Nurse

Entry Requirements:

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

University

You can do a degree in adult nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council . You might be able to study another area of nursing alongside adult nursing.

You might be able to get additional student financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund .

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.

Armed forces

You can also train to be a nurse in the armed forces. You can find more information at:

• Army
• Royal Air Force
• Royal Navy

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.

This 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 degree apprenticeship

Volunteering

You'll find it helpful to get some experience before you apply for nurse training.

You could:

• get work experience in health or social care
• find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT

Required Skills:

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

Skills:

• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• a desire to help people
• knowledge of psychology
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• knowledge of medicine and dentistry
• counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
• the ability to read English
• active listening skills
• leadership skills
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• the ability to work well with your hands
• concentration skills
• a good memory

What you'll do:

Nurses care for adults who are sick, injured or have physical disabilities.

In this role you could:

• take temperatures, blood pressures and pulse rates
• give drugs and injections, treat wounds and set up drips
• monitor the progress of patients and update records
• handover information to colleagues at the end of a shift
• work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to decide what care to give
• give advice to patients and their relatives

Location : You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a health centre, at a hospice, at an adult care home, at a client's home or in a prison.
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:

37 - 42 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

Career Path:

With experience, you could:

• become a nursing sister, ward manager, team leader, or move into a management role like matron or director of nursing
• specialise in an area like intensive care, neonatal nursing or operating theatre work
• train to become a midwife , health visitor , district nurse or practice nurse
• become an advanced nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or nurse consultant if you have a postgraduate qualification
• move into teaching, research or become self-employed and work overseas

You can find out more about career progression from the Royal College of Nursing .