what is a community nurse?

Community nursing involves providing health care services to the population. As a community nurse, you deal with minority groups and provide services to people who cannot go to the hospital. You provide the services on behalf of the government or non-profit organisations. Your role involves providing nursing care and managing infectious diseases.

As a community nurse, you perform the same procedures as other nurses due to prior experience in nursing. However, unlike other nurses who focus on treatment, you also promote the prevention of infectious diseases and other illnesses. For instance, you help communities practise positive health and wellness techniques. You also initiate programmes to create a safe environment for optimal health.

Your primary role is to educate and advise the public on health issues. You develop programmes that create awareness of threats and conditions affecting their health. You may also be involved in policy development to improve community wellbeing. Whenever there is a disease outbreak, you educate people on ways to stay safe and prevent the spread of infection. You also organise vaccination drives in communities and encourage people to participate.

As a community nurse, you meet with people from diverse backgrounds and demographics. You have to be culturally aware and sensitive to avoid offending people. You also need experience in dealing with adults and children to provide effective care.

Would working in health as a community nurse suit your positive coping skills and cultural awareness? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a community nurse role.
 

community nurse jobs
1

average salary of a community nurse

The median salary of a community nurse according to National Careers is £25,654 per year at entry-level. When you build your skills and work independently, your compensation package increases to £45,838 per year.

Your salary as a community nurse often depends on your experience level and educational qualifications. When you have more years of experience, you are likely to earn a higher salary. Your compensation package also increases due to benefits like medical and life insurance or house and transport allowances.

what factors affect the salary of the community nurse?

As a community nurse, you provide services daily through immunisation programmes and other facilities to improve wellbeing in your community. When joining the profession, you have minimal experience, skills and job expectations. However, as you gain skills and knowledge, your compensation package rises, and you can provide a wider range of services to patients and improve the wellbeing of an entire community.

Your pay will probably rise if you have additional training in areas that develop your role, like mental health courses and rehabilitation programmes. Your educational qualifications usually play a significant role in improving your salary prospects as a community nurse.
 

smiling female with backpack, standing outside train
smiling female with backpack, standing outside train
2

types of community nurses

Some of the types of community nurses include:

  • school nurse: as a nurse working in school settings, your role is to take care of children and perform regular medical assessments. When there is a disease outbreak, you are responsible for managing symptoms and coordinating vaccination programmes.
  • public health nurse: your job is to identify diseases in populations by administering screening tests and tracking infection spread and immunisation. You also educate the general public on wellness programmes that improve their health.
  • nursing home nurse: as a community nurse working in care homes, you ensure patients receive the best care and treatment. Your job is to train care staff in developing treatment plans and improving their work performance.

     
3

working as a community nurse

Working as a community nurse involves dealing with diverse populations. Your job is to help minority groups benefit from medical programmes regardless of their educational background and financial status.
 

4

education and skills

You can join the profession with the following educational qualifications:

  • university course: you need to complete an approved degree in adult nursing or a related field approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You can also join a conversion degree in psychology, social work or any health-related subject. The full-time nursing degree takes three years to complete and requires 2 to 3 A-Levels or a Level 3 diploma.
  • apprenticeship: if you work in healthcare, you can do an apprenticeship degree for four years to join the profession. Alternatively, train with the NHS if you are already a registered nurse.
  • work experience: before becoming a community nurse, you need to undergo training in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing from the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The training takes two years, and registered nurses are eligible.

skills and competencies

You need the following qualities to become a successful community nurse:

  • empathy: as a community nurse, you need to be sensitive and understanding in order to help people in the community. Empathy helps you put yourself in their situation and provide sound advice. You also need the emotional intelligence to respond appropriately to all patients.
  • detail-oriented skills: as a community nurse, you need to pay close attention to what you do and advise. Many people rely on the information you provide, and if you make any mistakes, it can be challenging to correct them.
  • communication skills: your main job is to educate the community and advise various groups to improve their wellbeing. That requires exceptional verbal communication skills and storytelling ability to ensure people remember the advice you provide.
  • active listening skills: when you engage with patients in the community, you need good listening skills. It makes your client feel listened to and appreciated.
     
smiling female
smiling female
5

FAQs

FAQs about working as a community nurse

thank you for subscribing to your personalised job alerts.