At LPT there are five main types of specialist nurse roles, each offering rewarding career.
A health visitor, school or district nurse has specialist knowledge and skills within community care, public health (health visitor or school nursing) or care in patients’ home (district nursing). A nurse will lead the care for a specified caseload of patients.
Each role requires completed further study at degree/master level with a NMC recordable qualification.
A health visitor is a type of specialist community public health nurses, (SCPHN). They specialise in working with families with a child aged 0 to five years old, to identify health needs as early as possible and are fundamental in ensuring every child has the best start in life. They also help to improve the health and wellbeing for the child and parents by promoting health and care advice as part of the Healthy Child Programme (0-5).
This in turn helps to reduce health inequalities through proactive support – as well as targeting vulnerable populations with additional care according to their need.
Visits are either carried out at home, at a child health clinic, GP surgery or health centre.
A school nurse is also a SCPHN, who works with school-aged children and young people and their families to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities, as part of the Healthy Child Programme (5-19).
They use their clinical judgement and public health expertise to identify health needs early, determine risk and protective factors, and provide early intervention to prevent issues escalating – often using digital technology. They work all year round in partnership with schools, children’s social care professionals, GPs, health visitors, allied health professionals, and voluntary services to meet the needs of children and young people.
District nurses assess people to see how what nursing care is needed to allow people to remain in their own homes, maintain their independence, or have additional support after discharge from hospital.
Their work involves both follow-up care for recently discharged hospital inpatients and longer-term care for chronically ill patients, who may be referred by many other services, as well as working collaboratively with general practitioners in preventing unnecessary or avoidable hospital admissions.
A district nurse will manage a team of nurses that offer specific treatments, for example: wound care, catheter care. As well as treatment, a district nurse can offer advice and support with health concerns and refer patients and service users to other organisations.
The Practice Assessor is an experienced registered SCPHN for the programme the student is undertaking.
Within LPT this is a SCPHN health visitor or school nurse who holds a recognised postgraduate teaching qualification.
This could be a Practice Development Nurse (PDN) who is a member of the professional leadership team or a health visitor/school nurse
The Practice Supervisor should ideally be a field specific SCPHN.
Within LPT this is any SCPHN health visitor or school nurse following completion of their preceptorship period.
If successful in your application, you will receive meaning clinical and managerial supervision and benefit from clear pathways and opportunities for career development for those who have a desire to progress.
When you start you will receive a full induction and training and will be assigned a buddy to support you into the role.
Newly qualified staff will also have access to a preceptorship programme.
Look at our vacancies and apply today.
