Nurse

Jan 2023

Career of the Month

Key Facts

Starter Salary

£28,700

Experienced Salary

£55,200

Working Hours

37-42 hours per week

Overview

Adult nurses work with sick and injured people or with people who have physical disabilities in a variety of settings including hospitals and the community. They are part of a team of health professionals who support individuals and their families. Nurses assess, plan, implement and evaluate the care needed for individual patients and keep a record of their progress. They also use counselling, managing and teaching skills when working with patients to help them to improve the quality of their lives. In their daily routine, they check temperatures, take blood pressure, clean and dress wounds, give drugs and injections and use a range of equipment. It is possible to develop in a specific area of health work and career progression can lead to further training as a nurse practitioner. Nurses are caring, compassionate and empathetic; they are organised and have the ability to set people at their ease.

What it takes

Key skills required:

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
excellent verbal communication skills
thinking and reasoning skills
the ability to understand people’s reactions
knowledge of medicine and dentistry
counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
leadership skills
the ability to work well with your hands
concentration skills
a good memory

Restrictions:

pass enhanced background checks

Day to day

In this role you will:

take temperatures, blood pressures and pulse rates
help doctors with physical examinations
give drugs and injections
clean and dress wounds
set up drips and blood transfusions
use medical equipment
monitor patients' progress
update patient records and 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.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Become

You will need

An A-level (or equivalent) in maths, physics or biology
An A-level (or equivalent) in chemistry
A GCSE (4+/A*-C) (or equivalent) in English
A GCSE (4+/A*-C) (or equivalent) in maths
GCSEs (4+/A*-C) (or equivalent) in at least 2 science subjects (or double science)
A GCSE (4+/A*-C) (or equivalent) in chemistry (or double science)
A degree in biochemistry and biotechnology

Academic and Vocational Notes

Although it is possible to start as a technician and work your way up, most people enter a career in biochemistry by taking a degree in biochemistry, biotechnology or medical biochemistry, or another relevant subject. When researching courses, always check course content and specific entry requirements with individual universities.

Sandwich courses are available and any work experience is useful when it comes to applying for vacancies.

Some people specialise in biochemistry at postgraduate level having first taken a broader-based first degree. For research positions, employers often look for postgraduate training.

Work Based Training Notes

There are graduate training programmes run by industry; these may combine on-the-job training with part-time postgraduate study. Training in the health service for graduates can be through the NHS Scientist Training Programme.

With the necessary experience, qualifications and competencies, you can work towards Registered or Chartered Scientist status.

Other Routes

Whilst these are the usual routes to this career, there can be alternatives. You will be able to discuss these with your adviser.