Training needs of community nurses in the assessment and management of urinary continence

The wide-ranging and demanding role of community nurses is widely recognised. They need to be able to assess and manage a multitude of medical symptoms, general health issues and social factors. As a result, it is essential to have an expansive knowledge base as a starting point. However, the challenge of working in the community, often alone, also means needing a high level of expertise to tackle some challenging and demanding situations. It is essential to recognise this when exploring the training needs of community-based clinicians, as training needs assessment, and any subsequent plans to support the findings must ensure that the training provided meets these needs. When considering the training needs of community nurses in relation to bladder issues, it is useful to begin by reflecting on the range of bladder conditions. Urinary incontinence is a very common symptom and is, therefore, likely to be seen by community nurses on a regular basis. This article discussess some key points and commonly held beliefs that may be worth questioning.