Adult nurse job profile | 蘑菇视频黄片.ac.uk

Working as an adult nurse offers you the chance to make a real difference to the lives of others

As an adult nurse, you'll care for patients suffering from a variety of health conditions, ranging from minor injuries and ailments to acute and long-term illnesses and diseases. You will support their recovery by observing and assessing their needs, using care plans and carrying out care procedures.

You will need to build trust with patients and may also have to contact their families, particularly in cases of chronic illness where the patient may be returning regularly for treatment.

Nurses usually work within a multidisciplinary team with other healthcare professionals but are the main point of contact for patients, often providing the most consistent care.

Responsibilities

As an adult nurse, you'll need to:

write patient care plans
implement plans for tasks such as preparing patients for operations, treating wounds and monitoring pulse, blood pressure and temperature
observe and record the condition of patients
check and administer drugs and injections
set up drips and blood transfusions
assist with tests and evaluations
carry out routine investigations
respond quickly to emergencies
plan discharges from hospital and liaise with GPs and other healthcare professionals
reassure patients and their relatives and communicate effectively with them
advocate on behalf of patients
educate patients about their health - this may include running clinics and education sessions on topics such as diabetes, weight loss and quitting smoking
organise staff and prioritise busy workloads
mentor student and junior nurses
maintain patient records
make ethical decisions related to consent and confidentiality.

Salary

Fully qualified nurses start on salaries of 拢29,970 to 拢36,483 on Band 5 of the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) pay rates. Salaries in London attract a high-cost area supplement.
With experience, salaries can range from 拢37,338 to 拢44,962 (Band 6). Specialist and senior nursing roles may attract salaries between 拢46,148 and 拢52,809 (Band 7).
Two of the highest paid positions in nursing are modern matron and nurse consultant, where salaries typically range from 拢53,755 to 拢72,293 (Bands 8a and 8b). Heads and directors of nursing can earn in excess of this amount.

The above figures are for jobs within the NHS although comparable rates of pay exist in the private sector.

The NHS offers a pension scheme as well as sickness and maternity benefits. Nurses employed outside the NHS may not have the same terms in relation to pension provision or benefits but may be offered other incentives such as private health insurance or, occasionally, a company car for senior roles.

Income data from NHS AfC pay rates. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Adult nurses usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. Shift work is carried out in hospitals, which includes regular unsocial hours, covering nights, early starts, evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

There may be opportunities for 9am to 5pm working in other locations, not only in the community and in specialist units and clinics, but also in industry and commerce.

Career breaks and retraining opportunities may be available, as is overseas work.

What to expect

You'll work as part of a multidisciplinary team with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors, therapists and social workers, and will also liaise closely with patients' families and/or carers.
The environment and working conditions vary between hospitals and wards. You might be looking after many patients on a ward, or one or two patients in intensive care or on a high dependency unit. Alternatively, you could work on your own in patients' homes or be part of a team at a GP surgery.
Jobs are available throughout the UK in hospital wards, clinics and outpatient units, for example. Freelance work is possible through agencies or as a private nurse or, for senior nurses, as a consultant.
Nursing can be physically and emotionally demanding but seeing that the care you have provided has resulted in improvement of health, recovery or reduced suffering is incredibly satisfying.
You may need to travel during the working day between hospital units, homes and clinics.

Qualifications

To work as an adult nurse in the UK, you must be registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). To be eligible, you must complete either a pre-registration nursing degree or a registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA) delivered by an NMC-approved educational institution (AEI).

Degrees usually last three years full time (four years in Scotland or if you're taking a dual-field degree that leads to registration in two fields of practice). Courses combine clinical practice, giving you direct experience of working with patients and families, with academic study. You could be based within a variety of settings including hospitals, the community, patients' homes and independent organisations.

You may be able to get accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) if you have practice-based learning or a degree in another health-related, biology-based or social sciences subject. Evidence of this learning may contribute to meeting some programme requirements, but this is at the discretion of individual institutions.

If you already have a degree (usually a 2:2 or above) and relevant experience, you may be eligible to apply for a two-year accelerated NMC-approved pre-registration Masters course.

For a list of recognised programmes, see NMC Approved Programmes.

A non-repayable training grant of at least 拢5,000 a year is available to pre-registration nursing students studying on an eligible course at a university in England. This is available in addition to student finance for tuition and maintenance loans. For more information, see the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).

For details of financial support available elsewhere in the UK, see:

Registered nurse degree apprenticeships (RNDAs) are also offered by some employers. These provide a flexible, work-based route into nursing. You'll be employed in a healthcare setting (such as a hospital, GP surgery, or care home) and complete part-time study at an NMC-approved university.

RNDAs typically take four years, although you may be able to do it in a shorter length of time if you have APEL. The cost of training is covered by your employer, and you'll earn a salary throughout.

You can search apprenticeships on NHS Jobs or Find an apprenticeship. If you already work in a health setting, you can speak to your employer about opportunities.

The NMC states that good health is necessary to practise as a nurse, but this doesn't mean that you'll be exempt if you have a disability or health condition. Before you start a pre-registration programme, you'll also need to take a criminal records check. Read the NMC Guidance on health and character.

