Community & District Nursing Association


Who We Are...

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The CDNA is a specialist professional association for primary care practitioners run by primary care practitioners. Our staff all work in community health and this expertise and knowledge ensures your needs will be met by people who understand your situation.

As our membership grows so too does our influence in Government policy. Our National Executive and members have spoken up for the clear advantages that increased community care can bring. We are a union of community nurses for community nurses - together we can make sure that the CDNA makes a real difference.

View the Benefits of the CDNA here






Director, CDNA


Director

I started my nursing career in Belfast in 1978 and after qualifying I took position as a Ward Sister in Dublin.

I started in the community as a school nurse, training at University of Ulster, gaining a Diploma in Community Health specialising in District Nursing. After qualifying I became a District Nursing Sister in Limavady, Strabane. I then moved into project management responsible for managing Skill Mix reforms in Community at Foyle Trust Londonderry.

During this time was elected to represent Northern Ireland on the NEC of CDNA where I represented CDNA on the Central Nursing Advisory Committee (CNAC).

Following a move to Gloucestershire and after 22 years in the NHS I ventured out to the private sector where I worked as a Healthcare Consultant for Intergraph (American satellite navigators) helping develop governmental awareness of Lone Worker Protection.

I next moved into the world of Pharmaceuticals as a Health Care Consultant working for Pfizer where I learnt so much about the NHS.

During my time out of the NHS I continued to be actively involved in CDNA and held the position of Chair until 2001.

I have held the position of Director to CDNA, which I thoroughly enjoy, since January 2003. I am currently meeting many bright, talented and forward thinking nurses which I consider to be more than members of the CDNA but friends of CDNA. I hope to see the CDNA grow from strength to strength as I know we are moving in the right direction.

Chair

I have been a member of the CDNA for well over 25 years and joined when it was still the District Nursing Association.
I started my nursing career as a Health Care Assistant at Ashford Hospital working in the Maternity unit. I then went to work at the Hammersmith Hospital where I undertook my Pupil Nurse training. When I qualified I worked for nearly two years on the Coronary Care unit.

More recently I undertook training to be a Practical Work Teacher, Supervisor of Supervised Placement. After about ten years my current role was developed, it has had many different titles but basically the same role as a clinical manager, providing support and day to day management. Last year the part time post of Lead Nurse for the Adult Protection was made so I now do both roles.

I have found my role within the CDNA of chair and now lead for Elder abuse has been both very interesting and useful. At times both jobs support each other. I have been lucky that ever since I joined the NEC and now as Chair my bosses at work have been supportive and recognise the benefits they get from the opportunities available in my role within the CDNA.

Vice-Chair

I have been a District Nurse for over 18 years and I was recruited to District Nursing Association (DNA) as it was then, while I was doing my certificate training at Keele University.

I became a member as I felt it represented community nurses. The advice and support we still provide today is specialised and personal as our stewards and senior stewards are as you can see on this page practicing District Nurses.

During the time I have been a member of the CDNA I have had the privilege of speaking at the TUC conference and the Women's TUC, I have represented the organisation at several national forums the most recent being the Controlled Drugs Advisory Group. I get most pleasure from helping members to deal with their own issues at grass route level with advice and support.

Locally I am a Senior Staff Side member of our local JNCC and H/R Forum, I was an elected PEC member of my PCT for 3 years and currently work as professional advisor as well as my clinical work. I have worked both full time and part time the latter being on our Out of Hours Service.

Vice-Chair

I have been a member of the CDNA for over 10 years and as well as being a vice-chair of the National Executive Committee I am also Chair of the North and East Hertfordshire Branch of the Association.

I trained at North Middlesex Hospital in 1977 and then spent a short period of time as a staff nurse on a medical ward. However I soon became interested in community nursing and trained as a Community Charge Nurse in 1985. I undertook Practical Work Teacher training in 1988 and have since developed my portfolio in education and nursing. I now lecturer to pre-registration nurses at the University of Hertfordshire and work with community nurses within the surrounding Trusts.

I have also developed my portfolio with the CDNA and represent the association within organisations such as the Centre for the Advancement of Inter-professional Education and on editorial boards such as the Journal for Community Nursing.

I believe that the CDNA is the only specialised organisation representing district nurses. Changes are now being proposed by the Government in respect of Commissioning by Primary Care Trusts. District nurses need an organisation like the CDNA to make sure their views are heard by the decision-makers in respect of this important challenge. I look forward to playing a part in that process.

NEC Member

I came to England thirty three years ago to embark on my nursing career. I initially trained to become an Enrolled Nurse and once qualified I spent a number of years in this role gaining valuable experience in various settings.

In 1985 it became clear that I needed a new challenge so decided to take a post in the community as an enrolled nurse in Bromley Health Authority (as was). Throughout 1987 and 1988 I took the opportunity to undertake the District Enrolled Nurse course. It was also around this time that I first became aware of, and joined, the CDNA.

I have since further progressed my career by completing a first level nurse course and then a course in the promotion and management continence and finally the District Nursing course. I am currently working in the Intermediate Care Team within Bromley Primary Care Trust.


