Registered nurse
About the job
“To be a nurse you have to be a people person; a really important part of the job is building good relationships with patients and other professionals. Doing a job where you can change someone’s life is really special.”
As a nurse you’ll specialise in one of four different areas: Adult nurses, care for people aged 18 and above with a wide range of health conditions; children’s nurses, work with children and their families, helping them develop into healthy adults; learning disability nurses, work with both adults and children with a range of learning disabilities to improve or maintain their health and independence and mental health nurses, work with both adults and children with a range of mental health conditions.
Visit Health Careers for information about:
A career you’ll care about – registered nurse
How to become a nurse in Devon
Qualification
MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Child Health)
MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Mental Health)
MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Child Health and Mental Health)
Entry requirements
5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above to include maths, English, and science. Consideration may be given to Functional Skills Level 2 in maths.
One of the following: 2 A Levels, BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, Access to HE Diploma, International Baccalaureate.
Length of study
4 years full time with placements
Where
MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Child Health) – University of Plymouth
MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health and Mental Health) – University of Plymouth. Study in Plymouth or Exeter.
MNurs (Hons) Nursing (Child Health and Mental Health) – University of Plymouth
Qualification
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health)
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Child Health)
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Mental Health)
Entry requirements
5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above to include maths, English, and science. Consideration may be given to Functional Skills Level 2 in maths.
2 A Levels or Access – some alternative qualifications also accepted.
- Full entry requirements for Adult Health – full time study.
- Full entry requirements for Child Health – full time study.
- Full entry requirements for Mental Health – full time study.
Length of study
3 years full time with placements or 6 years part time with placements
Qualification
MSci Nursing (Adult or combined Adult and Mental Health)
Entry requirements
GCSEs including maths and English at grade C/4, or above.
One of the following: A-Levels: ABB, International Baccalaureate: 32/655, BTEC: DDM
Length of study
4 years full time with placements
Where
Qualification
BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult)
Entry requirements
5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above.
One of the following: BTEC National Diploma, Access to HE, A Levels.
Length of study
3 years full time with placements
Where
Petroc North Devon Campus through the University of Bolton
Qualification
MSc Pre-registration Nursing (Adult Health)
MSc Pre-registration Nursing (Child Health)
MSc Pre-registration Nursing (Mental Health)
Entry requirements
First degree (BSc (Hons)) at 2:2 or above in any discipline.
750 relevant clinical practice hours gained within the last 5 years, working in health-related environments.
5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above to include maths, English, and science.
Length of study
2 years full time with placements
Where
MSc Pre-registration Nursing (Adult Health) – University of Plymouth
MSc Pre-registration Nursing (Child Health) – University of Plymouth
MSc Pre-registration Nursing (Mental Health) – University of Plymouth
Qualification
Nursing Degree Apprenticeship
Length of study
4 years part time alongside work
Where
Contact your local NHS Trust
Registered nursing associate
The nursing associate role can be a stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse. Once you’ve completed your training to become a nursing associate, a further 18 months of study is required to become a registered nurse.
For more information about the role of the nursing associate visit the Skills for Care and Nursing and Midwifery Council websites.
Qualification
FdSc Nursing Associate (foundation degree)
Entry requirements
Entry requirements vary between Higher Education Institutions (HEI) although many HEIs require:
A minimum of one year experience working as a healthcare assistant/care worker in a health and care service.
To be employed within a health and care service.
GCSE grade 4/C or above in English and maths or Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths.
One of the following level 3 qualifications: 2 A Levels, BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, Access to HE Diploma, International Baccalaureate, NVQ in Health and Care.
Length of study
2-year apprenticeship programme to include a variety of placements within adult and children’s health and care services.
Where
To access this apprenticeship, you must have the support of your health and care employer.
Email proudtocare@devon.gov.uk for further information.
Amy – registered nurse
Meet Amy, a registered nurse working in Exeter.
I think it can feel like you have to decide really early what you want to do but I was never sure. When I dropped out of university, I stopped to think about what I really wanted to do. I just knew that I wanted to help people.
After working in a care home to get experience of caring for people I got into Plymouth University to study nursing.
Read more about Amy’s journey, her job now and why she thinks nursing is a really special career.
