subject: Routes Into Nursing [print this page] Working in nursing can provide you with a fulfilling and stable career. Becoming a nurse later in life is becoming more and more popular. Not everybody enters nursing straight after completing their education. There are many different routes into nursing and lots of different types of job roles so usually there is a particular area that nurses know they would like to specialise in. The most important aim for a nurse is to make sure the patient(s) are comfortable.
Working as a nurse does not necessarily mean you will be based in a hospital or left with all the unpleasant jobs that nobody else wants to do. These are myths. When you enrol on a pre registration course there will be a number of modules you can take and this will usually help you choose what area you want to work in.
Nurses are able to work in patient's homes, schools, with the elderly and children, in prisons and doctors surgeries. The opportunities open to nurses are varied making it an extremely popular career choice.
Before you begin working as a nurse you will often be required to complete a pre-registration course. There are many of these courses available in the UK and at present there are no minimum entry requirements attached to the course as standard. The entry requirements tend to vary from education institution to education institution. Generally most diploma courses will require you to have obtained 5 GCSE passes at Grade C upwards, these must include English language or literature and a science based subject. Usually nursing degree courses will require two A Level passes.
If you are considering changing your career to become a nurse you should possess good numeracy and literacy skills. It is important that you are a good team player and have excellent communication skills. The ability to work quickly and calmly under pressure is vital as the atmosphere around you may be tense and very busy at times. Observation skills are another key trait you must have, nurses are often left to monitor a patient's condition, reporting back to doctors.
