Registered Nurse
Also advertised as: Community Nurse, Mental Health Nurse, Newly Qualified Nurse, Practice Nurse, Registered Nurse, Staff Nurse
Assesses, plans and delivers care for patients, and leads the team around them.
What the job involves
Registered nurses hold clinical accountability for patient care. You assess needs, plan and deliver treatment, administer medicines, coordinate other professionals and support families. Routes include a nursing degree or a degree apprenticeship while employed.
Typical responsibilities
- Assess patients and plan their care
- Administer medicines and treatments
- Coordinate the care team and discharge planning
- Maintain accurate clinical records
- Supervise students and support workers
Common employers
- NHS trusts
- Private hospitals
- Care homes
- Prisons
- Agencies
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£29,000 – £32,000 a year
With experience
£37,000 – £50,000 a year
Typical hours
Shift based, 37.5 hours including nights and weekends
Working environment
Hospitals, community and clinics
Remote working
on_site
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Clinical assessment
- Medicines management
- Prioritising under pressure
- Communication
- Leadership
Transferable skills you may already have
- Healthcare support work
- Handling emergencies calmly
- Care planning
Requirements employers ask for
- Clinical assessment
- Medicines management
- Prioritising under pressure
- Communication
- Leadership
- BSc Nursing or degree apprenticeship
- NMC registration
- NMC registration
- Enhanced DBS
Useful but not essential
- Healthcare support work
- Handling emergencies calmly
- Care planning
- Specialist practice qualifications
- Non-medical prescribing
Helpful qualifications
- Specialist practice qualifications
- Non-medical prescribing
Licences and checks
- NMC registration
- Enhanced DBS
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Registered Nurse (Level 6)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Nursing
- Related subject: Biology
- Related subject: Health and social care
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Staff Nurse
next
Ward Manager
next
Advanced Clinical Practitioner
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Secure, portable profession
- Apprenticeship route avoids fees
- Many specialisms to move into
What people find hard
- High workload and emotional strain
- Unsocial hours
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a registered nurse?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. required
- How much does a registered nurse earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £29,000 to £32,000 a year, rising towards £50,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Healthcare support work, Handling emergencies calmly, Care planning.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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