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Health Care, (Other employers include:, As an adult nurse, you can work in…
Health Care
You'll need to have:
strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with patients, their families and a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals
the ability to gain patients' trust and support them both emotionally and physically through person-centred care
empathy, sensitivity and emotional resilience when caring for patients in distressing or complex situations
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the ability to remain calm under pressure in a fast-paced and sometimes challenging work environment
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leadership skills and the ability to motivate, particularly as your career progresses and you move into a more senior position.
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Getting some relevant frontline health or social care experience will demonstrate your motivation and will provide an insight into the sector and whether nursing is the career for you. Opportunities can be paid or voluntary and take place in a range of settings, including hospitals, care homes, hospices, GP surgeries or with a home care provider.
Hands-on roles such as healthcare assistant, support worker or care worker are particularly valuable and show you have a real interest helping people. Even short-term or part-time roles can help you develop empathy, communication and teamwork skills that nursing courses look for. Other opportunities include supporting people with disabilities or long-term health conditions in the community or volunteering with charities focused on health or wellbeing, such as Age UK or Marie Curie.
It's also a good idea to visit a hospital or GP surgery and either shadow a practice nurse or talk to nurses directly about the role. You could also attend nursing insight days or virtual events offered by universities or NHS trusts.
What to expect
You'll work as part of a multidisciplinary team with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, therapists and social workers, and will also liaise closely with patients' families and/or carers.
The environment and working conditions vary between hospitals and wards. You might be looking after many patients on a ward, or one or two patients in intensive care or on a high dependency unit. Alternatively, you could work on your own in patients' homes or be part of a team at a GP surgery.
Jobs are available throughout the UK in hospital wards, clinics and outpatient units, for example. Freelance work is possible through agencies or as a private nurse or, for senior nurses, as a consultant.
Nursing can be physically and emotionally demanding but seeing that the care you have provided has resulted in improvement of health, recovery or reduced suffering is incredibly satisfying.
You may need to travel during the working day between hospital units, homes and clinics.
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Adult nurses usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. Shift work is carried out in hospitals, which includes regular unsocial hours, covering nights, early starts, evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
There may be opportunities for 9am to 5pm working in other locations, not only in the community and in specialist units and clinics, but also in industry and commerce.
Career breaks and retraining opportunities may be available, as is overseas work.
Salary
Fully qualified nurses start on salaries of £29,970 to £36,483 on Band 5 of the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rates. Salaries in London attract a high-cost area supplement.
With experience, salaries can range from £37,338 to £44,962 (Band 6). Specialist and senior nursing roles may attract salaries between £46,148 and £52,809 (Band 7).
Two of the highest paid positions in nursing are modern matron and nurse consultant, where salaries typically range from £53,755 to £72,293 (Bands 8a and 8b). Heads and directors of nursing can earn in excess of this amount.
The above figures are for jobs within the NHS although comparable rates of pay exist in the private sector.
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The NHS offers a pension scheme as well as sickness and maternity benefits. Nurses employed outside the NHS may not have the same terms in relation to pension provision or benefits but may be offered other incentives such as private health insurance or, occasionally, a company car for senior roles.
Adult Nurse
As an adult nurse, you'll care for patients suffering from a variety of health conditions, ranging from minor injuries and ailments to acute and long-term illnesses and diseases. You will support their recovery by observing and assessing their needs, using care plans and carrying out care procedures.
You will need to build trust with patients and may also have to contact their families, particularly in cases of chronic illness where the patient may be returning regularly for treatment.
Nurses usually work within a multidisciplinary team with other healthcare professionals but are the main point of contact for patients, often providing the most consistent care.
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As an adult nurse, you'll need to:
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implement plans for tasks such as preparing patients for operations, treating wounds and monitoring pulse, blood pressure and temperature
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educate patients about their health - this may include running clinics and education sessions on topics such as diabetes, weight loss and quitting smoking
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Other employers include:
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overseas development organisations, humanitarian NGOs or disaster relief agencies
charities and voluntary organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie or the British Red Cross
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the armed forces (Army, Royal Navy, RAF)
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As an adult nurse, you can work in a wide range of clinical and community settings, including:
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community health teams, including district nursing and outreach services
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walk-in centres, urgent care centres and minor injuries units.
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You may also be employed by nursing agencies, which typically offer flexible, often short-term placements in various healthcare environments.
Course providers will expect you to have an understanding of the role of an adult nurse, as well as a commitment to the NHS Constitution and Values, which include compassion, respect and working together for patients.