Nurse – Job Description
Simon Thompson on 
Nurses don’t just work in hospitals but are employed in GP surgeries, in schools, major companies, the armed forces, prisons and anywhere else where people might need immediate medical attention and advice.
And these days it’s becoming a man’s world – one in ten nurses are now male.
Despite the role’s diversification over the years, the majority of nurses still start out and work in hospitals. Diagnosis is almost exclusively the preserve of doctors, but nurses will take blood samples, measure heart rates and blood pressure and administer injections and medication. And there’s the more traditional role of carer thrown in as well.
It’s a people thing, and the best nurses are great listeners who are patient, tactful and sympathetic. It’s not a job for the faint-hearted, however, as ill people are rarely the easiest to deal with. And even with the best care in the world, not all of them recover…
Whether you’re working in the NHS or the private sector, you’ll have to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which in turn requires a degree in nursing. People working in clinical support positions can take a part-time course to earn a registered nursing degree.
Once qualified, there are a number of areas nurses can specialise in – children’s, mental health, neo-natal, health visitor etc – which require extra training.
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Other recommended resources:
Nursing and Midwifery Council
The UK regulator of nurses, if you want to call yourself one, you’ll need to register with them first. Their website is useful for information on training and up-to-date research.
Royal College of Nursing
A UK professional body aimed at representing nurses and their needs and help to educate and further improve standards within the profession. They offer access to a wealth of information in addition to support in professional development.
uknursing.net
An online community free for anyone registered under the Nursing and Midwifery Council to use, to share information, ideas and expertise. They also offer free training and opportunities to obtain voucher rewards.
