When you think of nurses, you may well have an image in your mind of blue-coated hospital staff tending to patients. But nursing professionals play a vital role in healthcare in all kinds of places, including GP surgeries, care homes, hospices, even prisons.
If you’re looking to build a career in nursing then it’s important that you start off by establishing where your strengths and skills lie so you can find the right job for you. It is of course a competitive arena, with many people vying for jobs and placements, so putting together the strongest application possible will ensure you stand the best chance of making it.
Education and Training
NHS nurses are required to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which means that you must first have a degree in nursing. Diplomas are no longer available for it. You can look online at a course finder to search for what nursing degrees are available and discover the right one for you.
Healthcare assistants can work their way up and apply for a place on a degree course, and others can apply for a nursing course directly through UCAS. There are of course entry requirements to bear in mind that are always worth checking first.
Do Your Research
It’s vital to keep in mind that every organization is different, so make sure you know the process for each one you approach. If there is any guidance provided by the organization that can help you with your application, then pay attention to it, and stick with the proper and correct procedures.
You must research the organization you’re approaching, and tailor your application to them, explaining why you’re applying, what you have to offer them, and why you want to work for them. Using a nursing agency such as Nursing Personnel can be a great way to start your career search, and could really help you to find the right nursing job for you.
Show your potential employer that you understand the importance of the nurse’s role, and the values that are essential to nursing including patient confidentiality and customer service. You’ll have to prove that you can handle distressing situations of the kind you may witness and experience daily. It’s a serious job that sometimes will see you handling a patient death or dealing with verbal abuse, so employers always want to know that you have a wise head on good shoulders that can carry that burden.
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