- sensitivity and understanding
- excellent verbal communication skills
- active listening skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- knowledge of biology
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to understand people’s reactions
- knowledge of psychology
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
You may:
- administer drugs
- check temperature, blood pressure and breathing
- help doctors with physical examinations
- give injections
- clean and dress wounds
- monitor or set up intravenous drips
- provide emotional support and practical advice to patients and their families
- teach basic caring skills where needed
You could work in the community or at a health centre.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and you'll travel often.
With experience you could lead a team of nurses or become a community matron. You could also go into general health service management or become head of community nursing.
You could move into health promotion, research or education. You may also be able to find work overseas, especially in developing countries.
You can get more advice about how to become a district nurse from Health Careers.
