Did you know that one of the largest employed workforces in the UK is by NHS (National Health Services)? Yes! It comprises of total number of 1.4 million people working together in order to save lives. Among this number; 423,000 nurses and midwives who serve as the bedrock for the patient’s well-being.
Nurses are the kind of unsung heroes who do the most but get the least praise. You will be able to find an essay about nurses where their profession is being appreciated but in practical life; they rarely are given due respect or appreciation. The following post intends to take the reader to the nurses’ journey of compassion and support from academic life to professional careers.
A Journey of Compassion and Support in the Nursing Field; from Academics to Professional Career
Nurses encompass the largest professional constituent of the healthcare workforce in most countries (Goodare, 2017) as they are the driving force of the healthcare sector. From running into emergency rooms to comforting the patients’ families and from administering medications to dressing wounds; the profession of nursing is all about empathy and compassion. They are like the backbone of the healthcare industry who work selflessly but are least celebrated.
Nevertheless; it is time to recognize the efforts of nurses. These efforts begin from the student phase where they seek guidance in the form of nursing exam help or other sorts of assistance to navigate the challenges successfully and reach the professional stage of life.
A Journey of Compassion; Getting into the Nursing School:
When an individual decides to get into the discipline of nursing; they know that they have the element of empathy and kindness in them. It is their compassion for humanity that makes them choose this field. If you are also one of them then the following steps will help you get closer to your dream;
Research and Choose:
There are different educational institutes and programs offering nursing courses all across the UK. Check out the list of your preferred educational institutes and the kind of nursing coursework they are offering. These coursework include adult nursing, child nursing, mental health nursing, and so on.
Look for Entry Requirements:
Different nursing schools might have different requirements for their nursing programs. However; some of the basic requirements include;
- Five or more GCSEs or equivalent.
- A level or equivalent qualification.
- Access to higher education diplomas.
Gain Relevant Experience:
It might not be essential but it is better to be prepared than to regret it later on. This form of experience can strengthen your application to get into your desired nursing school. You can volunteer or work as a healthcare assistant to gain insight into the field that will reflect your commitment to a nursing career.
Apply through UCAS:
Most commonly in the UK; students apply to nursing schools through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This can be done by creating an account on the UCAS website, researching nursing courses, and submitting your application. Stick to the application deadlines.
Prepare for Interviews:
This yet again is not something that all educational institutes do, still; you need to be well-prepared for everything. If your application gets accepted, you might have to give an interview as a part of the admission process. You can prepare for it by understanding the nursing profession more deeply and explaining your motivation behind choosing this discipline.
Complete Occupational Health Checks:
It is better to undergo occupational health checks to ensure that you are fit enough to work in healthcare settings. An aspiring nursing student also has to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check to ensure they don’t have a criminal record that would prevent them from working with vulnerable patients.
The nursing field compassion support journey begins when you are accepted into the nursing program. Attend the pre-course instructions and get ready to be a part of the challenging yet rewarding journey ahead.
A Journey of Compassion; Securing a Nursing Job:
It is known that the nursing field supports journey heroes for sure and it is their efforts invested in each step that makes the nurses worthy of being called unsung heroes. Graduating from college is a significant milestone in one’s life (bestassignmentwriters, 2023) but students need to have the following qualifications and skills to get into the field of nursing as a professional;
Qualification:
You must possess a Registered Nurse qualification from an accredited nursing program. It mainly is a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing or an equivalent diploma in the UK. Additional qualifications might also be required for specialised nursing roles.
Professional Registration:
The candidate must be registered with the relevant nursing regulatory body as per the respective country’s requirements. This will ensure that you meet the professional standards that are required to practice as a nurse.
Essential Skills:
An aspiring nurse must have all such hard and soft skills that will help them secure a job instantly. These skills include;
| HARD SKILLS | SOFT SKILLS |
| Medical Knowledge | Empathy And Compassion |
| Patient Assessment | Teamwork |
| Records Management | Effective Communication |
| Treatment Administration | Problem-Solving Attitude |
| Medical Equipment Proficiency | Stress Management |
Responsibilities of Nurses Highlighting Their Compassionate Journey:
Some of the main responsibilities of a registered nurse in different healthcare settings include;
- Patient’s condition is continuously assessed by the nurses to keep a check on their health status. This assessment is done through physical assessments, by monitoring vital signs, or by evaluating symptoms. Nurses actively listen to patients’ concerns and address their needs with empathy.
- The medications are administered by nurses as per the instructions of healthcare providers. This ensures that the patient gets the correct dose of medication at the appropriate time. Nurses also educate the patients about their medications and the potential side effects of them as well.
- Nurses clean wounds, apply dressings, and monitor signs of infections in the patients. They demonstrate their compassionate side by providing gentle care while offering emotional support at the same time.
- Patients as well as their families are educated by the nurses about the patient’s health conditions, treatment plans, and self-care practices. They take time out of their busy schedule to ensure that the patient feels informed and supported.
- Nurses also offer comfort and support to patients who have reached the dying point. They address physical symptoms while managing their pain and providing them with emotional guidance at the same time. Sometimes nurses also honour the patient’s last wishes while respecting their cultural and religious beliefs at the same time.
- Nurses immediately respond to emergency situations whether it is behavioural disturbance or psychiatric crises. Therapeutic communication techniques and crisis intervention skills are utilised to stabilise the situation. Nurses demonstrate compassion in such situations by staying calm under such pressure.
Conclusion:
Nurses are one of the most integral part of the healthcare sector. They are always there to provide support to the patients and assist the medical professionals. Their continuous effort and will to overcome the challenges encountered in their journey of becoming a nurse demonstrates their dedication towards this field.
The profession of nursing requires deep compassion and empathy which the nurses possess. This compassionate behaviour of the nurses makes them the heroes of the field. However; most of the time their efforts go unnoticed but they deserve all the appreciation and the aforementioned post explains why.
Bibliography
bestassignmentwriters. (2023, May 12th). List of Highest Paying Jobs for Graduates. https://bestassignmentwriter.co.uk/blog/list-of-high-paying-jobs-after-graduation/ .
Goodare, P. (2017, June 1st). Literature review: Why do we continue to lose our nurses? The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing .
