Resources for Students and Newly Qualified Nurses

Below are diverse resources which will be useful to students and newly qualified nurses. These include documents, project reports and practice guidance.

You can browse through our resources page as well, by key areas of work or search by keyword or phrase.

Nursing in the Community Film

Nursing in the Community was a short film released in 2020, made in partnership with the QNI, Health Education England (HEE) and creative agency Mother. It shows the significant contribution of all nurses who work in community settings, delivering complex care to patients at all stages of the life course and features several Queen’s Nurses.

It was shortlisted in the augural Health for All Film Festival by the World Health Organization (WHO) and received a special mention from the judges. Elizabeth Iro, Chief Nursing Officer at the WHO praised the film, saying that it gave recognition to the vital work being carried out by community nurses in the world today. She said the special mention was due to the film being, “very well produced and scripted, with powerful images and narrative between nurses and patients… very emotional but well blended to highlight why community nursing is such an exciting career option.”

The film also features student nurses.

Transition to working in the Community and Primary Care

Our Transition series are made up of several resources to support nurses who are new to community and primary care settings. There are currently five in the series:

• Transition to Care Home Nursing
• Transition to District Nursing
• Transition to General Practice Nursing
• Transition to School Nursing
• Transition to Homeless Health Nursing

Myth Busters about Community Nursing

Myth Buster #1: You need acute,surgical or medical experience on a ward before coming out in the community

Myth Buster #2: You need more qualifications as a General Practice Nurse

Myth Buster #3: District nurses tend to be older or approaching the end of their careers

Myth Buster #4: There are no men in nursing

Myth Buster #5: School nurses mostly give out plasters and cough mixture

Myth Buster #6: Health visitors just weigh babies

Myth Buster #7: District nursing is too easy or boring

A Day in the Life of…

‘A Day in the Life of’ is a series written by experienced community nurses for student nurses to show what working in the community is like.

General Practice Nurses

A Day in the life of a General Practice Nurse – Lorraine Clarke

A Day in the life of a General Practice Nurse – Joanne Cotton

Occupational Health Nurses

A Day in the life of an Occupational Health Nurse – Tracie Mckelvie

A Day in the life of an Occupational Health Nurse – Su Chantry

District Nurses

A Day in the life of a Specialist Practitioner Qualification Student, District Nurse Sharon Clark

A Day in the life of a Student Specialist Practitioner District Nurse – Jodie Atkins

A Day in the life of a District Nurse Team Manager – Gail Goddard

A Day in the life of a District Nurse – Claire Bergfeld

Inclusion Health Nurses

A Day in the life of a Nurse Practitioner, Health Inclusion Team – Serina Aboim

Community Palliative Care Nurses

A Day in the life of a Community Palliative Care Nurse – Claire Hellier

Community Matron

A Day in the life of a Matron Specialist Community Services – Kim Grimmer

More to follow.

Pathways for becoming a nurse working in the community

District Nurse pathway

General Practice Nurse pathway

Community Children’s Nurse pathway

More to follow.

Homeless and Inclusion Health Programme

The QNI supports community nurses to achieve outstanding levels of care for people experiencing homelessness. With the right support to tackle entrenched medical, personal and social problems, its is possible for people experiencing homelessness to secure positive health – a foundation for rebuilding more secure and stable lives.

Click here to read more about the QNI’s Homeless and Inclusion Health Programme, or click here to find out more about getting started in Inclusion Health.