Adult nurse : Career development

Nursing begins with a period of preceptorship, which is similar to a supported probationary period. This entails acquiring and demonstrating competencies, including specific skills in, amongst others, cannulation, administering intravenous procedures, performing tracheal suction and handling blood products, as well as broad competencies in leadership, management, teaching and communication. After successfully completing this, the majority of nurses in the acute hospital setting move from staff nurse positions to junior sister/charge nurse within two to three years. All nurses have management roles, but some career paths are more management-orientated than others. As you become more senior, you may have less hands-on nursing responsibility.

Progression to ward sister/ward manager/team leader depends on the development of management skills and level of specialist knowledge. Ward sisters/charge nurses are responsible for annual appraisals of nursing staff and are appointed at band 6 or 7 of the Agenda for Change pay scale . At this level, progression is possible either within a clinical specialism to nurse practitioner and ultimately nurse consultant, or through further managerial responsibility as a matron and then up the executive ladder to a director of nursing post. Nurse consultants are highly specialised and need a Masters qualification. They spend at least 50% of their time providing direct clinical care for patients and the rest developing and delivering education, service development and research within their area of expertise.

There are many specialist branches of nursing and qualified nurses can choose to undertake further training in order to specialise in an area of their interest. Popular roles include district nurse, occupational health nurse, practice nurse, sexual health nurse and specialist nurse. Many of these roles involve working in the community or within alternative settings such as schools or GP practices. Other specialist areas of nursing include cancer care, women’s health, accident and emergency and critical care. Secondments to achieve the required specialist qualifications on a full or part-time basis are often available.