NHS Nursing Qualifications
- NHS workers work in a range of health care settings.nurse with a syringe image by Photosani from Fotolia.com
National Health Service (NHS) nurses work in the United Kingdom and are the largest staffing area working within the NHS. Nurses are employed in a range of health care settings from accident and emergency wards, physician's surgeries to aftercare work patients' homes. The average salary range of a registered nurse, including those employed by the NHS, was 18,291-27,684 British pounds (about $27,500-$41,000 U.S.), according to the Pay Scale website. - To be eligible as a nurse with the NHS, candidates must take a diploma or degree course at a U.K. university accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Study programs typically include work experience placements in local hospitals or community support settings, as stated on the Course Careers UK website.
- There are no national standards for entry into diploma programs because each institution sets it own requirements. In most cases however, an NHS nursing candidate requires five General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) passes (high school equivalent grade in the U.S.). These five grades must be in the A through C range, with at least one in English, to be eligible for the diploma course. According to the NHS Careers website, diploma programs will be phased out between late 2011 and early 2013. Any new applicants to the nursing profession after this date are required to complete a full degree program.
- The degree course typically begins with a Common Foundation Program, which deals with basic aspects of nursing and medicine. In the following modules, candidates will specialize in one of four specific nursing programs: Adult care, children, mental health or helping those with learning disabilities. Candidates must be at least 17.5 years old to enroll in a course.
Applicants wishing to enroll on the full degree program require at least 2 'A' levels (post high school), preferably with one in a relevant scientific subject. Before applying to university, candidates should consider taking voluntary work placements in health care settings or work experience roles in NHS hospitals, to help their chances of being accepted to a degree program. - Full-time diploma nursing programs normally last for three years, while the degree course typically takes four years. Holding a previous degree in a relevant field, such as human biology, biomedical science or psychology, may allow a candidate to take a shortened postgraduate course in a specific nursing discipline. Postgraduate nursing courses last for two years, but applicants will need a first degree in an associated study area such as biology or behavioral science.
- Once the degree or diploma course has been completed, an applicant must register with the NMC to be eligible to work as an NHS nurse. Once registered, a candidate takes up positions within a range of NHS nursing roles, including mental health work, pediatrics, neonatal nursing and health visitors. Due to the constantly changing nature of medicine and nursing practice, NHS nurses are expected to take continuing professional development courses throughout their employment.
