What does community nursing involve?
Community nursing brings nursing care into everyday settings, including your home. Depending on your needs, a nurse may assess care requirements, deliver clinical care, monitor changes and help develop or review a care plan.
The details should be specific to you. Ask who will assess your needs, which tasks require a nurse and how your wider care team will be involved.
What is high-intensity daily support?
Some disability supports involve complex tasks that require additional skills and person-specific training. The NDIS Commission sets out skill expectations for high-intensity daily personal activities.
A trained support worker may carry out agreed tasks within their role and the person’s care plan. That does not make the worker a nurse. The right staffing depends on the activity, the individual’s needs, professional responsibilities and the care arrangements.
What should 24/7 nursing availability mean for your plan?
KIRAYA has nursing care available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When discussing your care, ask how that availability would translate into your own visits, overnight arrangements and contact process.
An availability statement alone does not describe an individual roster. Make sure your plan explains who is present, who can be contacted and what happens when needs change.
Questions for a care-planning meeting
- Which tasks need a nurse, and which will a trained support worker provide?
- Who checks that workers have the skills needed for my care?
- Who reviews the care plan and after what changes?
- How will my preferences and consent be recorded?
- Who do I contact about a change in my condition or a missed visit?
- How are handovers managed between day and night support?
Where the health system fits
The NDIS and the health system have different responsibilities. Diagnosis, treatment of illness and acute medical care are generally health-system responsibilities; some ongoing disability-related health supports may be NDIS supports. Speak with your treating team and my NDIS contact about your circumstances.
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Leave with a clear care map
- A named role for each care task.
- An agreed schedule and contact process.
- A plan for handovers and changes.
- Clarity about who reviews your clinical needs.