Feel free to add things if you want- eg if something is wrong or not been added, let me know and i'll include it, it'll also be on WIKI aswell!
What does a Nurse do?
A nurse can work in a variety of medical settings, ranging from hospitals, community health centres and even prisons. Often providing core patient care. It also involves carrying out the orders of a doctor, administering medications, supervising the use of medical equipment, observing and directly caring for patients, and acting as intermediary between patients, their families and physicians. However this role depends on qualifications, where you work and branch of nursing. Depending on experience and training there are plenty of opportunities for you to rise up the ranks to manage teams, run wards and even reach consultant level
Areas of Nursing you can go into
The following 4 branches of nursing you can go straight into via university.
Adult nursing
Adult nurses work with old and young adults with diverse health conditions, both chronic and acute. They juggle numerous priorities and use caring, counselling, managing, teaching and all aspects of interpersonal skills to improve the quality of patients’ lives. The adult branch of nursing will suit individuals who wish to work in a busy, multidisciplinary team but can also use initiative where required. There’s a lot to learn in a fast changing, demanding environment, so it’s essential for you to be highly observant and able to assess what is best for the patient. Willingness to take responsibility for people’s well-being is essential, and a commitment to continuing learning throughout your career is vital.
Mental Health Nursing
Nurses who choose to specialise in the mental health branch of nursing - a complex and demanding area - work with GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others, to help care for patients with mental illnesses. Increasingly, care is given in the community, with mental health nurses visiting patients and their families at home, in residential centres, in prisons or in specialist clinics or units. You may do shift work to provide 24-hour care. This is a valuable role that provides much reward and satisfaction.
Childrens Nursing
Children's nurses deal with a range of situations, including babies born with heart complications, teenagers who have sustained broken limbs, and child protection issues. Health problems can affect a child's development and it's vital to work with the child's family or carers to ensure that he or she does not suffer additionally from the stress of being ill or in hospital. Children's nursing takes place in hospitals, day care centres, child health clinics and in the child's home. Like other branches of nursing, care is becoming more community-based.
Learning Disability Nursing
Learning disability nurses work in partnership with them and family carers, to provide specialist healthcare. Their main aim is to support the well-being and social inclusion of people with a learning disability by improving or maintaining their physical and mental health; by reducing barriers; and supporting the person to pursue a fulfilling life. For example, teaching someone the skills to find work can be significant in helping them to lead a more independent, healthy life where they can relate to others on equal terms. Learning disabilities nursing is provided in settings such as adult education, residential and community centres, as well as in patients' homes, workplaces and schools.
These areas of Nursing are examples of career paths you can choose to go into after a nursing degree/diploma
District Nursing
District nurses visit people of all ages, often in their own homes, GP surgeries or a residential home. Many patients are elderly, others may have disabilities, be recovering after a hospital stay, or have a terminal illness. You may do shift work to provide 24-hour care. You'll need to qualify and work as a registered nurse and then complete a degree-level specialist practitioner programme, which usually lasts at least one academic year, before you can become a district nurse.
Neonatal Nursing
Neonatal nurses work with newborn babies who are born sick or prematurely. Often, premature newborns have respiratory problems, which can be life threatening if they are not treated promptly and monitored. Also, ill babies need to be fed in a specialised way in a highly controlled environment that is kept warm. You may do shift work to provide 24-hour care. Neonatal nursing training programmes are part of continuing professional development and are normally studied as modules by registered adult and children's nurses and midwives. As with other types of nursing, there are opportunities to progress to management, research and education, as well as nurse consultancy.
Health Visitors
Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives who have done further training to work as vital members of the primary healthcare team, covering a specific geographical area. They work with a network of organisations concerned with health and can be based in settings as diverse as people's homes, schools, GP surgeries, shelters for the homeless and medical centres. This is a role that will appeal to those who enjoy one to-one nursing and want to work with autonomy while remaining part of a healthcare team. You'll have opportunities to progress to manage a team of health visitors or work in other management roles in the NHS. You'll need to qualify and have worked as a registered nurse or midwife before completing a degree-level training programme, which usually lasts a minimum of one year, full-time, before you can become a health visitor.
