Your day starts with a visit to a young man with learning disabilities in his home in Market Weighton. Your job is to help him better understand his physical and mental health needs so he can live an independent and healthy life.
You also spend time with his family and carers. Later that morning, you help health and care staff to communicate better with people with learning disabilities showing challenging behaviour.
In the afternoon, you visit a woman who might be admitted into hospital. She has mental health needs and without support, it will be unsafe for her to remain in the community. You talk to your fellow healthcare professionals about offering suitable support so she can stay at home and safely recover with her friends and family.
You’re passionate and believe in equal rights for those with learning disabilities. You always keep the interests of the person you are working with at the heart of what you do.
You’re a good communicator, allowing you to help others in communicating with people with learning disabilities. You work well as part of team but are also able to make decisions on your own. You like to work with people and work well in high-pressure situations.
You’ll need to do a degree level qualification to be a nurse so will usually need a minimum of five GCSEs (typically including maths, English language or literature and a science subject) at grades 5/4 (C) or above or equivalent level 2 qualification, then go on to take at least two A-Levels (eg including a subject like human biology, psychology or sociology) or equivalent level 3 qualification such as a BTEC or apprenticeship.
After A-Levels, you’ll need to go to university to do an approved full-time degree in nursing or apply for a nursing degree apprenticeship.
For their full-time degrees, some universities may ask for three A-Levels and have specific subject requirements, so make sure you check with the uni you’re interested in directly.
Nursing degree apprenticeships are available in some parts of the country, and you’ll usually need the same level of GCSEs and A-Levels or equivalent qualifications.
We'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to talk to us about apprenticeships and traineeships, email hyp-tr.apprentices@nhs.net
Welcome to Med Shed.
An interactive resource to help you find your career with us in the local NHS.
There’s a lot to see and lots to explore so come back and visit us regularly…