Become a practice nurse if you are already an RGN or RMN

If you’re already a qualified RGN or RMN nurse, you’re eligible to become a practice nurse. Usually employers won’t accept newly qualified nurses to become practice nurses, unless they offer a specific preceptorship programme, but in most cases all you need is 1 year’s post qualification experience to apply.

You can switch the uncertainty of changing shifts and working nights for a stable working routine with consistent hours by looking for a practice nursing job. You will of course have to undertake further training at university level if you want to progress to being a health visitor, district nurse or advanced nurse practitioner – but practice nursing could be a great place to start.

A practice nurse job will give you the chance to have continuity of care with some patients who regularly need your assistance, to offer health promotion clinics in weight loss or smoking cessation, and to take part in health screening activities with individuals throughout all sectors of the community. You could end up working with all ages of people from babies and children through to adults and the elderly, it’s that diverse a nursing job.

How to write a nursing personal statement if you’ve just qualified as a nurse

Competition for newly qualified nursing jobs is intense at the moment, so you want to be sure that your application stands out. A killer personal statement is a great way to do this, but it takes time to compose and is a one-time use only document. Don’t ever recycle them – it shows a real lack of commitment to the post if you can’t be bothered to re-write your personal statement for the application.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that just because you’ve never worked as a fully qualified registered nurse before that you have no experience, it’s not true. You have tons of nursing experience, you just need to make the most of it in your personal statement. A good way to start is to get hold of the job description and person specification for the nursing job you’re applying for, and compare it with the nursing skills you do have.

If you’ve completed a placement on the ward you’re applying for, or even in the same type of department in another area that’s definitely something to draw attention to. Refer to the learning outcomes you achieved and the specific skills you gained, developed and then used effectively in your role as a student nurse. It’s your particular skill set that will get you an interview and ultimately the job over another newly qualified nurse.

If you want to read more detail about how to structure a nursing personal statement, you can read the full article:

How to write a nursing personal statement for your first nurse job application

 

How to write a personal statement to get on a nursing course

Just finished a new article on Nurses.co.uk that should help out any aspiring student nurses with their personal statement and application.

Writing a personal statement that’s tailored to getting you an interview for a place on a nursing course can be quite tricky. Especially if you have no experience and have never worked in healthcare before. But that’s where we can help. This article will help you turn skills and experience not acquired in healthcare into qualities that are not only relevant for nursing, they are essential.

Any experience that has helped you gain communication, interpersonal or organisational skills is important, just is any care experience you have from your family or friends. In lots of cases people are inspired for apply for nursing courses on the back of experiences they’ve had with their parents, grandparents or children.

You can read the whole article here for a step by step guide towriting a personal statement for a nursing course application.

Use our Nurse CV template to get your dream nursing job

Everyone struggles to write a nursing CV, let alone tailor it to each job application (which you absolutely have to do if you expect to get an interview). So if you’re looking for an effective way of showing off your nursing skills with a new CV layout, take a look at our template below as a guide.

Obviously we’ve shortened several of the sections, but the key is not to go over 2 sides of A4, and to make sure you highlight all your skills and experience that are valuable to the role you are applying for.

If you want to read more, check out our detailed “Build your nurse CV – step by step guide”

JOHN DOE                             NMC PIN 12A3456B

Address 9 Acacia Gardens, Tooting, London, SW25 789

Mobile 01234 5678910

Email john.doe@emaildomain.com

 

Current Job Registered Mental Nurse (RMN Nurse) Psychiatric

Desired Job Staff Nurse RMN Nurse PICU Nurse Psychiatric

Current Employer The ABC NHS Foundation Trust since 2003

Experience Total 9 years as RMN Nurse

 

Personal Statement

Currently employed as an RMN Nurse (Registered Mental Nurse) by the NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey. My duties are working with patients in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). I’ve got 6 years experience of PICU, and my responsibilities include administering medication, restraint, checks and liaising with the rest of the health team including the consultant and psychiatric therapist. I manage the ward including the rota and staff numbers.

Career History

Oct 2003 – now

ABC Foundation Trust Hospital

Senior Nurse RMN Band 6

• Assess the health care needs of all new patients / clients to the ward
• Identify psychiatric, physical and substance misuse health care needs
• Implement a programme of care and manage the treatment processes

Jun 2001 – Oct 2003

Blah-Blah Foundation Trust Hospital

Senior Nurse RMN Band 6

• Urine screening
• Caseload management and reporting
• Liaison with external agencies

 

Qualifications

BSc / MH Nursing Degree

Sep 1998 – May 2001

Plymouth University

A-Levels

English Grade A, Biology Grade B, Maths Grade B

Sep 1996 – Jul 1998, Eastbourne Sixth Form

 

GCSEs

8 including English, Maths, Physics, Biology

Sep 1991 – Jul 1996, Willingdon Comprehensive

Referees Available on Request