This morning I am starting my placement in the community; working with district nurses in local rural villages.  I am really looking forward to it, and it makes me realize that I have actually been a bit disappointed with some of my previous placements.  Like any good nursing student, I have reflected on this surge of renewed enthusiasm, and this is what my introspection has revealed; I have a horror of ‘doctor’s handmaid’ nursing, and it appears that despite the modernisation of the nursing profession, there is still a fair bit of it going on.  I feel that evidence based nursing has the potential to help guide the occupation away from this approach to become an independent, and mature profession.  What excites me about district nursing is the long tradition of autonomy and independence in decision making.  Perhaps I will miss the buzz of a busy ward, but I am relishing dealing with one patient at a time, seeing them in their true environment, and getting to know them as people.  No doubt the reality will not turn out as I hope, but for the moment allow me to enjoy feeling positive, and to savour getting away from the interminable assignments, and get my suitably gloved and decontaminated hands dirty doing the real job of caring for people.