Nurse
Nurse
As a Nurse, you will join a professional team of medical staff to take care of patients. This will involve monitoring each individual, dispensing medication, and offering specialist support. You can choose to study one of the following courses at RGU:
- Adult Nursing
- Children and Young People Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
Once you graduate, you will have the skills to deliver compassionate care to patients in hospitals and other clinical settings.
Necessary qualifications and skills
To work as a Nurse for NHS Scotland, you will need to complete a pre-registration degree programme accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Foundation in nursingResponsibilities
- assessing patients and earning their trust
- planning and delivering care
- monitoring progress
- taking samples, pulses, temperature and blood pressure
- administering medication
- ensuring hygienic practice on the ward
- writing accurate reports
- providing emotional support to patients and relatives
- advising patients on general wellbeing and health-related issues
Personal qualities that will help you become a nurse
- caring and compassionate
- emotionally resilient
- strong communication skills
- time-management skills
- ability to balance teamwork and leadership
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Working hours
Patients require round-the-clock care, so it’s likely you will work shifts of up to 12 hours. Of course, if you are registered to work for NHS Scotland then you will be paid extra for unsocial hours (weekdays 20:00 – 6:00, weekends, and public holidays).
Salary
The average NHS Scotland salary start from approx. £25,168 per year for Assistant in Nursing, to £63,485 per year for Nurse Consultant. The average NHS Scotland hourly pay ranges from approx. £14.96 per hour for Registered Nurse to £23.65 per hour for Charge Nurse.
Career prospects
In the NHS, you may decide remain as a staff Nurse throughout your career, keeping up to date through continuing professional development. If you opt for extra courses and workplace learning then you will have the opportunity to progress to senior, advanced, or consultant level.