How to become a Nurse

4,928

4,436

£28,000/y

avg. starting salary

Are you a caring and compassionate person? Are at your happiest when helping people? You should become a Nurse… Nurses make up the largest group of staff in the NHS, and are an essential part of the healthcare system. It is their job to help assist patients, and provide everything from initial assessments and basic treatment through to administering intravenous medications, dealing with accidents and emergencies and assisting in the operating theatre. Nurses can choose to specialise in Adult Nursing, Paediatrics, Mental Health Nursing, Learning & Disability Nursing, and a whole host of other disciplines, with each requiring dedicated training and qualifications. Although day-to-day responsibilities may vary, typical duties for a Nurse may include:

Listening to the patients requirements and conducting assessments
Consulting with Doctors to decide the best course of care
Monitoring patients progress, and applying dressings, administering medication and cleaning and dressing wounds
Advising users and their families about potential therapies or self-treatment they need to maintain
Arranging any follow-up treatment or check-ups once a patient is discharged

To become a Nurse, a caring and compassionate personality is essential. You must be passionate about helping people, and able to stay calm in stressful situations. This career path is perhaps best avoided if you’re easily squeamish at the sight of blood or needles. You should also be prepared for evening, weekend and shift work, and comfortable when working as part of a multidisciplinary team. Other key skills include:

Excellent interpersonal skills and bedside manner
Sensitivity, tact, and the ability to build trust and maintain confidentially at all times
Excellent listening skills
Good scientific knowledge
Ability to explain complex pieces of medical information easily and succinctly to patients and their families
Drive and self-motivation

Nurse

Up to £28,000

Nurse Team Leader

Up to £35,000

Nursing Consultant

Up to £50,000

"Being a Nurse is one of the most rewarding careers you can have. Every day I come to work knowing that I'm helping people feel better, and potentially saving lives. There’s a lot of pressure to get things right, and this is not a job you can do in half measures. But the feeling of satisfaction you see a patient getting better makes all the hard work worth it."

Get qualified

To become a Nurse you will need a degree in pre-registration nursing. You can choose to do this in one of four areas: Adult Nursing, Paediatrics, Mental Health Nursing or Learning & Disability Nursing. You can then register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and begin applying for jobs.

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