Skills

You'll need to have:

strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with patients, their families and a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals
the ability to gain patients' trust and support them both emotionally and physically through person-centred care
empathy, sensitivity and emotional resilience when caring for patients in distressing or complex situations
written communication skills to keep patient records and write care plans
observation skills and attention to detail to monitor patient conditions
the ability to prioritise and manage care for patients with diverse needs
excellent teamworking and collaboration skills to ensure safe and coordinated care
a flexible and adaptable approach to work
the ability to remain calm under pressure in a fast-paced and sometimes challenging work environment
sound clinical judgement
general IT skills and digital literacy
good organisational and time management skills
leadership skills and the ability to motivate, particularly as your career progresses and you move into a more senior position.

Work experience

Course providers will expect you to have an understanding of the role of an adult nurse, as well as a commitment to the NHS Constitution and Values, which include compassion, respect and working together for patients.

Getting some relevant frontline health or social care experience will demonstrate your motivation and will provide an insight into the sector and whether nursing is the career for you. Opportunities can be paid or voluntary and take place in a range of settings, including hospitals, care homes, hospices, GP surgeries or with a home care provider.

Hands-on roles such as healthcare assistant, support worker or care worker are particularly valuable and show you have a real interest helping people. Even short-term or part-time roles can help you develop empathy, communication and teamwork skills that nursing courses look for. Other opportunities include supporting people with disabilities or long-term health conditions in the community or volunteering with charities focused on health or wellbeing, such as Age UK or Marie Curie.

It's also a good idea to visit a hospital or GP surgery and either shadow a practice nurse or talk to nurses directly about the role. You could also attend nursing insight days or virtual events offered by universities or NHS trusts.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

As an adult nurse, you can work in a wide range of clinical and community settings, including:

NHS hospitals and private healthcare providers
GP practices
community health teams, including district nursing and outreach services
residential and nursing care homes
hospices and palliative care centres
rehabilitation units and specialist clinics
walk-in centres, urgent care centres and minor injuries units.

You may also be employed by nursing agencies, which typically offer flexible, often short-term placements in various healthcare environments.

Other employers include:

air ambulance services and critical care transport
NHS 111 or other emergency and non-emergency medical helplines
overseas development organisations, humanitarian NGOs or disaster relief agencies
charities and voluntary organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie or the British Red Cross
cruise ships
HM Prison Service
occupational health services within companies or public sector bodies
the armed forces (Army, Royal Navy, RAF)
travel or holiday companies.

See the NHS Provider Directory for details of trusts in your area.

Look for job vacancies at:

NHS Jobs and NHSScotland Jobs
Nursing Times Jobs
RCNi Nursing Jobs
Health Jobs UK
HSC Jobs - health and social care jobs in Northern Ireland.

Vacancies are also advertised on the websites of private healthcare providers such as:

For nursing jobs in the armed forces, see:

Specialist nursing agencies such as Pulse and Newcross Healthcare recruit for both permanent and temporary positions in the UK and overseas. For a searchable directory of agencies, see the Nursing Agencies List.

Professional development

As a newly registered nurse, you'll usually start your first job with a period of preceptorship. This structured transition phase is designed to help you further develop your practice and gain in confidence. It covers fundamental competencies in patient care as well as broad skills in leadership, management, teaching and communication.

In Scotland, newly qualified nurses participate in Flying Start NHS. This is a personal development programme aimed at building your confidence and supporting your learning in your first year of practice.

Your registration with the NMC must be renewed every three years, and to do this you'll have to show you've met the revalidation requirements. This includes completing 450 hours of registered practice and 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD), including 20 hours of participatory learning, over the three-year period. For the full list of requirements, see Nursing & Midwifery Council - Revalidation.

Once established in your role, you'll have access to a wide range of clinical and professional development opportunities, which vary depending on your employer. Areas of specialist training include:

cardiac or respiratory care
infection prevention and control
oncology and palliative care
neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis
surgical nursing, including theatre and recovery.

Some universities offer structured part-time learning programmes through post-registration qualifications in areas such as advanced practice or specialist nursing, which may lead to MSc or even PhD qualifications. Search postgraduate courses in nursing.

Many nurses also join professional bodies and networks such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to access specialist training events, conferences and career resources and support.

Career prospects

There are various routes for career progression. Once you've completed your period of preceptorship, you can work in a range of settings and start to move up the career ladder.

According to the RCN, there are three levels of nursing beyond registered nurse:

enhanced - nurses who have developed additional skills and knowledge through post-registration training and experiential learning, often specialising in a specific clinical area
advanced - very experienced nurses with substantial expert knowledge who typically work autonomously to assess, diagnose and manage patient care
consultant - nurses who have progressed from an advanced level to reach a significantly higher level, often aligned with strategy, service improvement and clinical excellence.

You'll start by gaining some experience in a more generalist role but can then choose to undertake further training to specialise in an area of interest. There are many branches of adult nursing, and popular specialties include:

acute settings
accident and emergency
oncology
intensive care
general practice
clinical research
theatre and surgical.

All nurses have management responsibilities, but some career paths are more management-orientated than others. As you become more senior, you may have less hands-on nursing responsibility.

Progression to roles such as ward sister, ward manager and team leader depends on the development of management skills and your level of specialist knowledge. You may then progress either within a clinical specialism up to posts such as nurse consultant, or through further managerial responsibility as a matron and then up the executive ladder to a director of nursing post.

With experience, it's also possible to move into education, training or advisory roles, such as:

clinical nurse educator or practice development nurse
health promotion and patient education roles
university-based nurse lecturer or mentor for student nurses.

There may also be opportunities for care home nurses to undertake further training to become a registered care home manager with responsibility for staffing, quality standards and compliance.

For more information on possible career pathways see the RCN careers resource for registered nurses.

Adult nurse