With nursing continuing to offer a wide range of career routes, do you have what it takes to become a nurse? Would you like to care for others? Would you know what type of nursing career to choose?
Nursing as a field of expertise offers many different types of nurse jobs, ranging from hospital work and clinical care to care homes, community services, GP practices, schools, and specialist services. Not forgetting midwives and the many other health professionals we would be lost without.
So if you did decide to get into nursing, where would you start and what would you expect? Working in the care jobs industry, we’d like to offer some general information about some of the key nursing positions and routes available. The Royal College of Nursing careers resource also gives current information on the wide range of career pathways open to registered nurses.
Adult Nurse – The term RGN is still sometimes used informally, but today’s professional registration is based on fields of nursing practice. Adult nurses make up a major part of the nursing workforce and work in hospitals, community services, care settings and many specialist services. They develop strong clinical skills and broad knowledge, which can include administering medicines, monitoring patients, wound care and providing emotional support to patients and families. Adult nurses can go on to specialise and develop advanced skills throughout their careers.
Mental Health Nurse – Mental health nurses are trained to provide care to people with mental health needs in a variety of settings, including hospitals, community services and secure environments. Their work can involve helping people manage their health, regain independence and develop skills that support recovery. The work can be challenging but highly rewarding.
Practice Nurse – General practice nurses work in GP surgeries and primary care. Registered nurses can move into practice nursing and develop additional skills relevant to the role. Their work can include long-term condition management, health screening, vaccinations, wound care and supporting patients to manage their health.
Community Nurse – Nurses working in the community support patients outside hospital settings, including in people’s homes, clinics and other community services. Depending on the role and specialist training, they may work with people who have long-term conditions, limited mobility or complex health needs. Community nursing often involves a high level of professional judgement and independent working.
Midwife – Midwifery is a separate regulated profession, not simply a nursing specialism. Midwives work with women and families during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period. The role carries a high level of responsibility and requires approved education and professional registration.
The above gives just a small example of the careers available and demonstrates the variety in nursing and maternity services. In the UK, registered nurses train in recognised fields such as adult, children’s, learning disability or mental health nursing, and can later develop into specialist, advanced practice, education, research, leadership and management roles. There are many opportunities once the door is opened and throughout your career. You can continue to develop into advanced or specialist nursing roles and beyond. As with all care jobs, a good nurse holds exceptional value and career progression can come with continued learning, experience and hard work. Be prepared for responsibility, demanding shifts and complete dedication. The rest may even come naturally.