The NHS (National Health Service) in the UK is one of the largest medical employers in the globe. Nurses who are employed in this gigantic institution will definitely have daily interaction with lots of different patients nurturing them and providing various treatments.
What is a NHS nurse?
A NHS nurse entails hard work and stamina as you are employed with the biggest institutions in the medical industry. There are a several available nursing positions in NHS which ranges from pediatric nurses to district nurses who works in the field performing community visits to sick patients in their own homes.
Duties of NHS nurse
- The jobs of NHS nurses are to take care of the ill and injured persons in their homes or in the hospital. Typical daily duties may include recording and monitoring pulse rate, temperatures, respiration rate and blood pressure, preparing and administering drugs and injections and assisting physicians during surgeries and patient examinations. The roles and responsibilities of NHS nurses are intensely fast-paced and require long hours of standing.
- Depending on specific field you are assigned, duties may generally evolve on observing and assessing the patients’ progress, doing nursing care plan and consultation with physicians. Daily interaction with patients and their significant others is also part of the daily routine.
- NHS nurses may also administer blood transfusions, insert IV line, and monitor IV drips and recording intake and output of patient. However, much of the job involves using advanced medical equipments to make the work easier and efficient.
Conditions of Work
NHS nurse mostly work around 37.5 hours weekly. They may also work during nighttime, holidays and weekends in shift. Working overtime on the hospital or in a private sector is also possible.
Educational requirements
In order to work as a NHS nurse, candidates are encouraged to accomplish a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a nursing diploma in any specialized field in nursing and should also obtain police check or police clearance.
Occupation and Progress
- On year 2010, there had been a nursing shortage in NHS (National Health Service). Employment rates as NHS nurses are mostly good with employment shortages that are often filled by various nurses overseas.
- As you gain more qualifications and become a RN, promotion is possible which may lead to become a charge or sister nurse wherein responsibilities may include overseeing clinics and hospital wards or working with a team doing community visits. Nurses with a master’s degree may also ladder-up into NHS management.