Nurse

Typical Salary

£24,907 To £37,890

Typical Hours

37 to 42 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How To Become a Nurse

You can get into this career through:

a university course
an apprenticeship

College / University

You can do a degree in adult 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:

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

Day To Day Tasks

In this role you will:

take temperatures, blood pressures and pulse rates
help doctors with physical examinations
give drugs and injections
clean and dress wounds
set up drips and blood transfusions
use medical equipment
monitor patients' progress
update patient records and 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

Working Environment

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.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could specialise in a particular field such as intensive care or operating theatre work, or become a nursing sister, ward manager or team leader.

You could train as a midwife, neonatal nurse, health visitor, or district or practice nurse. You could also move into management, as a matron or director of nursing.

With a postgraduate qualification, you could become an advanced nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist, then a nurse consultant. There are opportunities to go into teaching and research.

You could also become self-employed or work overseas.

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

Volunteering Opportunities

You'll find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in social care or healthcare work 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 nurse from the Royal College of Nursing and Health Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks