| Nursing can be a career for life. There has never a | | | | About two to three percent of the population has |
| more exciting time to join the nursing profession if | | | | some sort of learning disability. Nurses who qualify in |
| you decide that a career change in this direction is | | | | this branch of nursing help those with learning |
| definitely for you. There are many nursing jobs and | | | | disabilities to live independent and fulfilling lives. This |
| positions available to suit a host of people with a | | | | may involve working with people in supported |
| variety of skills. The number and variety of roles is | | | | accommodation - typically three to four people with |
| big. However, the common role of a nurse is to | | | | learning disabilities live together in flats or houses, |
| tend to and concentrate on the needs of the patient, | | | | with 24 hour support. Some nurses work with |
| rather than the illness, disease or condition. | | | | individuals who require more intensive support - for |
| As a nurse it is possible to work in, among others, | | | | instance, in hospitals or in specialist secure units for |
| clinics, hospitals, GP surgeries, nursing and residential | | | | offenders with severe learning disabilities. Others |
| homes, occupational health services, voluntary | | | | specialise in areas such as epilepsy management or |
| organisations that run hospices or residential care and | | | | working with people with sensory impairment so that |
| the pharmaceutical industry. Once you have | | | | you can choose the direction and area of healthcare |
| completed your pre-registration course, there are a | | | | that you'd like to work in. |
| multitude of module options available. | | | | Mental health nursing |
| Nurses also work in the prison service, university | | | | Mental health nurses work with GPs, psychiatrists, |
| education, on leisure cruise ships or for the armed | | | | social workers and others to co-ordinate the care of |
| forces. | | | | people suffering from mental illness. The vast |
| They help individuals and their families to live more | | | | majority of people with mental health problems live in |
| comfortable lives by providing care, advice and | | | | the community. Nurses plan and deliver care for |
| counselling. | | | | people living in their own home, in small residential |
| Nursing education | | | | units or specialist hospital services. Some are based in |
| Before working on the national health service, you will | | | | health centres. It is possible to develop expertise in |
| need to complete a pre-registration course as | | | | areas such as rehabilitation, child and adolescent |
| mentioned above. There are many pre-registration | | | | mental health, substance misuse and working with |
| courses available throughout the UK, and at present | | | | offenders. |
| there is no set minimum entry qualification across the | | | | There are opportunities to specialise in public health, |
| board. | | | | women's health and to run specialist services, such as |
| The course is fifty per cent theory and fifty per | | | | teenage pregnancy clinics. |
| cent practical. The first year is a Common Foundation | | | | Children's nursing |
| Programme, which will introduce you to the basic | | | | Those qualified in the children's branch of nursing |
| principles of nursing. You will then specialise in either | | | | work with 0 to 18 year olds in a variety of settings, |
| adult, children's, mental health or learning disability | | | | from specialist baby care units to adolescent services. |
| nursing. Full time diploma courses last three years. | | | | Children react to illness in a very different way to |
| Degree courses last three or four years. | | | | adults, which is why they need to be cared for and |
| You will need to be resident in the UK for at least | | | | supported by specially trained nurses who understand |
| three years to be eligible to apply for a place on a | | | | their particular needs. Children's nurses also support, |
| diploma or degree course. | | | | advise and educate parents and other close relatives. |
| Choose your Specialty | | | | Once qualified, it is possible to specialise in hospital |
| It is possible to choose to only work with a certain | | | | and community settings in areas such as burns and |
| type of patient, and in a certain type of environment. | | | | plastics, intensive care, child protection and cancer |
| You actually have the choice about which specific | | | | care. |
| place you would be most comfortable working in. If | | | | Nursing for adults |
| you prefer to work in a clerical environment, you | | | | The number of opportunities for those qualifying in |
| may choose to work in a clinic or in a nursing home. | | | | the adult branch of nursing is very wide. It is possible |
| If the fast-paced situation is what you are looking | | | | to work in hospitals or the community - in peoples |
| for, perhaps you would like to work in a hospital | | | | homes, attached to a health centre or in nursing |
| emergency room or assisting in surgery. Some of the | | | | homes. You will care for, support and educate people |
| other nurse jobs you may pursue are: resident | | | | of all ages. Once you have qualified, many nurses |
| nursing, nursing for the armed forces, nursing | | | | take extra courses to specialise in areas such as |
| education, or in the pharmaceutical industry. | | | | cancer care or women's health or accident and |
| Lets look at some of the most preferred nursing | | | | emergency also preferred choices are critical care, |
| jobs: | | | | practice nursing, health visiting or school nursing. |
| Learning disability nursing | | | | |