurse
The median salary of a community nurse according to National Careers is £25,654 per year at entry-level. When you build your skills and work independently, your compensation package increases to £45,838 per year.
Your salary as a community nurse often depends on your experience level and educational qualifications. When you have more years of experience, you are likely to earn a higher salary. Your compensation package also increases due to benefits like medical and life insurance or house and transport allowances.
what factors affect the salary of the community nurse?
As a community nurse, you provide services daily through immunisation programmes and other facilities to improve wellbeing in your community. When joining the profession, you have minimal experience, skills and job expectations. However, as you gain skills and knowledge, your compensation package rises, and you can provide a wider range of services to patients and improve the wellbeing of an entire community.
Your pay will probably rise if you have additional training in areas that develop your role, like mental health courses and rehabilitation programmes. Your educational qualifications usually play a significant role in improving your salary prospects as a community nurse.
types of community nurses
Some of the types of community nurses include:
- school nurse: as a nurse working in school settings, your role is to take care of children and perform regular medical assessments. When there is a disease outbreak, you are responsible for managing symptoms and coordinating vaccination programmes.
- public health nurse: your job is to identify diseases in populations by administering screening tests and tracking infection spread and immunisation. You also educate the general public on wellness programmes that improve their health.
- nursing home nurse: as a community nurse working in care homes, you ensure patients receive the best care and treatment. Your job is to train care staff in developing treatment plans and improving their work performance.
working as a community nurse
Working as a community nurse involves dealing with diverse populations. Your job is to help minority groups benefit from medical programmes regardless of their educational background and financial status.
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community nurse job description
Some of the roles of a community nurse include:
- formulating health initiatives: as a community nurse, you develop community initiatives that improve the health and wellbeing of a population. For instance, you can introduce educational programmes to teach the importance of good nutrition or provide rehabilitation services to people struggling with addiction.
- providing maternity care: as a community nurse, you work with women in the community to promote their wellness. You provide pregnant women with the resources to maintain a healthy pregnancy and avoid harmful substances. You also educate communities about contraception and provide resources like free contraceptives and screening services to improve women's health.
- managing communicable diseases: infectious diseases usually spread faster in poor areas with minimal medical services. As a community nurse, you work with the affected population to curb the spread of the disease by managing quarantine centres and providing reliable information. You offer preventive tips that can limit the spread and encourage people to improve their health and safety practices.
- promoting wellness in schools and government offices: as a community nurse, you ensure schools in your area have reliable information on disease prevention. In case of a disease outbreak, you coordinate treatment programmes and vaccination to minimise the spread.
- refugee care: as a community nurse, you work with refugees seeking asylum and other vulnerable people. Your job is to treat injuries and recommend the best nutrition to improve their wellbeing. Sometimes, you also participate in rehabilitation programmes for refugees.
- participating in community volunteer programmes: if a non-profit organisation has a volunteer programme in your area, you offer support. For instance, you can help charities by distributing food and other items.
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work environment
As a community nurse, you work with non-profit organisations, government agencies and private companies to improve public health. Your work settings differ depending on your role. For instance, when running immunisation drives, you have to visit vaccination centres in communities. You also work in varied work settings depending on the health services you provide. When vaccinating children, you visit schools, while pregnancy and contraception programmes can be done in health centres. Sometimes, you also work in care homes and other health facilities to provide advice on patient care. As a community nurse, you need to wear a uniform and have a tag showing your name and the organisation you work for.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer in the healthcare industry, your colleagues may be registered nurses, dietitians, orthoptist specialist, general practice nurses and nurse practitioners. You also work with mental health nurses and care home managers, as well as other specialists that could include doctors, paediatricians and adult nurses.
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work schedule
The work schedule of a community nurse is flexible, and you can work part-time or full-time. In full-time roles, you work the traditional office hours at a health centre or attend outdoor outreach programmes. While your official work hours end at 6 pm, you may receive a call during emergencies at any time. You also work overtime when there is a vaccination drive or other outreach programme that extends to evenings and weekends. Part-time opportunities are usually available for community nurses working in not-for-profit organisations. Working from home and remote work opportunities are rare since you have to provide in-person services.
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job outlook
Community nurses are usually registered nurses, which means they can specialise in any field like adult care or paediatric nursing. Alternatively, you can become a mental health nurse and provide rehabilitation services. If you are looking for a managerial role, the care home industry gives you better career growth prospects. When you have a few years of experience, you become a deputy care home manager before becoming a care manager.
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advantages of finding a community nurse job through randstad
Finding your community nurse job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a community nurse is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
You can join the profession with the following educational qualifications:
- university course: you need to complete an approved degree in adult nursing or a related field approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You can also join a conversion degree in psychology, social work or any health-related subject. The full-time nursing degree takes three years to complete and requires 2 to 3 A-Levels or a Level 3 diploma.
- apprenticeship: if you work in healthcare, you can do an apprenticeship degree for four years to join the profession. Alternatively, train with the NHS if you are already a registered nurse.
- work experience: before becoming a community nurse, you need to undergo training in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing from the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The training takes two years, and registered nurses are eligible.
skills and competencies
You need the following qualities to become a successful community nurse:
- empathy: as a community nurse, you need to be sensitive and understanding in order to help people in the community. Empathy helps you put yourself in their situation and provide sound advice. You also need the emotional intelligence to respond appropriately to all patients.
- detail-oriented skills: as a community nurse, you need to pay close attention to what you do and advise. Many people rely on the information you provide, and if you make any mistakes, it can be challenging to correct them.
- communication skills: your main job is to educate the community and advise various groups to improve their wellbeing. That requires exceptional verbal communication skills and storytelling ability to ensure people remember the advice you provide.
- active listening skills: when you engage with patients in the community, you need good listening skills. It makes your client feel listened to and appreciated.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a community nurse
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what is the role of a community nurse?
Community nurses are involved in improving the health and wellbeing of a particular population through implementing policy changes. They also introduce various wellness programmes in the community.
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what skills do district nurses need?
As a community nurse, you need exceptional communication and people skills to relate to patients and provide appropriate advice. You also need knowledge of biology and health-related subjects.
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what is the difference between a community nurse and a hospital nurse?
A hospital nurse provides care in a controlled hospital environment only. A district nurse visits people in their homes and provides support to patients outside hospital settings.
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where do community health nurses work?
As a community nurse, you can work in local health centres, non-profit organisations or care homes. Sometimes, you work on mobile immunisation programmes sponsored by the government.
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how do I apply for a community nurse vacancy?
Applying for a community nurse job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
