The QNI will launch two new resources to help practice nurses and school nurses support carers at an event in London on 9 March.
The free resources are available to download from the QNI website and will be formally launched at the QNI's Supporting Carers conference on 9 March. The QNI has previously released resources for district nurses to support carers. The resources contain a mixture of case studies and hypothetical scenarios that may arise when working with carers.
Jennie Whitford, Carers Project Manager at the QNI commented, 'These comprehensive new resources represent the knowledge and experience of expert community nurses. They will be useful to any nurse who comes into contact with carers during their practice, as well as student nurses who wish to prepare for this important element of the nursing role.
Subjects covered by the resources include: safeguarding, referral, burden of care, cultural and social context, personal and professional development, boundaries of practice, multi-disciplinary working, and ethical and legal responsibilities.
They also cover topics such as mental health, physical health, learning disabilities and dementia. The school nurse resource also focuses on how to support young carers.
Ms Whitford added: 'By working effectively together, community nurses and carers can help improve the management of conditions for patients, and also ease the burden of care on the carers themselves. These are essential skills for community nurses, who have a vital role to play in supporting the six million carers in the UK.'