How to become a Nurse

How to become a Nurse Are you a caring and compassionate person? Are at your happiest when helping people? You should become a Nurse…Nurses make up the largest group of staff in the NHS, and are an essential part of the healthcare system. It is their job to help assist patients, and provide everything from initial assessments and basic treatment through to administering intravenous medications, dealing with accidents and emergencies and assisting in the operating theatre.Nurses can choose to specialise in Adult Nursing, Paediatrics, Mental Health Nursing, Learning Disability Nursing, and a whole host of other disciplines, with each requiring dedicated training and qualifications.Although day-to-day responsibilities may vary, typical duties for a Nurse may include:Listening to the patients requirements and conducting assessmentsConsulting with Doctors to decide the best course of careMonitoring patients progress, and applying dressings, administering medication and cleaning and dressing woundsAdvising u sers and their families about potential therapies or self-treatment they need to maintainArranging any follow-up treatment or check-ups once a patient is dischargedIs it right for me?To become a Nurse, a caring and compassionate personality is essential. You must be passionate about helping people, and able to stay calm in stressful situations. This career path is perhaps best avoided if you’re easily squeamish at the sight of blood or needles.You should also be prepared for evening, weekend and shift work, and comfortable when working as part of a multidisciplinary team.Other key skills include:Excellent interpersonal skills and bedside mannerSensitivity, tact, and the ability to build trust and maintain confidentially at all timesExcellent listening skillsGood scientific knowledgeAbility to explain complex pieces of medical information easily and succinctly to patients and their familiesDrive and self-motivationCareer Progression? NurseUp to 28,000 Nurse Team LeaderUp to 35,000 Nursing ConsultantUp to 50,000What's it really like? Being a Nurse is one of the most rewarding careers you can have. Every day I come to work knowing that I'm helping people feel better, and potentially saving lives. There’s a lot of pressure to get things right, and this is not a job you can do in half measures. But the feeling of satisfaction you see a patient getting better makes all the hard work worth it. Get qualifiedTo become a Nurse you will need a degree in pre-registration nursing. You can choose to do this in one of four areas: Adult Nursing, Paediatrics, Mental Health Nursing or Learning Disability Nursing. You can then register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and begin applying for jobs.