Nurse - Adult
Care for adults who are sick, injured or disabled and support them and their families when they are anxious and upset.
Also known as: registered nurse (adult)
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About the job
Salary
Source: National Careers Service
Weekly
£538
Entry level
£827
Experienced
Monthly
£2,333
Entry level
£3,583
Experienced
Yearly
£28,000
Entry level
£43,000
Experienced
64,200
people are currently employed
High growth
3,500 more jobs in 5 years
These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics
What it's like
You would care for adults who are sick, injured or disabled and support them and their families when they are anxious and upset.
You'd work with doctors to give the patients practical medical care. You'd respond sensitively to the person's needs so they feel safe and looked after.
Your tasks might include:
listening to patients and try to understand their worries
checking temperatures
measuring blood pressure and breathing rates
helping doctors to examine patients
giving drugs and injections
cleaning and dressing wounds
You would use high-tech medical equipment and carry out procedures like blood transfusions. You might also do routine checks and procedures with healthy people.
You could work in a hospital or in the community at a GP's surgery, health centre or clinic. Most jobs are in the National Health Service (NHS) though you could also work at private hospitals or nursing homes, schools, colleges or for the prison service, the Armed Forces or in industry.
You could specialise in an area such as accident and emergency, cardiac rehabilitation, outpatients, neonatal nursing, and operating theatre work.
You need to be able to help any person without judgement and respect patient confidentiality.
You can see more about this role in the National Health Service on the Adult nurse page on the NHS Scotland Careers website. See the Learning and development section for information about career structures, progression and rates of pay.
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Hours
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Environment
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:
- taking responsibility
- making decisions
- developing a plan
- social conscience
- empathising
- researching
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- resilience
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Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore the sections shown for more information about getting into this career.
You might have qualifications which are not shown here but will allow you access to a course. You can compare your qualifications by looking at their SCQF Level. For more information about this, check out the SCQF website.
Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Care
Chemistry
Childcare and Development
Human Biology
Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Nursing degree (SCQF 9/10).
To enter a nursing degree (SCQF 9/10) requires a minimum of three Highers at C and Nationals or equivalent education or work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Healthcare Support (SVQ level 2/3).
It is possible to enter a shortened graduate nursing programme with a relevant degree.
An Access to Nursing course may also give entry but check with the establishment that they accept this prior to applying.
Qualifications that show you have an understanding of health and wellbeing such as:
Health and Social Care (SCQF Level 6)
SQA Wellbeing Award (SCQF Level 3-5)
Once qualified you will need to:
register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
pass a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Disclosure check
complete a medical examination to ensure you are physically fit
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