Nurse

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

• become a clinical team leader, ward manager, or move into a management role like matron or director of nursing
• specialise in an area like intensive care, neonatal nursing or operating theatre work
• train to become a midwife, health visitor, district nurse or practice nurse
• become an advanced nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or nurse consultant if you have a postgraduate qualification
• move into teaching, research or become self-employed and work overseas

You can find out more about career progression from the Royal College of Nursing.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• a desire to help people
• knowledge of psychology
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Biology - Nurses need a thorough understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and how diseases affect the body. This knowledge is essential for tasks like monitoring vital signs, understanding how medications work, and recognising when a patient's condition is changing.
• Chemistry - Nurses administer drugs and set up drips, so they need to understand how different substances interact in the body. Knowledge of chemistry helps them grasp how medications are absorbed, why dosages matter, and how to handle substances safely.
• Psychology - Nurses support patients who may be anxious, confused, or in pain, and need to understand how people respond emotionally to illness and treatment. Psychology helps them communicate sensitively with patients and their families, and recognise signs of mental distress alongside physical symptoms.
• Mathematics - Nurses calculate drug dosages, drip rates, and fluid balances as part of their daily work – and getting these calculations right is critical to patient safety. They also interpret charts, measurements, and data like blood pressure readings and temperature trends.
• English Language - Nurses write detailed patient records, update care plans, and hand over information clearly to colleagues at shift changes. They also need to explain medical procedures and treatment options to patients and families in language that is easy to understand.

Also relevant

• Sociology - Nurses care for people from a wide range of backgrounds and need to understand how factors like poverty, culture, age, and social isolation affect health. This awareness helps them provide more personalised and effective care to each patient.
• Physical Education - Nurses spend long hours on their feet, move patients, and work in physically demanding environments. Understanding how the body responds to physical activity, fatigue, and stress helps them look after both their patients and themselves.
• Food Preparation and Nutrition - Nurses advise patients on diet and nutrition as part of their recovery, and monitor whether patients are eating and drinking enough. Understanding how nutrients support healing and how conditions like diabetes affect dietary needs is a regular part of the role.