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DISTRICT NURSING
Joan M. Goodman, S.R.N., S.C.M., M.T.D., Q N.Cert., Nursing Officer
(Midw ifery and District Nursing)
The existence and availability of the Local Authorities Home Nursing Services are
known to the hospitals and the family doctors as well as the general public and the
service may be called upon for many purposes. A general practitioner from whom the
nurses take their instructions is always in charge of the case. Except where Night
Sitters are provided through the Marie Curie Cancer Service, a night service is not
provided. Some nurses are on duty every evening to do late visits to all patients and
these nurses remain "on call" that night for urgent emergencies.
Staff Recruitment
During 1967, the number of staff employed upon district nursing has remained
constant. The team system of working has been carried a step further by attaching one
or two State Enrolled Nurses and an Auxiliary (Bathing Attendant) to each group of
Nursing Sisters or Male Charge Nurses.
Training
In order to maintain the high standard of efficiency of the service all new Sisters are
expected to take the examination for the National Certificate for District Nursing
and admission to the Queens Institute Roll. This course lasts 4 months for the State
Registered Nurse with a reduction of one month if the candidate holds in addition
the Certificate of the Central Midwives Board.
Seven Nursing Sisters took the Course during the year and all were successful.
As stated above, State Enrolled Nurses are now accepted as part of the district
nursing team, and it became evident that these nurses should be given some inservice
training, to correspond with the district training given to their State Registered
colleagues. As at present the members of this grade are small, a combined scheme of
training was organised with four adjacent boroughs. The Queens Institute of District
Nursing set and mark the examination papers and undertake the practical assessment
of the work. Two nurses sat the examination in 1967, and both were successful.
Two student nurses taking an integrated course at King's College Hospital for
State Registration and the Health Visitors Certificate spent six weeks with the district
nursing service. On completion of this special training, a further period of district
nursing will allow them to sit for the National Certificate.
Post Certificate Courses for Existing Staff
One Assistant Nursing Officer completed the training course for the District Nursing
Certificate, and another a special midwifery refresher course. This enables both of
them to supervise and help in the administration of both services with benefit and
economy in organisation.
Two Non-Resident Post Certificate Courses were arranged by the Queens Institute
of District Nursing and eight sisters attended.
The yearly inservice course of lectures in "Aspects of Mental Health", was again
arranged for all groups of nursing personnel and eight district nursing staff attended.
The London Boroughs Training Committee held two study days at which four
district nurses were allotted places. In addition one district nursing sister attended a
seven-week day release course on "Living with Disability", which followed a two-day
study period. These courses have been all appreciated by the staff.
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