Children's Nurse

Typical Salary

£24,907 To £37,890

Typical Hours

35 to 40 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How To Become a Children's Nurse

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship

College / University

You can do a degree in children's nursing approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council.

a health-related subject
psychology
life sciences
social work

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

Apprenticeship

You may be able to do a degree apprenticeship in nursing if you work in a healthcare setting like a hospital.

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

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of psychology
customer service skills
knowledge of medicine
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
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

You may:

work with doctors to assess the needs of children who are ill, injured or have disabilities
decide what level of nursing care is required
carry out a range of clinical procedures like using medical equipment, dressing wounds, giving injections and medication
monitor and interpret a child's behaviour to recognise if their health has become worse
support parents and carers to help them cope with having an ill child in hospital
advise parents and carers on how to care for their child on returning home

Working Environment

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.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career Path & Progression

With experience you could move into a specialised area like:

You could also become a sister, ward manager or team leader. In these roles you'd have responsibility for running a ward or a team of nurses in the community.

Other management roles you could work towards include matron or director of nursing.

You could train as a health visitor, neonatal or school nurse, or practice nurse in a doctor's surgery. You could also become self-employed or work overseas.

With further study and experience, you could move into a nurse consultant position. In this job you'd work with patients to carry out research. You'd also develop and deliver training.

Volunteering Opportunities

You may find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in healthcare, or working with children and young people, before you apply for nurse training.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Further information

You'll find more advice about how to become a children's nurse from the Royal College of Nursing and Health Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks