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Care Home Nursing: Changing Perceptions

A new online course has been launched exploring, and challenging opinions about, the role of the care home nurse.

Developed by the University of Dundee and funded by the RCN Foundation, Care Home Nursing: Changing Perceptions is a free course that explores the skills and demands of specialist care home nursing. The course also aims to discuss the myths surrounding care homes and the clinical and ethical decisions nurses need to make on a regular basis.

More information about the course, including topics covered and feedback from users, can be found here. Please note, the course is not currently running.

The development of the course is part of a grants programme run by the RCN Foundation that aims to support and strengthen nursing within a care home setting.

Deepa Korea, RCN Foundation Director, said: “We wanted to highlight the important role that care home nurses play – this is a key role that requires specialist skills and expertise. However we know that opportunities to develop in this role are limited. In 2013, the RCN Foundation committed itself to a programme of activity that supported care home nursing in a number of ways. We are delighted that this course provides a clear picture of the opportunities that exist for nurses wishing to work in this important sector. The nursing team plays a vital role in improving care and outcomes for care home residents, and the course is designed to enable greater understanding of how that role is delivered. We also hope it contributes to changing views about this as the ‘Cinderella’ of the nursing profession.”