How To Start a Career in Nursing
Are you looking to become a nurse?
Nursing is a rewarding career with plenty of opportunities for development. Becoming a nurse can be an incredibly fulfilling experience, where you get to help make improve people’s's lives every day.
To help you decide if nursing might be for you, we’ve pulled together this guide which covers:
- Reasons to become a nurse
- Nursing salaries in the UK
- Qualifications required to become a nurse
- How long it takes to become a nurse
- What career paths in nursing you can take
If you want to discover more about nursing and the nursing qualifications required to enter the career, read on.
Why should you become a nurse?
From childhood dreams to a passion for care, there can be lots of reasons why someone would want to become a nurse.
The role of a nurse is to offer medical care and compassion to individuals during vulnerable moments. Although the role can be challenging, it can be extremely rewarding. If you have a caring personality and an interest in medical care, you might just have what it takes to become – and enjoy being - a nurse.
What’s more, nursing is a field that constantly evolves, providing opportunities for personal and professional growth. It's a career where you can continue learning and specialise in areas that truly interest you, all while making a real difference to someone's quality of life.
How much do nurses make in the UK?
The average registered nurse makes £34,916 per year. Entry level nurses make £31,200 where experienced workers can earn up to £48,000.
Locum nurses can make a little more, with the average earning £50,781, while experienced nurses can earn up to £68,250 on average.
What qualifications do you need to become a nurse?
If you want to become a nurse, you will need a degree or equivalent in the field of nursing, and to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Here at TMC, we offer a range of courses, including T-Levels and Access Courses, which will help you take your next steps to enrolling on a nursing degree.
TMC’s nursing courses in Manchester
Nursing and Midwifery (Access to HE)
The Nursing and Midwifery course is an Access to Higher Education Diploma. This course is perfect for those who don’t have the A-Level requirements for a nursing degree but have the ambition to pursue nursing as their career.
This course is one year long when studied full time. Upon completion, students will have to apply to a nursing degree course to become a qualified nurse. You must be over 19 to enrol on to this course.
Health (Assisting Adult Nursing) T Level
The Health (Assisting Adult Nursing) T Level course is a 2-year programme, equivalent to three A-Levels and developed in collaboration with industry experts. This course combines 80% classroom learning with a vital 20% on a 45-day employer placement to equip you with on-the-job skills and knowledge.
Upon successful completion of the 2 year Health T-Level qualification, learners have to apply for a nursing degree to become a qualified nurse. T-Levels are ideal for 16-19 year olds.
Health and Physiotherapy (Access to HE)
The Health and Physiotherapy course is an Access to Higher Education Diploma for those who want to go into a wide range of careers, such as physiotherapy, exercise science, sport science and podiatry nursing.
Upon completing the one-year course, students who want to go on to nursing must apply for a nursing degree to become qualified nurses.
How long does it take to become a nurse in the UK?
To become a nurse, you can spend 1-2 years acquiring your Level 3 qualification from TMC such as the ones listed above.
You must then complete a degree in nursing will take a minimum of 3 years.
What can a nursing qualification lead to?
A registered nursing qualification can open the door to a wide range of careers.
You could become a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, manager, clinical specialist, locum nurse and more.
You can also choose to specialise in different areas of practice, such as a paediatric nurse, midwife, critical care nurse or mental health nurse to name a few.
With nursing, there is always scope for career development and finding a field of practice that suits you.
If you want to take the right steps towards this rewarding career, check out our nursing courses and enrol today. We can’t wait for you to join us here at TMC!