The QNI has restated its commitment to the Specialist Practitioner Qualification for District Nursing (SPQDN).
In a new report, The Value of the District Nurse Specialist Practitioner Qualification, the institute shows evidence from focus groups, literature searches, data analysis and an online survey that the SPQDN shows clear benefits to patient care, professional development and organisational costs. 'This new report sends a very clear signal about the value of the district nursing SPQ,' said QNI chief executive Crystal Oldman. 'It is the very best preparation for a nurse working in the community to deliver holistic care, managing complex caseloads, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and promoting patient comfort and safety. '
The report quotes Alison Leary, professor of healthcare and workforce modelling at London South Bank University, who said: 'District nursing is easily the most complex nursing work I have ever observed.' It notes that the specialism has become more demanding with people living longer, often with several comorbidities, and recommends that more research should be undertaken to demonstrate the worth of the SPQDN.
‘Advances in healthcare technology and the ability to deliver more care in the community mean that today’s district nurse must possess an incredibly broad range of skills, and a very high level of skill and expertise,” said Ms Oldman.