Community Nursing Stories

My nursing career began in 1956, the journey continuing until 2008 encompassing a wide range of settings, specialities and experiences. From General Nursing (SRN), Residential Children's Nursery Nursing, Occupational Health, Adult Residential Care Home, District Nursing, Specialist Nursing, Lecturer in Nursing in the UK nationally and internationally including those countries in the former Eastern Bloc. Each stage of the journey necessitates the acquisition of additional knowledge and skills to fulfil the mandatory criteria of the differing role personal competency, and satisfaction. This rich tapestry of experience has been like working through the chapters of a book, as each chapter closes another new one has opened. There have been obstacles along the way, but these have provided challenges which on achievement have given life satisfaction. The family have accompanied, adapted and travelled along this journey, the children each involved in differing aspects of nursing opportunities.

An evocative memoir that paints a rich historical picture of life as a district nurse in a close-nit rural community setting in the mid-1970s and 80s. The author presents a fascinating set of memoirs that capture the essence of a district nurse at this time.Presenting the challenges of coping with a young family to live and work as an outsider within a community, winning trust, and respect, whilst adapting to the challenges of working in a rural community, before days of central heating, mobile or in some circumstances house phones. The memoirs present a series of heart-warming, encounters, portraying a picture of a committed nurse, becoming a community champion and visionary pioneer in the development of much needed community services.The stories of engagement with all-age community members present a strong historical context of the nursing role. In some ways very different to current nursing practice, reflecting the evolution of nursing and development of nursing, medical and technological knowledge to underpin the principles of knowledgeable, empowered, and informed practice.