So you want to be a nurse?

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by Simon Wright
Monster Healthcare Expert

Nursing in today’s NHS will give you the chance to develop your full potential and a career for life. You’ll need a caring nature, an ability to interact with people – not just patients, but their families, and other members of your healthcare team such as doctors, therapists and scientists as well as the support workers working alongside you.

Entry Requirements
Minimum requirements (these are being reviewed and may change during 2005 – to keep up to date, visit www.nhs.uk/careers):

The standards for entry into a nursing or midwifery diploma or degree programmes are set by the Nursing & Midwifery Council.

Nursing Diploma Programmes

You will need at least one of the following:

• 5 GCSE/GCE O levels, grade C or above (including English and a Science/Maths subject for entry to midwifery, unless you have already obtained qualifications marked * below)
• Or 5 CSE’s Grade 1
• Or GNVQ Intermediate level plus one GCSE/GCE O Level, grade C or above
• Or GNVQ Advance Level or NVQ Level 3*
• Or a QAA accredited Access to Higher Education course
• Or EDEXEL Foundation (BTEC) National or Higher National Diploma

Nursing Degree Programmes

Most education institutes will require at least two A Level passes

Nurse Cadets or Modern Apprenticeships

For people with fewer formal qualifications, there are an increasing number of Nurse Cadet Schemes available.

These schemes usually consist of an initial training programme of up to two years, leading to someone being able to achieve the qualifications necessary to enter into nurse training (NVQ Level 3 or completion of an Access Course).

The training programme will include a range of placements within your chosen NHS location. Cadet Schemes are primarily designed for people between the ages of 16 and 19, and are not restricted to nursing and midwifery careers.

To find out whether Cadet Schemes are operating in your region, contact your local NHS Workforce Development Confederation or visit www.wdc.nhs.uk.

Midwifery

There are two routes to qualification as a midwife:

• Direct – a 3-4 year diploma or degree programme in midwifery
• Post-registration – first you qualify as a Registered Nurse in adult nursing, and then keep a shortened 78-week programme in midwifery.

Once qualified, and as your experience grows, you can research and develop special areas of practice, become involved in services such as family planning or move into teaching or management.