Working as a nurse in a care home for older people is as rewarding as it is challenging. Every day brings new situations and complex decisions, in addition to the ever-present responsibility to provide the highest quality of care. While this work can sometimes feel solitary, it doesn’t have to be.

That was the thinking behind the RCN Scotland Community of Practice (CoP) for Care Home Nurses Working with Older People, a dedicated space where nurses can connect, share experiences and grow together.

We created the CoP with the aim of making every session relevant to the unique clinical and emotional demands of the care home setting. It’s a peer-led community, shaped by feedback from those who attend. The feedback helps to guide the topics and format, ensuring the sessions stay practical and useful for members. 

Every CoP session features two educational presentations delivered by leading voices in older people’s care, covering a wide variety of topics, interests and educational needs. After every meeting, I review feedback and personally connect with potential speakers to make sure each session directly addresses the evolving needs of our group. So far, we have had presentations from experts in cognitive frailty, NMC regulation, oral care for older people, dementia, delirium, and pain assessment tools. The presentations are followed up by a Q&A, usually leading to interesting and constructive discussions among the group. 

After the presentations, we delve into the interactive and collaborative peer clinical supervision part of the community. Attendees receive a complex case study in advance of the meeting and have the opportunity to discuss it in a safe, supportive environment with other nurses who understand the context. During this session, ideas are shared for improving practice and there is real opportunity to learn and develop. 

Aside from the educational benefits, the CoP sessions are certificated for CPD hours, supporting your ongoing professional development and making it easier to meet revalidation requirements.

For me, the most important part of the CoP is its sense of community. The nurses who attend all understand the realities of nursing in a care home setting, and the CoP provides the opportunity to learn from and engage with others in similar roles all around the country. Participants have fedback that even brief conversations in this environment leave them feeling encouraged and less isolated. 

“By communicating with other nurses, I feel more empowered in my role. As nurses working within elderly social care, we need to join together to raise our role profile and celebrate the specialist skills and knowledge we have. Only through collaborative working can we make change." (CoP attendee)

Our next session, which takes place at the end of August, will include presentations on managing those with multiple conditions and those with mental incapacity.

If you are interested in joining the CoP, get in touch with me at Carol.Dale@rcn.org.uk.

Membership is open to registered nurses who are RCN members working in care homes for older people. Not yet a member? You can find out more about joining the RCN here.