Pratice Nurse
Practice nurses work in GP surgeries as part of a primary care team that is likely to include doctors, nurses, dietitians and pharmacists. In smaller practices, you may be the sole nurse, whereas in larger surgeries, you may share duties with practice nurse colleagues. You may be required to work one or two evenings a week. As the range of healthcare services provided in the community increases, the role of the practice nurse is likely to expand. For example, you might get involved in prison nursing, which may mean doing shifts to provide 24-hour care. To become a practice nurse, you need to qualify and have gained experience as a registered nurse. Local employers organise training. This role offers much scope and variety for those who have highly developed communication skills, enjoy working flexibly and are organised. Depending on your experience, you could be organising and running clinics, which will demand attention to detail, initiative and plenty of confidence. You'll be employed by GP practices and may be able to work part-time. As a practice nurse, you will be able to apply for senior positions such as nurse practitioner, where you can manage your own caseload.
Prison nurses
Prison nurses are registered nurses based in prison. They are either employed by the prison service or, increasingly, by the NHS. Many prisoners suffer from substance abuse or have a mental health problem, making nursing in this environment challenging. By improving mental and physical health, the care provided by prison nurses may help to lower re-offending rates, and therefore have a positive impact on prisoners, their families and the wider public. A background in mental health nursing may help. You may have opportunities to move between the NHS and the prison service through job share, job swap and secondment schemes, and, as in other types of nursing, you can undertake further training and apply for management roles.
School Nurse
School nurses are usually employed by a primary care trust, local health authority, community trust or by individual schools. You will need to be an experienced registered nurse before you can apply to work as a school nurse. Experience of working with children, in child protection or health promotion will be beneficial.
On top of this, there are furthur opportunities with NHS specialist authorities, private healthcare providers, charities (eg macmillian cancer support) teaching and research and the armed forces
Entry Routes Into Nursing
To work in the NHS, nurses must hold a degree or diploma in nursing (a “pre-registration” programme), which leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), enabling them to practice as a nurse.
Degrees and diploma programmes comprise of 50% theory and 50% practice, with time split between the higher education institute (HEI), which runs the course, and practical placements in a variety of healthcare settings.
This is normally a three year programme designed to combine classroom theory with real, practical nursing experience in hospital or community settings. There is also an accelerated Diploma for graduates who already hold a health related degree.
Diploma and degree courses are run at different academic levels, however there is an element of overlap, as diploma level students can transfer to degree courses or can opt to come back and 'top up' their diploma in nursing to a degree at a later stage
The Degree route
You need A-levels for this route and is a 3/4yr route. You will recieve a means tested bursary. This route differs to the diploma with the fianancial help plus you complete a dissertation in your third year and a higher qualification.
The Diploma Route
You just need 5 GCSE's at grades A*-C and you apply via UCAS for this (NMAS does not now exist) you will recieve a non-means tested bursary. The route is 3 years and many institutions offer the chance to transfer and end up with a degree route. You are also able to start entry in other semesters aswell as the normal september entry.
The accelerated route
These shortened programmes are modified from existing nursing programmes and lead to qualification in adult, mental health, learning disabilities or children’s nursing. They are intended for graduates and are around 24months with 6 months of CFP and 18months of branch training.
Part time route
Part-time pre-registration nursing programmes are provided by some universities and normally last for five or six years. They are available to staff working in the NHS – usually as an assistant or an associate practitioner with qualifications up to NVQ level 3 (or equivalent). You’d be employed by the NHS, which would provide support in terms of time off to attend on a part-time basis.
What are the entry requirements for nursing?
There are no national minimum entry requirements for nursing and midwifery as each higher education institution (HEI) set its own criteria, and it is essential that you contact each institution to check before applying. However the standard entry requirements for a diploma or degree in nursing are generally 5 GCSE's and/or 2 'A' Levels, or the equivalent (see below).
All applicants must be able to demonstrate evidence of literacy, numeracy and good character.
Examples of qualifications that may be accepted for entry
5 GCSE/GCE O levels, grade C or above; or
5 CSE's grade 1; or
5 SCE's grade 1 (Scotland); or
5 SCE ordinary, grades A-C (Scotland); or
GNVQ intermediate level plus one GCSE/GCE O level, grades A-C; or
GNVQ advanced level* or NVQ level 3*; or
SVQ level 3*; GSVQ level 3* (Scotland); or
A QAA accredited access to higher education course; or
EDEXCEL Foundation (BTEC) National or higher national diploma; or
Passes in the NI Grammar School Senior Certificate of Education
Work Experience
It's very important to gain some experience of working within a care setting- many institutions prefer this as it shows you have a good idea of what being a nurse is like as nursing has a very high drop out rate. Plus it can help you decide your branch or whether nursing is really for you.
