Nurse | Explore careers | National Careers Service (2024)

You can do a degree in adult nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.You might be able to study another area of nursing alongside adult nursing.

You might be able to get additional student financial support through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

You might be able to join the second year of a nursing degree if you already have a degree in:

• a health-related subject
• psychology
• life sciences
• social work

Full-time courses usually take 3 years.

Armed forces

You can also train to be a nurse in the armed forces. You can find more information at:

• Army
• Royal Air Force
• Royal Navy

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 or 3 A levels, including a science, or a level 3 diploma or access to higher education in health, science or nursing

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You might be able to apply for a Registered Nurse Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship if you work in a healthcare setting like a hospital.

This takes around 4 years and is a mix of academic study and on-the-job training.

You'll need the support of your employer to do a degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You'll find it helpful to get some experience before you apply for nurse training.

You could:

• get work experience in health or social care
• find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT

Registration

• you'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council

Further information

You can find advice about how to become a nurse from the Royal College of Nursing and Health Careers.

You'll need:

• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• a desire to help people
• knowledge of psychology
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

In this role you could:

• take temperatures, blood pressures and pulse rates
• give drugs and injections, treat wounds and set up drips
• monitor the progress of patients and update records
• handover information to colleagues at the end of a shift
• work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to decide what care to give
• give advice to patients and their relatives

You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a health centre, at a hospice, at an adult care home, at a client's home or in a prison.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.