Nursing – a fresh lookLearning more about this unique career may surprise you. Nursing has changed a lot - and it’s still changing.

October 2010 

Nursing – a fresh look 

Could nursing be the career you’re looking for?

Answer six simple questions to find out: •Want your work to make a real difference to people?•Like to be able to follow your interests? •Enjoy learning new skills?•Need work to fit around your life? •Prepared to take a lead?•Excited by the potential to earn over £100,000 at the top?  If you answered ‘yes’ to any, then it’s time to find out more.

Make a real difference 

As a nurse, you have a huge impact on people in so many ways. It’s about giving the best possible care to each person.

How you provide that care can be very varied. You may:•promote healthier lifestyles•teach skills that increase people’s independence•take emergency action to save a life •manage a team to set up a new service•train your colleagues in new skills•lead on an exciting research project•or care for someone at the end of their life

You’ll make a difference to patients, their families, and your colleagues.

Myth busting 

‘A nurse is an assistant … a lower version of a doctor.’

FALSE.

Many years ago this might have been considered true, but not any more. Modern nurses are skilled, knowledgeable and work independently as part of a team of healthcare professionals.

Myth busting 

‘Nurses are stuck in a hospital all day.’

FALSE.

There is a huge range of nursing roles on offer in many different locations. It all depends on what your interests are and where and how you want to do it.

Myth busting 

‘Nursing is not very technical: it’s not for people who want to - or could - do a degree.’

FALSE.

To become a registered nurse you will need to take a diploma or a degree, which are usually 3-year courses if undertaken full time. There are also some part-time courses available.

During your studies, you will spend half your time doing practical placements in different areas of nursing. This will develop your clinical knowledge, observation and communication skills, and you will learn how to analyse patient needs.

Myth busting 

‘Nurses work awkward shift patterns, with long and hard hours.’

FALSE.

Like any profession, nursing can be challenging and demanding at times, but also very satisfying. Full-time nurses work a standard 37.5 hour week.

Different roles have different requirements: anything from shift work to normal office hours, and plenty of options in between.

Myth busting 

‘The wages are not very good, at least not for the kind of work nurses do.’FALSE.

Newly qualified nurses in the NHS start on over £21,000 a year with the opportunity to earn more with overtime and other additional payments, which compares very well with other public sector jobs.

All nurses are paid under the Agenda for Change pay system which recognises and rewards staff for skills and knowledge they acquire throughout their career. The highest paid NHS nurses can earn over £95,000.

Myth busting 

‘Nursing only suits a certain type of person.’

FALSE.

There’s no such thing as a specific ‘nursing type of person.’ Nursing attracts – and needs – men and women with diverse backgrounds, skills and qualities.

Many of the skills needed for nursing are highly transferable and desirable in other professions.

Follow your interests  

A nursing career supports you to develop your interests and, if you want, to specialise in something you’re passionate about.

You may discover you enjoy working with people suffering from acute mental health conditions.

Perhaps you’ll rise to the challenge of specialist nursing for adults with brain and spine conditions.

Caring for children with cancer might be your goal.

You might relish community work with people who have learning disabilities.

Adult nursing 

Your patients will be adults of all ages, and your aim is to improve your patients’ quality of life, whatever their situation. Building a trusting relationship with each patient is essential.

They may suffer from one or more physical health condition of any kind, which could be short or long term. This could include heart disease, injuries from an accident, pneumonia, a hip replacement or cancer, to name just a few.

You may be improving your patients’ health and wellbeing, for example, by running clinics around obesity, asthma or diabetes, or giving advice on travel health. 

Watch the adult nursing video

Children’s nursing 

Your patient group will be very diverse: from tiny newborns to teenagers, and every child in between.

Children, particularly younger children, often cannot communicate their needs or pain levels very well, so you will need to be very sensitive to their situation and monitor outcomes carefully. You may also have to deal with situations where a child’s health deteriorates rapidly.

Educating and advising parents about treatment options and implications, and providing support and training to them is also an important part of the role.

Watch the children’s services video

Learning disability nursing 

Around 1 in 50 people in the UK have some level of learning disability, which makes it harder to learn, communicate, and do everyday tasks.

You will help them to get – and stay – as physically and mentally healthy as possible.

Better health and greater independence help people with learning disabilities to be more accepted by society, so this type of care is vital to both the individual and the wider community.

Watch the learning disability nursing video

Mental health nursing 

Up to a third of the UK population are thought to suffer from some kind of mental health condition at some point in their lives.

As a mental health nurse, you will build effective relationships with the people who use your services, and also with their relatives and carers. Your focus is on promoting and supporting their recovery and enabling them to have more control over their condition. 

You will need to be aware of the legal context of your work and also be able to identify whether and when someone may be at risk of harming themselves or someone else.

Watch the mental health nursing video

Benefits of working for the NHS 

•A registered nurse would start on over £21,000 per year.

•The highest paid nursing positions, such as a director of nursing, can earn over £100,000 per year.

•A standard working week is 37.5 hours. Depending on the role, these hours can often be worked in a variety of ways.

•Extensive training and development opportunities.

•Childcare and maternity/paternity leave.

•Pension provision.

What qualifications do I need? To work as a nurse in the NHS, you must hold a degree or diploma in nursing (a 'pre-registration' programme), which allows you to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). From September 2013, all new entrants to the nursing profession will need to study for a degree. Diploma courses will be phased out between September 2011 and early 2013.Typical diploma entry requirements are 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C or above, including English and a science subject. Typical degree entry requirements are 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) as above, plus at least 2 A-levels (or equivalent). You should contact individual universities to check their entry requirements before applying.

What skills do I need? 

While each nursing specialism differs, there are some skills that all nurses need.

•People focused: A skilled nurse can help anyone, whatever their situation, feel at ease. •Communication: You’ll need to listen carefully and be able to answer questions, discuss options and give advice on healthier living..•Problem solver: Nurses have to gather lots of information, put it together and make sense of it. •Organised: Deciding who or what needs your attention the most, and doing things efficiently, will help you give patients the best possible care.

Work experience 

•Gain a real insight into a career in nursing.

•Get some confidence and experience of caring for people.

•Show potential employers your commitment to your future nursing career.

•Work experience can be a short or long-term placement, full or part time, or on a structured or informal basis.

•Contact the HR department of your local NHS trust to find out what opportunities are available.

How do I know if nursing is for me?  

The best way to find out is by learning more. A good starting point is www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/nursing. You can…

• understand differences between the four nursing specialisms: adults, children, learning disability and mental health

• find out more about what the opportunities are really like through ‘real life stories’

• view a range of videos where nurses share their experiences

• try the unique personality quiz to see how well suited you might be to nursing.