Nursing is an ever growing and innovative profession and nurses are working in multi professional teams across health and care settings. Nurses are in a unique position to deliver care in partnership with people and carers, wherever care is needed. Across the health and care system there is an increased focus on preventing ill health, enabling people to self-care, to be partners in their care and to have a better quality of life. The rapid pace of advances in medical and nursing care, treatment and technology is creating new career opportunities for nursing with rapid developments in different service provision and ways of working. The career opportunities and roles can range from very unique options from front line staff to working in a leadership position or specialised nurse or consultant nurse.

They are many different types of nursing and varied opportunities for career advancement and work in a variety of settings. Nursing roles come in many forms and can progress in your career moving from a staff nurse to nurse specialist, ward manager, matron, leader, researcher, educator and nurse consultant. Nursing positions are split into different bands all of which have different salaries.

Opportunities for adult nurses range from caring for patients to becoming a specialist. A graduate career in adult nursing involves caring for the physical aspects of adults and developing your skills and progression, the management of people plus resources. This involves monitoring and assessing people and responding to changes quickly.

In the NHS there is a clear career structure supporting nurses in their development from staff nurse working on a ward, for example, to autonomous consultants managing a caseload of patients in the community. There is a wide range of opportunities available for adult nurses ranging from becoming specialists in promoting health, to caring for patients when they are at their most vulnerable whilst recovering from major illness or surgery. Settings are diverse, ranging from an intensive care unit to a patient’s own home. Newly qualified nurses who work in a hospital environment on a ward will generally look after a group of patients during a span of duty. They will work as part of a multidisciplinary team acting as the main point of contact for the patient and coordinating the contributions of other healthcare professionals.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.