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Job description: Nurse
The NHS is one of the biggest employers in the world, let alone the UK. As a Nurse working within it, you will have daily personal contact with a wide variety of patients, providing them with first rate care and attention.
This could mean looking after people who are ill, injured or have physical disabilities, and being assigned to a particular ward or department that deals with specific medical conditions.
As a Practice Nurse, for example, you'll work in a doctor's surgery. But there are many different fields to choose from including Adult Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, District Nurse, as well as work in mental health and maternity.
Depending on which area of nursing you go into, each day you'll typically observe and assess patients' progress, changing the care plan if necessary, in consultation with doctors. You'll also have daily interaction with patients and their relatives.
Practical nursing care involves things like checking temperatures, blood pressure and respiration rates, assisting doctors with physical examinations, giving drugs and injections, cleaning and dressing wounds and administering blood transfusions and drips. Much of your work is likely to involve using a mixture of hi-tech and traditional medical equipment.
Nursing is a demanding role, both physically and emotionally. It's also a very fast paced sector, with large amounts of responsibility. But the rewards are great, especially nursing a sick patient back to full health.
Hours/Environment
As a Nurse working for the NHS, you'll typically work a 37.5 hour week. This may involve shifts including evenings, and weekends. Many hospitals offer flexible hours of work, and you're likely to be able to work extra hours, either as overtime or for nursing agencies that supply staff to the private sector.
Nurses work in a variety of settings, depending on the treatment area. These range from hospitals, hospices, GP surgeries, schools, private hospitals, prisons, in industry or in patients' homes.
Entry
You can start training from a minimum age of 17.5 years (17 in Scotland). You should be in good physical health and be prepared to undergo a police check. As a Nursing student you'll either do a degree or a Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing. You would then choose a specialism, such as Adult Nursing and then register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
To take the diploma course you'd need at least five GCSEs(A-C)/S grades (1-3) preferably in English, maths and a science based subject. A degree course requires the same number of GCSE/S, as well as two A levels/three Highers with one in a biological science.
An NVQ/SVQ level 3 in Care or AVCE in Health and Social Care or equivalent can be used towards your entry to a diploma or degree course, but you'll need to check with the course provider.
If you hold an Access to Higher Education qualification, this could also be accepted for entry to certain courses. If you're experienced in a related field, you can gain recognition of your skills through Accredited Prior Learning (APL).
There are shorter, postgraduate courses, which last at least 24 months. You can take these as a registered nurse qualified in another specialism, or as a graduate with a first degree in a related subject such as biology.
If you're a former registered nurse and want to return to the profession, you could take a return-to-practice course. They take between 113 and 150 hours, and are available throughout the UK, consisting of a mixture of theory and practice.
Training
Training programmes are based in departments or schools of nursing within universities or higher education institutions. They include clinical practice in local hospitals and the community. Diploma and degree courses usually are based on three years of full-time study (in Scotland this is often four years).
During the first year of study, you'll take the Common Foundation Programme, which provides an introduction to the principles and practice of nursing together with the study of anatomy and physiology, psychology, sociology, ethics, social policy and core practical skills. In your remaining two years you'd specialise in your preferred area of nursing and work in clinical placements.
It may be possible for you to start a nursing degree or diploma course after doing a two-year Cadet Scheme or apprenticeship, which covers a broad range of clinical experience. If you're already working as healthcare assistant, it's possible to take a part-time course whilst remaining in employment as a healthcare assistant.
If aged between 16 and 24, there may also be a Foundation and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships (MAPPs) available to you.
Whilst working as a Nurse, you'll also receive regular on-the-job training for new procedures and new equipment.
Opportunities
Employment prospects are excellent for nurses - there is always a shortage in the UK, in particular within the NHS. Other employers include private hospitals and nursing homes, schools and colleges, HM Forces, the prison service and industry, depending on your chosen field or nursing.
You could become a clinical specialist and, like many others, combine this with research and teaching. There are also opportunities to work for nursing agencies or be self-employed if that appeals to you.
At Registered Nurse level, you'd usually be promoted to sister or charge Nurse, responsible for managing a hospital ward, clinic or department, or a team of Nurses in the community. It's also possible to move into more general NHS management.
Annual income
As a newly qualified Nurse working in the NHS, your salary would be around £15,445 a year. Once a Sister or Charge Nurse, you'd start to earn between £21,605 and £26,290.
As a specialist Nurse, you'd be paid a salary of £24,315 to £30,720. Additionally, as a Nurse Consultant you could earn from £29,450 to £45,050.
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