Community nurses are passionate, resilient and high-skilled registered nurses who deliver bespoke care to adults and children in the community. They are experts in their field and possess a variety of skills and qualities, which include:
Working as a community nurse, you will need to consistently demonstrate and develop these three core skills and qualities to excel in your nursing career and deliver the best possible care to your clients.
Strong communication skills
Effective communication in community nursing is essential to ensure your clients receive tailored care, their families can build meaningful professional relationships with you, and you work collaboratively with your colleagues. To be a strong communicator, you need to be confident and skilled in all types of communication, which are:
- Verbal communication
- Non-verbal communication
- Active listening
- Social awareness
Verbal communication
When verbally communicating with clients, their families and your colleagues, you need to speak clearly and slowly to ensure those around you can understand you and have time to digest what you’re saying.
Non-verbal communication
In some cases you may be delivering care to individuals who have difficulty speaking or are non-verbal due to conditions which may impact their communication skills. In these circumstances, you need to be patient and sensitive to the individual’s communication difficulties. Some clients may require communication support tools and programmes such as Makaton or use their phone or tablet to type out what they want to say. It’s important to work with the client and their family to support them in using the best communication tools and methods that enable them to have conversations to the best of their ability.
Active listening
As a nurse you’re not only responsible for providing advice and feedback but also actively listening to those around you. Active listening is a vital skill in nursing and one of the most effective methods of understanding your environment, how people are feeling and what may happen next. To learn more about active listening and how and when to use it, take a look at the NHS guide on active listening.
Social awareness
Social awareness in nursing is the ability to observe, understand and determine the emotions of others. As a community nurse, having a high level of social awareness demonstrates that you have good active listening skills and the ability to recognise how each individual in your environment feels.
Ability to be autonomous
Being autonomous is another skill and quality that community nurses need to excel in their careers. In some cases, you may have to work a shift on your own (lone working), which requires you to make autonomous clinical decisions.
Demonstrating autonomy in nursing showcases your ability to confidently manage any incidents that occur without immediately asking for support from your clinical lead.
Exceptional clinical skills
Clinical skills are made up of three areas:
interpersonal skills,
medical skills,
health and safety skills. These three key areas are important for community nurses to obtain and develop throughout their careers to ensure they consistently deliver the best possible care to adults and children in the community.
Interpersonal skills encompass many traits which experienced and passionate nurses display in the care they deliver. By actively listening in your role, demonstrating autonomy, being socially aware of your environment and confidently communicating verbally and non-verbally, you will successfully excel in your nursing career and continue developing your interpersonal skills.
Medical skills
Depending on the care you deliver and how many clients you care for will determine your current medical skillset. Working as a Thornbury Community Services (TCS) nurse, you can expect to carry out a variety of skills and responsibilities in your community nurse role, which may include:
- Monitoring the client’s airways
- Monitoring the client’s breathing
- Administering medication
- Monitoring the client’s general health and wellbeing
- Monitoring stock
- Supporting with physiotherapy and following a prescribed plan
- Conducting safety checks on equipment
- Keeping records
- Managing infection prevention and control
- Consistent communication with clients, family and professionals
- Supporting tissue viability
- Delivering personal care and hygiene
- Moving and handling
- Carrying out elimination management
- Supporting the client with their nutrition
- Supporting the client to meet their social goals and aspirations
Health and safety skills
Having a good understanding and knowledge of health and safety ensures those under your care remain safe and well at all times. It’s important to use the above skills and qualities in your role daily, so you can monitor the client’s emotions, needs and medical state to maintain consistency in their care.
Community nursing jobs with Thornbury Community Services (TCS)
TCS matches skilled registered nurses to fulfilling community-based nursing roles across the UK, helping make a positive difference in people’s lives every day. To join our passionate nursing team, complete the form below or contact our dedicated Resourcing Recruitment Team via phone: 0333 323 3762 or click the button to email them.
Email the team