North Lanarkshire has welcomed 10 new District Nurses dedicated to further strengthening services in the community.
District Nurses play a vital role in supporting people to remain independent and well in their own homes and communities.
They provide a wide range of care, including wound management, long-term condition support, palliative and end-of-life care, and the co-ordination of complex care.
Working closely with GPs, social care, allied health professionals and families, District Nurses help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and enable timely discharge from hospital.
The newly qualified nurses have completed our demanding District Nurse Training Pathway at Glasgow Caledonian University. During that time, they completed specialist modules incorporating the graduate certificate in Professional Studies in Nursing which they combined with clinical practice to qualify for the roles.
Cat Malcolm, one of University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire’s newly graduated District Nurses, was a registered nurse for five years before taking up her new post.
She said: “I want to give people care in their own homes as a lot of our patients tell us they want to be seen at home and not in hospital.
“Playing a part in giving them their wish and keeping them in their communities around their families and friends is important to me as I’m passionate about helping people to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
“It’s a really satisfying job, so it was worth the intense two years of university work along with the board’s internal courses as well. We had a whole range of learning to do, and I feel it’s really equipped me for delivering great care to our patients in their own homes.
“I’m already enjoying being able to combine my skills from my previous role with the degree work to deliver care, advice and promote good health and wellbeing.”
Caroline Martin, Associate Nurse Director, University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, said: “I’m delighted to see the nurses completing their course and gaining their Graduate Certificate. The course they’ve been through is very demanding and they should be very proud that they’re now District Nurses. It shows their passion to continue learning and deliver high quality services to the people of North Lanarkshire.
“The opportunity to build on their existing skills and work with people in the hearts of their own communities is an immensely satisfying experience for our new District Nurses. It’s also a great opportunity for us to grow and develop our nursing teams.
“I’m confident they will have a very positive impact on the person-centred community care we deliver to the people of North Lanarkshire.”
