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Nurse Jobs -How to Become a Nurse

Nurses form the foundation of health care provision in Britain today, making up the largest group of medical staffing in the NHS. To become a nurse today is therefore a very exciting prospect, as the profession offers great opportunities for training and qualifications and a large number of roles in a variety of settings.

Most nurses generally have hospital jobs, GP surgeries, clinics, nursing homes, residential homes and hospices, but nurses are also required in schools, prisons and the armed forces. As such, a career in nursing offers lots of choice.

Why choose a nurse job?

People often choose a nursing career because it offers many incentives. Because nurses deal with the needs and care of patients, as opposed to diagnosing specific illnesses or conditions, nursing can be a challenging – but ultimately rewarding –  successful healthcare 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, nurse jobs in an Accident and Emergency (A&E) 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 career gives them.

Qualifications and Training

In order to become a nurse, it is necessary to gain some accepted training and qualifications 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 even four years long. Some nursing support roles do not require any qualifications, and in order to become a nurse professionally, these people can accrue enough experience ready to go on and obtain a formal diploma or degree.

Five steps to become a nurse

• Do some research online into the different types of nurse jobs, the range of healthcare settings, and the nurse’s role within these particular settings. Try and get a sense of what type of nurse job you would like. It’s a lot easier if you try and make this clear in your mind early on as you can then focus all of your efforts into 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 that direction. Even if you have no qualifications, they will help you find a way into a nursing career through work experience and training. Next Step from Direct.gov would be the best place to start, it has lots of useful information for people who want some career direction.
• 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 first who will be able to help you with this area as well. NHS Careers also provide lots of information about nursing diplomas and degrees and how you can prepare.
• Search nurse jobs online. As one of the UK’s leading healthcare recruitment providers, Castlerock Recruitment Group provide permanent, temporary and contract jobs for all grades of nurses up and down the country. Use our Job Search today to make that final step on your path to become a nurse and have a sucessful healthcare career!

What are your experiences of nursing? Would you recommend it as a career?