Ask A Band 6 RN!!!!

Ah that sounds good. I too feel like I would have gotten more out of my first placement had it been later on in my training! (Renal/medical HDU).
For surgical I've had gastro and theatres/recovery. I enjoyed recovery, quite liked the 1:1 aspect

I've never had a district nursing placement but I spent the day with a district nurse and practice nurse while on a different community placement which was good. I think it's a nice job for later on in life.

Thank you, I was offered the job! Just got to decide on my preferences! Looking at the hospital's website they don't have many inpatient wards so there isn't much to choose from haha
I'm thinking about requesting theatre recovery for the surgical aspect. Maybe stroke/hcop for the medical aspect!
The community part of the rotation will be district nursing so I've got to pass my driving test as well! Eep.
It's such a nice feeling to know I have a job offer though, feel like I can relax a bit now

It depends on the Trust you are applying for really. My Trust only employs newly qualified nurses through Clearing House. You cannot apply for jobs directly through the jobs ads if you are newly qualified. But at a neighbouring Trust it doesn't matter and you can apply to the speciality you want to work in directly. Each Trust is different. But I would recommend picking a Trust that employs NQ's through Clearing House as I think the preceptorship is an awful lot better. You get a weeks protected study/training time, I even think my Trust has increased this to two weeks now, protected supernumerary status for one month and ongoing training days. You not only get support from your named preceptor but you will also have the support of the Professional Development Unit (or equivalent). I know that on many of our training days, some of the nurses were able to discuss their concerns and we found ways together to get around them and any major concerns got brought up with wards with the PDU nurses. I just think it's a lot more supportive in general. A girl who worked on my ward had her first job as a NQ nurse at the neighbouring trust. She had 1 day mandatory training, 1 day supernumerary and then on day 3 was expected to get on with it, run a team with no support and she said that it was a widespread problem across the Trust and was not only isolated to her ward.

For most Clearing Houses you can specify a preference and then if those wards like you then you have a higher chance of securing a post in that area. Of course it depends on what areas have vacancies but in my experience, every ward has at least 1 staff nurse vacancy come every Clearing House intake. In my Trust you pretty much get offered surgery or medicine though and I don't believe areas like Haematology, Oncology, Theatres, ICU, Step down, A&E etc. are on offer because in our Trust you are required to have a minimum of 6 months post registration experience. I think it's because these areas are so specialised and can be very overwhelming to begin with that they like you to have a bit of experience first. This obviously varies from Trust to Trust as I co-mentored a management student who got his first job in ICU at another hospital so it is possible. But it's something you may need to consider when applying.

So I could say I'd really like to work on this paticular ward or speciality? Do they let you choose like a top 3 or something? Thanks for the reply x

This has really really helped thank you so much! Will have to start having a look at what different trusts have on offer! Thanks again this has been a massive help!

Hey guys,

I know many of you who are applying or are considering nursing as a career have many, many questions, especially regarding practice placements. Or are you a student nurse struggling on your placements and want some advice? Or are you a 3rd year student and would like some advice for your management placement and job preparation?? Feel free to ask me anything! I have almost 4 years post qualification experience and I am now a sign off mentor!


Look forward to answering your questions!

How did you get to your post/where you are now?

Well I have worked on the same ward since I qualified. As I grew more confident in my role I took on more responsibilities and did additional training. I also stepped up to help the ward out when it was struggling, working extra shifts and supporting staff. I think this helped, and the fact that I am quite dedicated to care of the elderly and dementia care. This is what helped me, but I also know of other sisters who have worked in multiple areas to gain all sorts of experience and skills which can also be appealing.

Hello 🙂

How lovely of you to offer advice like this!

Out of the nurses you know and obviously yourself what are your reasons for wanting to become a nurse?

I have 2 interviews this week coming and I have just always known it's what I want to do, I actually applied 8 years ago and didn't get in! But feel like I'm truly ready now but don't want to sound to cliche in the interview!


I'm planning on saying how Ive Always known it's the right career for me and after personal dealings with my daughter being in hospital a lot (touch wood not going back anytime soon) it's prompted me to reapply and feel I have the qualities needed to make a great nurse x

I know of fellow nurses who I trained with who wanted to work in palliative care after losing relatives to cancer. Some had experiences of relatives being in ICU and wanted to become ICU nurses. So I don't think it would harm you in stating your own experiences with your daughter that has prompted you to want to undertake nursing. Many nurses already have an idea that they want to end up in care, but sometimes their own personal experiences of themselves or family being in hospital often gives them that final push to go for it!

Hey guys,

I know many of you who are applying or are considering nursing as a career have many, many questions, especially regarding practice placements. Or are you a student nurse struggling on your placements and want some advice? Or are you a 3rd year student and would like some advice for your management placement and job preparation?? Feel free to ask me anything! I have almost 4 years post qualification experience and I am now a sign off mentor!


Look forward to answering your questions!

Hi! This is just what I was looking for! I am currently on a gap year and reapplying to study adult nursing. I have been offered two places so far; one with Southampton University and the other with Leeds University. I was wondering, in regards to career prospects, after university whether most nurses go on to be employed within the hospitals that they did placements in or whether you have an equal chance of applying and being employed by a hospital else where?

The general opinion seems to be that Southampton one of the top Universities for nursing with a very extensive hospital, but it is also in my home town... I really liked Leeds and would like to have the experience of living away whilst at uni, but I don't want to jeopardise the success of my future career if Southampton would get me places that Leeds would not.. Also I will most likely return to Southampton after studying if I went else where, so knowing my chances of being taken on by places in Southampton after studying at another uni is very important. I am torn over which one to go for so any advice would be very much appreciated!

Also, what is your opinion on having a part time job whilst studying nursing? Is it something that's realistically possible to do?

Thank you!

It really doesn't matter where you study. Trusts interview people from a wide variety of universities. Just cos you trained there doesn't mean you automatically get a job there or that you will never get a job there.

Not really. All courses lead to registration with the NMC, so learning outcomes are similar and cover similar competencies so that a standard level of education is met across the country. Employers are more interested that the person applying for the job is interested in the clinical area they're applying to, that they come across in their application and interview like they have the ability to do the job with the support that's available and that you'll have your registration in a reasonable time limit for when they want you to start.

Ahh okay, thank you very much! That's good to know. Are you a nurse yourself?

Would students from Southampton, being known as a prestigious uni be treated any differently or receive anything more in terms of career prospects compared to other nurses?

Yes I am



Nope. University prestige doesn't mean a fat lot in nursing. If you're struggling to choose a uni, visit the ones you're thinking of, have a look about, see what teaching and assessment methods they use. Have a look at what hospitals they use. Decide where you want to based on what suits you best rather than prestige.

Does the reputation of the university not mean much in the over all scheme of things with nursing? Is it easy enough to get an interview?