References
How did student district nurses feel during the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative study
Abstract
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic placed a huge strain on healthcare services around the world, including community services. Students also faced substantial disturbance to educational programmes. Student district nurses are usually employed members of staff and can be recalled to the workforce, whereas pre-registration students cannot.
Aims:
This paper explores the feelings and experiences of student district nurses during the first UK national lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. An interpretative phenomenological approach was taken.
Method:
A semi structured 1:1 interview and focus group was held via zoom in July 2020. A total of eight student district nurses, who were all registered adult nurses, took part. Data was analysed using the Braun and Clarke model to identify themes.
Results:
The findings related to their experience of being a community adult registered nurse on the frontline, while also being a student district nurse. Three themes were identified from the analysis: anxiety and uncertainty, management of risk and teamwork.
Conclusion:
This study highlights the contribution that community nurses made in the clinical response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It adds to a paucity of literature available from this clinical setting and specifically from the viewpoint of a student district nurse. There is much written on the strains on hospital care, but it should be remembered that district nursing is the service that never shuts its doors because it has reached capacity. This study found that a lack of communication and uncertainty about their future as students contributed to heightened stress and anxiety. Teamwork and camaraderie are a vital aspect of any team and one that can support resilience in times of heightened stress. A lack of face-to-face interaction can lead to team members feeling isolated. Digital technology can be used to reduce this feeling when possible.
Adistrict nurse is a registered nurse who has undertaken a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved programme, to achieve an additional specialist practice qualification in district nursing (SPQDN) (NMC, 2022a). Nurses studying on an SPQDN course will be classed as students and often hold supernumerary status to support their development and learning. This may be full time, part time or as part of an apprenticeship approach (Queens Nursing Institute [QNI], 2023). During 2022/2023, there were 647 students enrolled onto SPQDN courses in the UK (QNI, 2023). The standards of proficiency for this qualification include seven platforms for learning, which encompass being a safe, autonomous practitioner. Nurses will plan and assess care needs using the evidence base, while promoting health and wellbeing, leading and supporting teams, and being proficient in quality improvements (NMC, 2022a). The NHS Long Term Plan (NHS England, 2019) identifies the district nursing service as providing vital nursing care to patients in their own homes, and in other community settings, as an integral part of the future strategy to boost out-of-hospital care.
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