UK Nursing Questions

allnurses Guide · Feb 15, 2010

I've answered a question like this recently

I had a pretty good Idea on what I nurse did but I have confused myself with the help of others and I have this vision in my Head of going through 4 years of Nurse School and having to help people take a Bath, Make Beds, and things like that.
just to clear my head this is not true right???

Umm yes, that's what nursing is about, helping our patients with daily living activities, making sure they are comfortable and well nourished, making sure they are not developing pressure injuries and yes making beds. It's called basic nursing care, the 4 years will teach you to assess, and make plans of care for your patients along with using evidence based practice to provide those plans of care.

As far as being an ENP, the advice I have given recently is:

https://allnurses.com/united-kingdom-uk/nursing-questions-advice-456092.html

I will just reiterate the advice I gave in that thread as well, If you want to go to med school then go to med school, don't use nursing as a short cut to become a Nurse Practitioner it's not fair on the patients and you'll be frustrated working on the wards trying to get the experience to become a nurse practitioner

If you want to go into nursing then fine, if you want to be a doctor then go to medical school

Question144 · Feb 15, 2010

I dunno if I am going to be able to get into med school beacuse my grades I am using an Access Course to get into Nursing School and Birm uni Med School said they dont accept Access Courses to word the 7 A levels

allnurses Guide · Feb 15, 2010

If you want to be a doctor, personally I think you will be frustrated as a nurse, and that worries me. I do know of a few doctors that used a nursing degree as an access to medicine. They did need to demonstrate that they could cope with the scientific aspect of the course.

I would look very closely at your options, nursing is an extremely challenging career, and if bed baths and cleaning up poop is not for you then I would seriously consider that nursing may not be for you.

Have you thought about maybe looking at being a paramedic, they use some diagnostic skills, are fairly autonomous practitioners and don't do the bedside care that seems to concern you. It is very protocol driven, and there are lots of guidelines that you need to follow to provide that care but it is an option that would maybe suit you better than nursing

Question144 · Feb 16, 2010

Thank you so much! I don't want to sound like I am beeing rude or anything to Nurses but Is not making beds a Cleaners job?

Another questions and the last one I think (thank you sooooooo much)

How long from finishing Nurse School would it take to become a ENP?

Thanks so much, you have been so Much help!!! (sorry if I sounded Rude or anything)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 16, 2010

Thank you so much! I don't want to sound like I am beeing rude or anything to Nurses but Is not making beds a Cleaners job?
Another questions and the last one I think (thank you sooooooo much)
How long from finishing Nurse School would it take to become a ENP?
Thanks so much, you have been so Much help!!! (sorry if I sounded Rude or anything)

Now why should it be a cleaners job??? There are some things which are done by many. I have made plenty of beds in my time as well as clear up bodily fluids on the floor as the domestic staff where I worked (in all hospitals I worked in) was not allowed to clean it up. As nurses we tend to be jack of a lot of trades like cleaning bed areas, moving beds etc as well as maintain nursing issues

Regarding how long after finishing school to become a ENP well a lot will depend on getting a job in the A&E and gaining the appropriate experience as many will require X amount of years experience and there may also be many applicants for few spots

allnurses Guide · Feb 17, 2010

Thank you so much! I don't want to sound like I am beeing rude or anything to Nurses but Is not making beds a Cleaners job?
Another questions and the last one I think (thank you sooooooo much)
How long from finishing Nurse School would it take to become a ENP?
Thanks so much, you have been so Much help!!! (sorry if I sounded Rude or anything)

Not rude just very young and ill-informed. I know making beds doesn't sound exciting, and it's not but the time spent doing that you are talking to your patients, assessing them for pain, movement. It's part of caring which is what nursing is about.

As far as how long it takes to become a ENP, you are talking about the initial nursing course, then when qualified you will be working as a band 5 for at least a few years before applying for a band 6, personally I would ask for 3 years at band 5. Then you will need to work at a band 6 and undertake the ENP course that is going to take you 3 years as well (at least)

Just to put a personal perspective on it, I was asked for at least 5 years at a senior level (G Grade)for my nurse practitioner job. It took me 3 years in college to qualify as a nurse, then 2 years to get an E grade. I spent 5 years as an E grade before getting a junior sisters job and then 2 years as a junior sister. I worked for 3 years as a Senior sister and then got a job as a nurse practitioner. In total it took me 15 years to be in a position to work as a nurse practitioner, I could have done it instead of becoming a senior sister but to be honest I gained so much more experience in that role I am glad it did.