Children's nurse

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.

University

You can do a degree in children's nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council . You might be able to study another area of nursing alongside children's nursing on some degree courses.

You might be able to join the second year of a nursing degree if you already have a degree in:

• a health-related subject
• psychology
• life sciences
• social work

Full-time courses usually take 3 years.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 or 3 A levels, including a science, or a level 3 diploma or access to higher education in health, science or nursing

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You might be able to apply for a Registered Nurse Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, if you work in a healthcare setting like a hospital.

The degree apprenticeship takes around 4 years and is a mix of academic study and on-the-job training.

You'll need the support of your employer to do a degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Volunteering

You might find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in healthcare  before you apply for nurse training. It might also be useful to have experience working with children or young people.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• knowledge of medicine
• knowledge of psychology
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• leadership skills
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• customer service skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• knowledge of English language
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• thinking and reasoning skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to read English
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to learn through your work
• concentration skills
• maths skills
• the ability to work well with your hands

What you'll do:

Children's nurses provide care for children and young people with health problems.

In this role you could:

• work with doctors to assess what a child needs if they are ill, injured or have a disability
• decide what level of nursing care is required
• give injections and medication, treat wounds and use medical equipment
• observe and interpret a child's behaviour to monitor how well their treatment is working
• support parents and carers who have a child in hospital
• advise parents and carers on how to give ongoing care at home

Location : You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a hospice, at a children's care home, at a GP practice or at a health centre.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
Uniform : You may need to wear a uniform.

Salary:

Starter : £28,000
Experienced : £43,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

35 - 40 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

Career Path:

With experience, you could:

• specialise in an area like burns and plastics, child protection, cancer care, neonatal nursing or intensive care
• run a ward or team of nurses by becoming a sister, ward manager or team leader
• work towards a management role like matron or director of nursing
• train as a health visitor , school nurse or practise nurse in a doctor's surgery
• do further study to become a nurse consultant and carry out research and training