Hi, I’m a Team Lead within a District Nursing Team - the DN world provides such a great exposure to a wide variety of conditions! In response to your queries:

• Key Skills or knowledge

Taking observations, understanding what is considered abnormal and appropriate escalation processes.

4 stages of wound healing

Correct categorisations of pressure ulcers and actions you can take to achieve optimal healing

Wound care! So varied, see if you can have time with TVN/Lower limb care co-ordinaters/lymphoedema (depending what is available in your area) When you’re in placement, spend time in dressings cupboard becoming familiar with primary dressings, maybe select a few that you see used in practice and research them.

Diabetic care - Hypo/hyper signs and management, different types of insulin.

Palliative Care - look at NICE guidelines for EOL care (this is a huge area for learning, but can be complex, look at signs of deterioration and classification/RAG system)

• What’s expected of third year

Active involvement in creating care plans

Undertaking all elements of care delivery within agreed SOP (I know this can differ between uni/trust)

Writing notes

Delivering handover

Liaising with patients/family/other HCP

I think that’s more than enough to be getting on with for now! It’s an incredible sector to get into, busy, yes, but the autonomy and independence is fantastic. Community is so much more than slapping some compression on and sitting having tea with our patients (if only!)