Community Children’s Nurses

OVERVIEW

Community Children’s Nurses (CCN’S) are registered paediatric nurses who provide care to children in a community setting.  The CCN’s work closely with the wider multi-disciplinary team’s in order to provide safe and competent care whilst minimising disruptions to the child and families everyday life.

CCN ROLE IN GRAMPIAN AND MORAY

CCN teams across Scotland differ in the roles they undertake and the care they provide will often vary slightly.  In Grampian and Moray the children’s nursing role is a non-emergent service very similar to that of a district nurse whereby we:

• Provide planned direct nursing care to acutely and chronically ill children in the community thus minimising hospitalisation where appropriate
• Enable and empower parents to look after their child in the most suitable environment with our support
• Provide support alongside colleagues for those who are palliative or at end of life.

WHAT CARE DO WE OFFER IN THE COMMUNITY

• Wound Care
• Injections
• Blood letting (venepuncture, finger/heel pricks, CVL’s)
• Sample Requests (stool, urine, swabs)
• CVL care
• Port Flushing
• IV anti-biotics at home
• Stoma Care
• Enteral care (PEGS, Gastrostomy buttons, NG tubes etc)
• Advanced Bowel Management
• Colonic Transit study support
• Palliative support
• End of life care
• Weight/Height Checks
• Basic observations (Blood pressure, saturations, heart rate, temperature)
• Medication administration
• Patient specific training and education

REFERRAL PROCESS

Referrals are only accepted from health care professionals and patient’s/families cannot self-refer.  The reason for this is because the CCN team cover all medical and surgical specialities and therefore do not have a designated doctor or allied health professional specifically attached to the service.  A doctor or allied health professional is required to request and review samples (bloods, swabs, scans etc), prescribe treatment and medications if necessary and also to escalate nursing concerns to. 

If you feel your child meets the criteria for CCN review then please approach your health visitor, school nurse, GP or hospital team if you fall under their care to request a referral.

HOW TO REFER

Colleagues from within NHS Grampian can find an online referral form on the NHS Grampian intranet. Professionals from outside NHS Grampian wishing to refer a child should contact the team on the number below.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Community Children’s Nursing Team

Lower Ground Floor

Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital

Westburn Road

Aberdeen

AB25 2ZG

Tel:  01224 551829

EMAIL: gram.ccns@nhs.scot

TELEPHONE: 01224 551829 (non emergency answering service picked up regularly and responded to on a priority basis, responses may not always be the same day so please do not leave urgent messages on this machine)