If you are thinking of starting a new career as a Nurse, you will want to know how the best way to go about it is! Perhaps you already have a career outside nursing, or maybe you are a care assistant and require formal training to become a Nurse, or maybe you have just finished education and want some information as to how to become a Nurse? All these can be answered if you read on!
Nursing is an exceptionally rewarding career, as you get the opportunity to help people on a day to day basis – whether you are a Midwife or GP Nurse, or working in a hospital. It can also be very challenging and stressful, and you will have to have an optimistic outlook and good bedside manner to be successful.
If you want to be called a Nurse, then you have to have a nursing qualification and part of this will include clinical placements where you will work in a hospital under the supervision of a registered Nurse. You will then be able to register yourself, be given a PIN and be called a Registered Nurse. In order to retain your registration status you will also have to continue your training during your career to ensure you are kept up-to-date in recent health developments.
There are no national minimum academic requirements in order to apply for nursing courses. Each institution that runs courses will set their own minimum requirements and you will have to contact the institution directly to confirm whether there are any criteria. You will have to demonstrate that you are able to:
Accurately manipulate numbers as applied to volume, weight, and length, (including, addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, use of decimals, fractions, and percentages) using a calculator; and,
Read and comprehend (in English) and to communicate clearly and effectively in writing to include using a word processor.
Further Education
Usually education institutions will expect you to have the following or equivalent:
Diploma in higher education (Dip HE) courses
For entry onto a Dip HE programme, you will usually need a minimum of around five GCSEs or equivalent at grade C or above. These would typically need to include English language or literature and a science subject.
In the future new individuals wanting to enter nursing profession will have to study a degree from September 2013. Some education institutions are already offering only the new Nursing Degree programme, although other establishments will continue to provide the Diploma course until 2013, and students already on the courses will be able to finish their Diploma.
Nursing Degree courses
Entry criteria for a degree programme will depend on the individual education institution so you must contact them directly. Typically you will usually need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade C or above (usually including English language or literature and a science or maths subject), plus two or three A’ levels or equivalent.
If you already have a first or second class honours degree that is broadly related to nursing (such as biological sciences, social sciences, psychology, behavioural sciences, and health studies) then an accelerated Nursing degree programme may be suitable. The list of relevant degrees above is not exhaustive and other degree subjects may also be considered by the individual education institution, based on the amount of relevant content.
Changing Careers
If you have already had a successful career in a completely unrelated field, but you would like to step into a truly rewarding Nursing Career, then the chances are you have been out of education for some time. You will still have to complete a Nursing Diploma or Nursing Degree course. In order to be accepted into the course you may have to undertake additional study, such as a QAA accredited access to higher education course or equivalent to prove that you have the minimum literacy and numeracy skills, and you are able to complete formal study. You’ll be pleased to know there is no age limit for entry onto the pre-registration Nursing Diploma or Nursing Degree courses.
