Health Profession
Nursing
Nurses are a crucial part of the healthcare team. Nurses work in every sort of health setting from accident and emergency to working in patients' homes, with people of all ages and backgrounds.
So, if you've got an interest in caring for people, you'll find a role that suits you in nursing. Some nurses begin their career by working their way up from support roles, which require no set qualifications, and go on to train for a registered nursing degree or diploma, which qualifies them to work as a nurse. Others apply straight to university to undertake their studies.
Here are a few of the many options you could chose from:
Adult Nursing
Adult nurses work with old and young adults with diverse health conditions, both chronic and acute. They juggle numerous priorities and use caring, counselling, managing, teaching and all aspects of interpersonal skills to improve the quality of patients' lives, sometimes in difficult situations. Work may be based in hospital wards, clinics or, increasingly, community settings and you may do shift work to provide 24-hour care.
Top of pageMental health nurses
As many as one in three people has a mental health problem at some point in their life, regardless of their age or background. Conditions range from personality and psychological disorders to neuroses and psychoses. Nurses who choose to specialise in the mental health branch of nursing - a complex and demanding area - work with GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others, to help care for patients with mental illnesses. Increasingly, care is given in the community, with mental health nurses visiting patients and their families at home, in residential centres, in prisons or in specialist clinics or units. You may do shift work to provide 24-hour care. This is a valuable role that provides much reward and satisfaction.
Children's nurses
This branch of nursing involves working with children of all ages who are suffering from many conditions. Children's nurses deal with a range of situations, including babies born with heart complications, teenagers who have sustained broken limbs, and child protection issues. Health problems can affect a child's development and it's vital to work with the child's family or carers to ensure that he or she does not suffer additionally from the stress of being ill or in hospital. Children's nursing takes place in hospitals, day care centres, child health clinics and in the child's home. Like other branches of nursing, care is becoming more community-based. You may do shift work to provide 24-hour care.
Learning disability nurses
Nurses specialising in learning disabilities make a difference to the everyday aspects of life that their patients can find extremely challenging. Teaching someone the skills to find work or to make a cup of tea can be significant in helping a person with a learning disability to lead a more independent, healthy life where they can relate to others on equal terms. Nursing is carried out in settings such as adult education, residential and community centres, as well as in patients' homes, workplaces and schools. Some nurses choose to specialise in education, sensory disability or the management of services. Learning disability nurses work as part of a team alongside GPs, psychologists, therapists, teachers and social workers. If you work in a residential setting, you may do shifts to provide 24-hour care.
The dental Nurse
A dental nurse supports the dentist in all aspects of patient care, this includes getting the appropriate instruments ready, mixing materials and ensuring patient comfort. They will also take notes from dentists dictation for records and once the patient has left, the dental nurse tidies the surgery and sterilises all of the instruments.In general practice, sometimes the dental nurse may help with reception work - making appointments, taking payments, dealing with paperwork and meeting and reassuring patients.
Dental nurses can be employed in general practice, hospitals or the community dental services and can also train as a dental nurse in the armed forces.
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Healthcare science
More than ever before,
the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness now rely on a
broad span of scientific knowledge and technical skills. Along
with doctors, nurses and other professions, scientists and
technicians are essential members of today's healthcare team.Top of page
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