If you’re the type of person who loves to make a difference and really improve the lives of other people, then it might be time you stopped stacking shelves at Tesco and retrained in a role that’s more purposeful and rewarding and learn how to become a nurse. Becoming a nurse is one of the noblest things a person can do. The pay isn’t amazing, and you’ll have to work long and unsociable hours, so this job is only for dedicated individuals who enjoy caring for ill patients. At the end of the day, there’s no point retraining in this profession if you’re after a large salary or if you think you’re going to get an easy ride.
Still, we do have a shortage of nurses in the UK, and this means I need to do my best to convince you of the value in opting for this career path. So, it’s probably worth mentioning that head-nurses and managers can sometimes earn slightly higher amounts. To get there though, you’re going to need to follow the four steps listed below and then work hard at the job for a few years in the hope of being offered a promotion.
How to become a nurse: steps
1 – Getting Your Qualifications
To become a registered general nurse (RGN) in the UK, you must first complete a relevant degree course at university. In most instances, these courses only last for three years and will teach you all the basics you need to understand before being let loose in a hospital. This is where the wheat gets sorted from the chaff and anyone less than dedicated will disappear.
2 – Finding Clinical Placements
This will be done during the time you’re a university and will be the first real taste you get of working inside a hospital. Usually, the university will sort all the arrangements out for you, but sometimes you may have to get involved, especially if you’re at a poor ranking uni.
3 – Registering With The Nursing Council
Once your degree course is completed, and you’ve been handed your qualifications it’s time to get yourself registered with the nursing and midwifery council in the UK. This will allow you to work in any hospital and places an obligation on your shoulders to help people in need wherever you may encounter them – much like the commitment doctors have to make.
4 – Finding A Job
With a bit of luck, you should have made lots of new connections during your time at university, and so they should be able to help you find a job. If it doesn’t work out quite like that for you, don’t worry too much because there are specialist job boards online that deal solely with nursing vacancies.
Once a job has been found, it’s time to start working hard and making a good impression. If you receive a promotion during the first few years, your responsibilities could increase. You could be put in charge of ordering health care supplies from the RGS Group and other specialists, and maybe even given the responsibility of managing new staff members.
Well, there you have it guys. You now know how to become a nurse in just four simple steps. I hope breaking the process down in this manner will incite more of you to take this profession up because we really do need some fresh faces in the nursing industry.
Good luck with your new career!
