Nurse

Nurses work with patients who are ill or injured, giving support and advice to patients and their families and promoting good health.

Nurses train for one of four branches:

• adult nursing
• children's nursing
• mental health nursing
• learning disability nursing.

They may then specialise in one of these areas or as a district nurse, health visitor, occupational health nurse or school nurse.

Nurses work in a variety of settings, including:

• on hospital wards, observing and caring for patients, giving medication and changing dressings
• in an accident and emergency unit, treating a range of conditions
• in an operating theatre, assisting surgeons
• in the community, caring for patients in their homes.

Full-time nurses work 37.5 hours a week, which may involve a shift or rota system. There are opportunities for flexible or part-time work. Nurses work in hospital wards, GP surgeries, patients' homes, care homes and workplaces. Most nurses wear uniform as well as protective clothing when required.

Salaries range from £21,176 for a newly qualified nurse to £67,134 for a nurse consultant.

A nurse should:

• be able to relate to people from different backgrounds and cultures
• be practical
• remain calm
• pay attention to detail
• be interested in human biology and health issues.

The NHS employs around 400,000 qualified nursing staff in England. Other employers include private healthcare organisations, charities and the armed forces.

Nurses must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and hold a degree or diploma in nursing. Courses normally last at least three years full time or five to six years part time and usually require five GCSEs (A*-C) for a diploma and five GCSEs (A*-C) and two A levels for a degree. From 2013, all entrants will need to study for a degree.

Apprenticeships are available in some areas. It is also possible to train after working in the NHS, for instance as a healthcare assistant.

Nurses have to update their skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis through continuing professional development (CPD).

There are opportunities to specialise or for promotion into nurse management or general NHS management. They can take further specialist training to work in areas such as diabetes or pain management, move into teaching or research, offer health advice by telephone with NHS Direct or work overseas.

Further details