In recent times, Nursing has become one of the most in-demand degrees in the UK as 94% of students get a job within six months of their graduation. The basic requirement to start out as a Nurse in the UK is to have a first-degree qualification in nursing and then write some certification examinations.
Nursing as a career in the UK takes 3-4 years on a full-time basis and could be longer if taken on a part-time basis to study and graduate.
Exploring Nursing Careers in the UKÂ
- Cardiac Nurse
Heart diseases are among the major causes of death, therefore there is now an increase in demand for Cardiac Nurses who would care for patients of heart diseases.
A cardiac nurse assists a cardiac doctor during heart surgeries and procedures and other related issues with the heart. The expected job growth for cardiac nurses is 16%. A cardiac nurse can work in rehab centers, hospitals, and in-home care. The relevant certificate required to become a cardiac nurse is a State Nursing License Certificate.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
Clinical nurse specialists are advanced registered nurses, as they work with other nurses to improve the health care of a patient. They are majorly in leadership roles and positions, and they give instructions to junior nurses.
The expected job growth for clinical nurse specialists is 15%. A clinical nurse specialist can work in in-home health care services, hospitals, and physician’s offices. There is no particular certificate required to become a clinical nurse specialist.
- Registered Nurse
Registered nurses provide healthcare for patients, they give the public advice on their health and also provide emotional support for their patients and their families. Most Registered nurses begin their careers early, and they have the opportunity to work in all the medical fields depending on their interest. The expected job growth for registered nurses is 15%.
A registered nurse can work in a medical care facility, hospitals, etc. The relevant certificate required to become a registered nurse is a State Nursing license Certificate.
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
A certified registered nurse anesthetist is a highly trained nurse that assists with anaesthesia during operations and surgeries. They are one of the highest-paid nurses due to the high demand for anesthetist nurses.
The expected job growth for a certified registered nurse anesthetist is 16%. They can work in surgical centers, hospitals, and specialist doctor’s offices. The relevant certificate required to become a certified registered nurse anaesthetist is the CRNA certificate.
- Emergency Room Nurse
Working alongside other teams of nurses, ER nurses perform tasks to stabilize an emergency patient. An ER nurse can be asked to administer proper medication and attend to basic wounds.
The expected growth rate for an emergency room nurse is 16%. They work in hospitals. The relevant certificate required to become an emergency room nurse is a Certified Emergency Nurse Certificate.
- Travel Nurse
Travel nurses are different in the way that they are able to travel around different locations and broaden their knowledge both professionally and physically. Travel Nurses are often paid hourly.
The expected growth rate for travel nurses is 19%. They work in doctor’s offices and hospitals. The relevant certificate needed for a travel nurse is dependent on the speciality.
- Orthopaedic Nurse
Orthopaedic nurses are nurses that specialize in the prevention and treatment of muscle and skeletal disorders.
The expected growth rate for orthopedic nurses is 26%. They work in rehabilitation centres, hospitals, and doctor’s offices. The relevant certificate needed is Orthopedic Nurse Certification Examination (ONC)
- Public Health Nurse
Public health nurses inform and educate the public about health, precautionary measures, and how to take care of personal health.
The expected growth rate for public health nurses is 19%. They work in community clinics and hospitals. The relevant certificate needed is the Community/Public Health Nursing Exam.
- Oncology Nurse
Oncology nurses specialize in the treatment of cancer. They often enlighten cancer patients on the available treatment options to explore and they can also prescribe medications. They also help patients monitor and manage symptoms.
The expected growth rate for oncology nurses is 19%. Oncology Nurses work in cancer treatment centres and hospitals. The relevant certificate needed is 1000 hours of training as a Registered Nurse
- Pediatric Nurse
Pediatric nurses specialize in the care and treatment of children and adolescents. They can diagnose diseases in children and prescribe medications. The expected growth rate for pediatric nurses is 26%. They work in children’s hospitals and doctor’s offices. There is no specialized certification required to become a Pediatric Nurse.
- Nurse MidwifeÂ
Nurse-Midwives are among the most essential part of the health care team who are responsible for the healthcare of women. They collaborate with physicians to offer patients gynaecological, ante-natal, and post-natal care.
To qualify as a midwife in the UK, you must be registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). Nurse-Midwives are also required to have completed an approved pre-registration midwifery degree programme which lasts three years.
Nurse-Midwives in the UK typically earns around 67,400 GBP per year.
- Geriatric NurseÂ
Geriatric nurses provide healthcare services to the elderly, they are trained to understand and maintain the physical and mental health needs of elderly people.
The average pay for a Geriatric Nurse is £43,305 a year and £21 an hour in the United Kingdom
Other nursing aspects include:
Nursing Administrator
Nurse Pertitional
Nurse Manager
Nurse Educator
Family Nurse Petitioner
Mental Health Nurse
Some UK Universities to Study Nursing
University of Glasgow
University of Liverpool
Anglia Ruskin University
Coventry University
Cardiff University
Manchester Metropolitan University
University of Bradford
University of Chester
Swansea University
University of York
How to Become A Registered Nurse in the UK
The basic requirement to become a registered nurse in the UK is a degree in nursing or its equivalent as a first-degree course. The requirement could also vary depending on the aspect of nursing an applicant wants to apply for.
As an immigrant in the UK, there are also certain general requirements needed to become a registered nurse in the UK. These requirements are:
- Completed years of education preceding nursing training program
- Must have completed the oversees nursing program
- Applicants must register with the nursing and midwifery council (NMC) which is the body that regulates the nursing professionals.
- Acquire a UK work permit
- Have a current PIN number from the NMC website
- Evidence of speaking English (IELTS, and it’s equivalent)
- Police report
- Employer’s reference
- Health declaration
Annual Earnings For Nurses in the UKÂ
The average earning of a nurse in the Uk is:
Starting salary: ranges from £16,000 – £20,000 per annum
Professional salary: ranges from £20,000 – £35,000 per annum