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Working Week
Programme 2
Emergency Nurse 
Background Information:
Nursing
The image of nurses has changed over the years and nowadays nursing is a desirable,
exciting and dynamic career, with a variety of new roles opening up within the
profession. The work of nurses is increasingly valued.
Nurses tend to focus on the care of the individual rather than on specific illnesses
and conditions. In a hospital a patient can frequently have up to 90% of their
care from a nurse rather than a doctor.
The range of working environments is wide. Nurses work in hospitals, GP surgeries,
clinics, nursing or residential homes, occupational health services and various
voluntary or non-governmental organisations (NGOs). There are opportunities in
the prisons services, schools and universities, within the armed services and
even on leisure cruises.
The NHS employs the greatest number of nurses and has many opportunities in both
clinical and managerial positions.
There is a growing private sector, including hospitals and nursing homes.
There are research and teaching opportunities for nurses.
They can work in large institutions, be self-employed or work for agencies.
Suitability
Debbie is responsible, reliable and hardworking, both caring and empathetic as
well as practical and a competent clinician – all ideal qualities for nursing.
Nurses need to be:
- good communicators and listeners, able to relate to a range
of patients with both physical and mental health issues
- compassionate, sensitive and patient
- firm, authoritative and tough sometimes
- diplomatic with members of the public
- able to work in teams and take individual responsibilities and initiative
- calm and un-panicked in the face of emergencies
- practical and with an interest in the sciences.
Some things to be aware of!
- Nurses in the National Health Service work about 37_ hours a week, usually in
shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
- Pay scales vary. Some examples of current pay levels: a newly qualified nurse
in the NHS earns around £15,000 a year. More senior Charge Nurses and Sisters
earn around £21,000–£26,000. Specialist nurses can earn around
£30,000 and some consultant nurses earn significantly higher.
- Nursing is very physical and demands lots of stamina. In a hospital environment
there is very little time to sit down! You also need to be in good health.
Nurses, especially in hospitals, face daily trauma, and need emotional resilience
too.
- You may need a police check before you start training for nursing.
- It’s not a job for the faint-hearted!
Training
- The minimum age for starting nursing is 17.
- Nurses can qualify through a diploma or degree.
- For the diploma, entry usually requires at least five GCSEs (A–C), preferably
including English, Maths and a Science subject.
- For the degree you need the same as above plus two A levels or equivalent with
one in a biological science.
- Various course providers have specific entry needs.
- The diploma usually last three years and the degree courses three or four.
- The first foundation year introduces the basic principles, and thereafter
nurses tend to specialise.
- Courses are 50% practical (including hospital experience) and 50% theoretical
– physiology and anatomy, psychology, sociology, ethics and social policy.
Transportable skills
Almost all the nurses associated with this programme said the same thing …
nursing skills enable you to work anywhere in the world. It’s a great way
to travel and always know you can get a job and do something worthwhile.
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