Nurse

Tracey Friday (30), Clinical Charge Nurse, NHS

How did you get into the job? When I was at school I worked at a residential care home for people with mental illness, which fuelled my interest for a job in the caring profession. After finishing my GCSEs and A-levels I spent three years studying for a Nursing diploma at Christ Church College in Canterbury.

Job history: The first 18 months of my diploma was general, covering all fields of nursing. I then specialised in mental health nursing. After qualifying, my first job was as a Junior Staff Nurse on an acute psychiatric unit within the private sector. I worked there for a year to consolidate my training and then decided that I'd like to get some experience in the NHS. I moved to another hospital and worked my way up to Senior Staff Nurse. I'm now a Clinical Charge Nurse.

Best/worst bits: Nursing somebody who is distressed and unwell on admission to a point where they can be discharged is very rewarding. But the shift work can take its toll. Getting up at 5.30 in the morning for the early shift, working weekends and sometimes nights can play havoc with my social life.

Advice for wannabees: As long as you have the entry requirements (see CV essentials below) there are lots of universities and colleges that offer courses. A good place to start is the Royal College of Nursing, as well as the Nursing and Midwifery Council - both are good resources. Working in a residential care home, as I did, can be a good idea as you can check out if the caring profession is for you.

CV essentials: It is possible to study for either a Nursing diploma or a Nursing degree - both take three years. The minimum entry requirements are five GCSEs at grade C or above. This has to include English and a Science/Maths subject. It is possible to apply with a GNVQ Advanced Level or NVQ Level 3.

Application process

If you meet the entry requirements and want to do a nursing degree then you apply through the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). This is the same procedure as for all university degrees. If you want to do a Nursing diploma then you need to apply through the Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service.

There is very little difference between a degree and diploma. Both lead to the qualification of Registered Nurse and the pay scales are the same. However, further down your career path some roles, for example teaching, will require a degree.

Job description

"As a Clinical Charge Nurse I am the Deputy Ward Manager," explains Tracey. "I'm responsible for a team of nurses and the care of patients." Nursing offers a great variety of opportunities and specialisms and as Tracey says, 'no two days are the same."

Nurses are also responsible for writing care plans, administering medication and physical observations like taking blood pressure, pulse etc. The job also demands that you are a good communicator as nurses have to deal with consultants, domestics, patients and relatives every day.

Skills/experience/training

It goes without saying that you can't practice as a nurse unless you have trained! But in addition all nurses must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council who will issue you with a pin number. Without a pin number you cannot work.

Nursing is organised into four specialisms: adult, children's, mental health and learning disability nursing. During the first year of the common foundation programme you are introduced to all four and then in the second and third years you focus on the 'branch' of your choice.

When you train as a nurse you are eligible for a bursary. If you do an NHS-funded diploma this currently stands at £5432 (£6382 in London) a year and is not means tested. If you do a NHS-funded degree then your course fees will be paid and you will receive a means-tested bursary - that means the amount you receive will be dependant on your own or your parents' salaries. Subsidised nurses' accommodation is also often available.

Personality/who would it suit

If you want to be a nurse you need to enjoy working within a team, have an interest in people and be non-judgemental. Patience and empathy will also help. It will help if you're confident in expressing your point of view because you will have to deal with a spectrum of different people. Common sense is a big part of nursing, and it will also help if you are aware of your own limitations and not afraid to put your hand up and ask for help.

Career prospects

There are many career paths you can take once you have trained as a nurse, right up to senior management. The NHS offers excellent learning opportunities. In addition to in-house courses you could turn your diploma into a degree or complete a Masters. Postgraduate training will allow you to move into any number of fields like counselling, working in the community or becoming a therapist.

Nurses are always in demand so job security is pretty much guaranteed. Once you've qualified it is also relatively easy to get temporary contracts or work abroad. As a Junior Staff Nurse you can expect to be paid around £18,000. This will vary from region to region and if you work in London you will also have London weighting.

Got a career you want us to cover? Just let us know and we'll do our best to include it in this section.

by Liz Scarff