A Career in District Nursing: Everything you Need to Know

District nurses are an essential pillar of the community; providing at-home care to patients who are unable to get to their local doctor's surgery or hospital. Working with patients of all ages, from children to adults, district nurses are a vital part of the NHS; responsible for assessing their patient’s healthcare needs, monitoring the quality of care that patients are receiving, and directly delivering that care.  

Nurses are usually part of a larger team made up of community matrons, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and health visitors. So, if you’re a final-year undergraduate about to finish your nursing degree or are already working in the NHS and are looking for career progression, then look no further than a PgDip Community Specialist Practice (District Nursing) master’s degree. It is a rewarding gateway into an industry where you will be a valuable member of the NHS working in the heart of your community; making a difference. 

But first, let’s explore everything you need to know about becoming a qualified district nurse... 

The Future of District Nursing is Bright! 

It’s fair to say that 2023 is a great time to enhance your career prospects.With around 19,000 district nurses currently working in the UK, the sector is set for a significant workforce gap as staff supply continues to struggle to match patient demand. Additionally, it is expected that by 2030, there will be a shortage of around 61,000 full-time equivalent nurses in England alone. If you’re wondering why this is, ultimately it comes down to an ageing workforce an increase in the number of people needing healthcare services. This means that the need for more district nurses in the future is only getting higher; making this a great career path to follow if you’re a caring individual who wants to not only make a positive difference but also values job security. 

How to Become a District Nurse 

Without beating around the bush, the best way to become a qualified UK district nurse is to gain an approved degree. Upon graduation, you will then need to register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). Once you have registered with the NMC, you will be able to begin your career as a newly qualified nurse. However, it should be noted that district nursing is a very popular career choice among new graduates, so competition for jobs can be fierce. As such, many new graduates choose to undertake postgraduate study in order to gain an advantage over other candidates. From here, it's just a matter of keeping your NMC registration up-to-date every three years and completing any required continuing professional development hours. So, if you're passionate about providing high-quality nursing care to patients in their own homes or communities, then a career as a district nurse may be for you.   

Why a Postgraduate Nursing Degree at Bolton is the Right Choice  

A great way to stand out when pursuing a career in nursing is to gain registration with the NMC. At the University of Bolton, our nursing courses are approved by the NMC so you can be sure that by studying here, you are receiving a degree that is going to be valued in the industry. 

By taking our PgDip Community Specialist Practice (District Nursing) course, you will focus on learning the co-ordination and provision of holistic approaches to healthcare; offering you the chance to positively influence the delivery of patient care in the community, as well as developing your own development needs.   

Let’s look at some more of the key course highlights: 

- In addition to the NMC, our course is developed in line with the NMC’s Standards of Specialist Education and the Queen’s Nursing Institute  

- We work in partnership with Health Education England and local NHS Trusts  

- Our passionate lecturers are equipped with many years of NH experience in a variety of settings 

- Students have access to excellent, industry-spec study spaces that help facilitate their learning, including our state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Suites that are situated inside our £31 million facility  

Want to enhance your nursing career prospects with help from the teaching-intensive, research-informed approach from the University of Bolton? Take a look at our full course details by clicking here.   
 
For more information, please email us at enquiries@bolton.ac.uk or call on 01204 903807; please remember we are here to help.