NEC Member

I trained at The Royal Hospital and University College Hospital, and my career started in acute care, however my main focus for development and practice was always nursing the older person.

A variety of posts made that possible, beginning with an Elderly Assessment Unit in an NHS hospital for many years, then progressing through every level of Nursing Home management within the private sector, not only Elderly frail but also people experiencing dementia and the younger physically disabled.

All of these posts were challenging, enabling and required pro-active thought and action. This proved to be a time of tremendous personal and professional growth

Imparting knowledge and expertise has always been a priority and gaining a teaching adult learners certificate allowed me to put this into practice, taking on the co-ordination of training.

Whilst working in the community I gained a BSc in The Health and Social Care for the Older Person, which led on to a post as a Specialist Nurse, jointly funded by the PCT and Social Services. I believe that collaborative working is essential if health care provision is to be accessed across all boundaries and that post certainly tested that theory.

Joining the CDNA was a natural progression as people working in the Community have specific requirements. You need to be assured that when the chips are down the CDNA are right beside you for support and representation.

NEC Member

I have worked as a Health Care Assistant in the NHS for twenty-nine and a half years, the past twenty five in Newham PCT.

I became involved with the CDNA when there were two separate incidents of colleagues experiencing violence from patients and carers. The management at that time had a culture of victim blaming and were very unsupportive. Other unions in the Trust did not offer any help so someone called the CDNA, an officer came to talk to us and told us we needed to set up a branch and to make management take action to stop the violence.

At the end of the meeting I had been elected steward so joined there and then.

The CDNA were not recognised then, so I set about getting recognition, I went to every Joint staff meeting for years not being allowed a talk, which was a very difficult situation to be in. This was about thirteen years ago but from it I was encouraged to stand for NEC membership.

NEC Member

My career began in 1975 in Glasgow, becoming an RGN in 1978 before going onto to do my Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate. I became a Charge Nurse in Elective Orthopaedics in 1981 and spent 3 years in this post before promotion to Nursing Officer on night duty.

I returned to orthopaedics as a Clinical Nurse Manager in 1989. I left the NHS in 1996 to work in private nursing homes before returning to the community as an E grade staff nurse in 1999.

A year later I was successful in gaining a place on the District Nurse course. Since qualification in 2001 I have gained experience as a DN both in Edinburgh and West Lothian.

I became a member of the CDNA in 2001 and was Co-opted onto the NEC in June 2004 after undertaking the Agenda for Change training in January of that year.

NEC Member

I began my nursing career during 1963. I staffed on an Accident Ward, worked in a private hospital for 12 years and I have also worked nights for a couple of years before moving into Community nursing where I have been ever since.

I joined the CDNA 20 years ago and trained as a steward shortly after. I have been a member of the NEC for over 10 years and I have found this to be very rewarding. I worked for the CDNA on a secondment a few years ago where I was able to meet many of our members either in a representation capacity or on recruiting campaigns. One of the highlights of this time was when I appeared in front of the Health Select Committee representing the CDNA on the issues of palliative and terminal care in the community.

The CDNA is the only union representing all community staff and we need to make our voice heard loud and clear.

NEC Member

I have been working in the community for the past 10 years. Most of my time has been spent working in the London borough of Hackney with a brief period whilst taking my specialist practitioner degree in Haringey. I have enjoyed working within these inner city communities and have seen many changes both at a local and a national level.

Within today's political climate it would seem that nurses need to be more vocal in expressing their concerns for equality both from a professional and patient perspective

As a new NEC member I hope to be instrumental in being part of a robust voice, steering effective decisions, which will help shape government strategy regarding the huge changes taking place within our profession.

I believe that we are at a crossroads as a profession, and need a clear focus from amongst ourselves as to how we wish to be regarded This is imperative when we seem to be given roles and duties that are not entirely understood by those wishing to reshape public thinking.

NEC Member

I came into nursing in September 1968 and qualified as a District Nurse in 1969.

Apart from having a few years off to have children during the 1970s, I was a District Nurse right up until my retirement this summer. I now work part time as a practice nurse.

I first joined the CDNA (DNA as was) in 1988 and became a branch secretary and local steward for Waltham Forest very soon after, in 1989. The first success followed in 1990 where we managed to obtain recognition for the DNA in the Waltham Forest area.

Unsurprisingly this lead to me getting involved in a number of other campaigns such as a national call to increase wages by 3% and a number of local ward closure issues. I also became involved with the joint staff consultative group and was the JCC secretary until the PCT division.

My interest in campaigning hasn't stopped following retirement and I am currently involved in a campaign to preserve the status of the qualified nurse. I have also continued my role as a second level steward representing CDNA members nationwide.




   The Benefits of the CDNA

As a CDNA member you will be able to draw upon the following benefits:
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance - your personal cover in the workplace up to £3,000,000
  • Free copy of Primary Nursing Care
  • Free legal advice
  • Individual and Group representation
  • Support in pay negotiations
  • Discounted AA membership - pay less to join Britain's premiere car breakdown recovery service
  • Independent pensions advice
  • Health and safety advice
  • Advice on personal finance
  • CDNA Holiday Club - bargains on holidays at home and abroad
And many, many more...

Read About CDNA's Success in winning cases for our members.


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