Jobs in Nursing - How to Become a Nurse

Nurses form the foundation of healthcare provision in Britain today, making up the largest group of staff in the NHS. To become a nurse today is therefore a very exciting prospect, as the profession offers a large number of roles in a variety of settings. Nurses generally work in hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics, nursing homes, residential homes and hospices, but nurses are also required in schools, prisons and the armed forces. As such, nursing careers offer lots of choice.

People often choose to become a nurse because it offers many incentives. Because nurses deal with the needs and care of patients, as opposed to specific illnesses or conditions, nursing can be a challenging, but ultimately rewarding, career. Nurses are called on for care, advice and support for the patient and their family and friends as individuals, so no two days are ever the same. As you would expect, working as nurse in an accident and emergency ward will be drastically different to working as a nurse in a school, but some practicing nurses enjoy the freedom and career opportunities that this gives them.

Qualifications and Training

In order to become a nurse, it is necessary to gain an accepted qualification such as a diploma or degree. These qualifications are obtained after the successful completion of educational courses at institutions such as colleges and universities. Most, if not all, courses require a work placement within one of the healthcare settings described earlier. Alongside these placements, nursing courses will also offer a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of nursing. Diploma and degree courses usually last three years for full-time students, but some are four years long. Some nursing support roles do not require any qualifications, and in order to become a nurse professionally, some people can accrue enough experience ready to go on and acquire a diploma or degree.

Five steps to become a nurse

Do some research online into the different types of nurses, the range of healthcare settings, and the nurse’s role within these particular settings. Try and get a sense of what type of nurse you would like to become. It’s a lot easier if you try and make this clear early on as you can focus all your efforts on achieving that goal from the very beginning.

Speak to a careers advisor about routes into nursing. If you are in education, they will be able to offer you advice on what qualifications you will need to further your education in nursing. Even if you have no qualifications, they will help you find a way into nursing as a career through work experience and training. Next Step from Direct.gov would be the best place to start.

Enroll on an accredited nursing diploma or degree course at one of the many training institutions throughout the UK. There might be an institution locally, but if you are unsure, it is always best to speak to a careers advisor who will be able to help you with this as well. NHS Careers also provide lots of information about nursing diplomas and degrees.

Search for nursing jobs online. As one of the UK’s leading healthcare recruitment providers, Castlerock Healthcare provides permanent, temporary and contract jobs for nurses up and down the country. Use our Job Search today to make the final step on your path to become a nurse!