Nursing Recruitment
How to become a Registered Nurse
No two days are the same in nursing, it’s one of the most dynamic and rewarding roles within the NHS and with ongoing training and the support of your team, you’ll be able to make it exactly what you want it to be. If you’re interested in having a career in nursing, but not sure about the routes you can take to enter the profession, take a look at the information below.
1. Apprenticeship route
Firstly you’ll need to become a Band 4 Nursing Associate and complete the Trainee Nursing Associate (TNA) programme which is a 2-year course.
Once this is completed there may be opportunities to apply for a 'top-up' programme and do a further 18-month to 2-year programme to become a Band 5 Registered Nurse. You will be paid as a Band 4 during this period.
The benefits of taking this route:
- You can earn while you learn on the apprenticeship routes, you’ll be paid on our Band 4 pay grade (£23,949 - £26,282)
- You’re likely to spend four days on work placement and one day at university
- You’ll be able to count your training towards a registered nursing degree
Required qualifications:
- Maths and English at level 4 or equivalent or Functional skills level 2
- Level 3 qualification in health or social care
If you do not have the above qualifications you can email
ruh-tr.apprenticeships@nhs.net for help in attaining these.
If you have the qualifications and wish to apply for the nursing apprenticeship route or have questions please email: ruh-tr.practiceeducation@nhs.net
The Trainee Nursing Apprenticeship course is advertised twice a year via our website.
2. Direct undergraduate registered nursing route
This is nurse training which is done at a university, where you can do a two to three year course to become a Registered Nurse. There are lots of universities that offer nursing degree programmes, locally we have the University of the West of England (UWE), Oxford Brookes University and the University of Gloucester (UoG).
You can explore with universities if they will allow you to put any previous qualifications such as Nursing Associate, Assistant Practitioner or a previous degree towards a shortened full-time nursing degree, for example joining the second year of training. It is recommended to visit universities by attending their open days to find out more about what they can offer you. With the UoG we run a 'blended learning' option which includes a mix of online virtual classrooms, independent study and face-to-face learning on location.
As a university student you will have to pay their fees. Once you start earning a certain amount of money, your student loans are repaid automatically through the tax system.
The benefits of taking this route:
- You may also be eligible for the student nurse bursary which at least £5,000 a year which you will not need to pay back, plus an additional £2,000 if you have parental responsibility
- 94% of nursing students are employed within six months of graduating
- As a newly qualified nurse, you’ll start your career in the NHS on pay Band 5, earning at least £27,055 per year
Required qualifications
These can vary and are determined by the universities – please visit their own websites to find out more.
Helpful links
- Visit the Health Careers website to find out more about nursing associates and becoming a nurse
- Visit the Nursing and Midwifery Council website to find out about training to become a nurse
- Visit the NHS Learning Support Fund website for details about bursaries and other financial support available
- The General Medical Council and NHS England have developed a virtual reality App called Patient journey to GP practice which follows Mrs Thomas and her son Jack in their encounters with a receptionist, doctor, nurse and pharmacist
Interested?
If you would like to register your interest about these opportunities please fill in our short form by clicking here.