What sort of work experience do they want?
At the end of the day- any experience, from just a few days or years within any form of care enviroment is the minimum. These enviroments range from schools, care homes, hospitals, day centres, nurseries etc. I always advise- get two forms of work experience if avaliable: one in a general care setting, and the other specific to your chosen branch.
Where can I get hold of work experience
Pester, Pester, Pester. Email, write and ring up. Local hospitals are always a good place to start as some offer work experience academies, try this link to get hold of contact details of health services in your local area:
http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories...iceSearch.aspx
If you want to try a specific branch or ward, some hospitals may have their staff details on their websites.
Adult Nursing
Want experience in adult nursing? try your local old peoples home? GP pratice? Hospital? A job as a health care assistant will give you an excellent grounding, try contacting your local health authority for vacancy details.
Mental Health Nursing
Many PCT'S may have psychiatric day hospitals you can contact on top of this there may be charities in your local area which may specialise in mental health needs, eg the samaritans. Why don't you try enrolling on a part-time counselling course?
Childrens Nursing
Nurseries are an excellent place to start here, as it'll give you great experience of working with children in a learning enviroment. So are schools aswell- childrens nursing doesn't necessarily involve the under 10 though, so try getting some experience working with teenagers, eg youth centres? Try speaking to your school nurse and see if you can spend a few hours volunteering a week helping them out?
Learning Disabilities Nursing
A great place to start would be specialist schools for those with LD. Also work as a personal carer can be useful. Working with social services and getting experience with them may be a good idea aswell.
How will I be Trained?
All routes undergo a 'common foundation programme' within the first year. Usually this means all branches learn and train together- and some institutions put you on placement outside of your chosen branch. As above, all training is 50-50 on placement and theory- and its up to the institution on their timetable and where your placement would be. You will have a mixture of lectures which pratical or theoretical and many universities now teach with an evidence based approach (eg working with cases). It will also be a mixture of seminars, tutorials, IT based excercises and presentations. Assesments can be from exams, essays, pratical lab work and clinical skills- so if you feel pressured under exams- thats not your only form of assesment. You're also assesed within your placements and have certain procedures and skills to learn and do within these placements.
What about Post-graduate education?
Once you’ve successfully completed your pre-registration programme and registered with the NMC you can apply for nursing posts. With some experience, you can look to develop your career further, which may mean further study/training.
Healthcare is constantly developing, technology improving, and the needs of the population changing. Once qualified, it is necessary to keep yourself up to date with health care issues and practice. This will be required by the NMC, and encouraged by your employer.
Many institutions offer masters, phd's etc within healthcare from a range of areas. Your training doesn't stop after your degree!
So where can I study Nursing?
http://search.ucas.co.uk/cgi-bin/hsr...RSING&single=Y
Resources
Links
http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/nursing.shtml
http://www.studentnurse.org.uk/
http://allnurses.com/
http://www.nurserve.co.uk/
Professional Bodies
http://www.rcn.org.uk/
http://www.nmc-uk.org/
Advised reading (from amazon.co.uk)
Nurses survival guide to the ward:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nurses-Survi...9816437&sr=1-2
Student nurses handbook:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Student-Nurs...9816437&sr=1-3
First year nurse:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Year-N...9816437&sr=1-5
Notes on nursing (a florence nightengale book)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Notes-Nursin...ref=pd_sim_b_4
Trust me, i'm a junior doctor:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-Me-Im-...9816717&sr=1-1
A war nurses diary (my fave book atm!)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Nurses-D...ref=pd_sim_b_9
hope this all helps!!!
If anyone has any questions on applying for nursing..anything, feel free to post them here!
Last edited by anna_spanner89 : 20-12-2008 at 23:48.
University course discussion for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and nursing etc.
Useful Resources:
Nursing- a little guide!
just rephrase it and i'm sure people will use it. x
Re: Nursing- a little guide!
good luck with your nursing next year and i am sure u will make a fanatstic nurse.
