Why you should read this article:

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To increase your understanding of the challenges involved in the role of the district nurse

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To gain an insight into nurses’ views of the district nurse specialist practitioner qualification

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To reflect on the importance of post-graduate education in district nursing

This article shares the findings of an explorative service evaluation conducted in England to elicit the views of community nurses regarding the district nurse specialist practitioner qualification (DNSPQ). A sample of 26 participants took part in focus groups and were interviewed about their perceived benefits of the DNSPQ. The main benefits were increased confidence in themselves and their managerial and clinical abilities. Other benefits included the opportunity for reflection, enhanced team management skills, and improved understanding of patient expectations. The evaluation provides some evidence to support the idea that employing highly trained nurses reduces the risk for patients.