Nurses specialising in the child branch may also be known as paediatric nurses. They are trained to understand and look after children and young people under the age of 18, who require acute or long-term care.

Children's nurses can work within hospitals or the community. Their duties will usually include:

• assessing the needs of children who may be ill, injured or disabled
• evaluating the level of nursing care required (taking into account the child’s circumstances)
• creating and delivering a care plan.

Where possible they work closely with the child's family to support them through the range of emotions experienced when a child is ill and teach them how to provide care and treatment.

Children's nurses provide practical nursing care which can include:

• checking temperatures
• measuring blood pressure and respiration rates
• assisting doctors with physical examinations
• giving drugs and injections
• cleaning and dressing wounds
• administering blood transfusions and drips
• using hi-tech medical equipment.

Qualified nurses may go on to specialise in areas such as burns and plastics, child protection, cancer care, neonatal nursing and intensive care. Further training can lead to work as a practice nurse in a doctor's surgery or health centre. For more information on being a practice nurse, check the Nurse (Adult Branch) job profile. 

Hours and Environment

Nurses in the NHS generally work 37.5 hours a week, which can include evenings, weekends, night shifts and bank holidays. Many hospitals offer flexible hours or part-time work. Extra hours may be available as overtime, or through nursing agencies.

As a children's nurse you can work in special children’s hospitals or hospices, on children’s wards in general hospitals or, after further training, in paediatric intensive care. You can also work in the community, within a GP practice or health centre.

Skills and Interests

To be a registered nurse, you should:

• have a genuine interest in helping children with their problems
• be observant, able to notice changes or symptoms of an illness
• be persuasive and comforting
• have the authority/confidence to deal with children or parents under stressful circumstances
• have good time management skills
• be able to remain calm under pressure
• be able to teach medical procedures to people with no medical background
• have excellent communication and listening skills
• be aware of the different ways people relate to their children.

Entry

To qualify as a registered nurse you need to complete a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved degree or Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing, specialising in the child branch.

To get onto an approved course you need to meet some general requirements set by the NMC. These include:

• providing evidence of your literacy and numeracy, good health and good character, and recent successful study experience
• meeting the minimum age requirement for nurse training - 17.5 years old in England, 17 in Scotland, and 18 in Northern Ireland and Wales

• agreeing to have a criminal records bureau check (a criminal conviction does not automatically exclude you from working within the NHS).

Course providers can set their own academic entry requirements, which can include:

• nursing diploma - five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) preferably in English, maths and/or a science-based subject
• nursing degree - usually the same GCSE/S grades as the diploma, plus two or three A levels/H grades, possibly including a biological science.

If you do not meet the course entry requirements listed please check with universities because alternatives, such as an Access to Higher Education course, may be accepted. 

Some institutions offer an NMC approved Advanced Diploma in Nursing. This qualification and the entry requirements for it lie between diploma and degree level. 

Applications for diploma courses in England are made through NMAS (for all other regions, check the contacts listed in Further Information); for degree courses you apply through UCAS.

Alternative entry routes:
Cadet scheme - if you are 16-19 years old you can prepare for a career in nursing by doing a two-year Cadet Scheme. The scheme includes clinical placements and working towards a qualification such as an NVQ Level 3 in Health, or Health and Social Care. Entry criteria can vary, so it is important to contact your local hospital trust or NHS Careers (in Further Information) for details.

Working in a caring role - if you are a healthcare assistant or support worker, for example, you may be able to work towards a related NVQ/SVQ at level 3. This will often satisfy the entry requirements for a nursing diploma; check the Healthcare Assistant job profile for more information.

Accelerated postgraduate courses - as a registered nurse in an alternative branch, or a graduate with a first degree in a health-related subject, you may be able to qualify by taking a fast-track two-year postgraduate course. Check with individual institutions for entry details; applications are made through NMAS.

Overseas trained nurse - if you are a nurse who trained overseas (outside the UK and EEA) you may need to complete the NMC approved Overseas Nurses Programme (ONP) in order to begin professional practice in the UK. For more details contact the NMC in Further Information.

Training

During nurse training you will divide your time between university or college, and supervised placements in local hospitals and the community. Courses usually take three years of full-time study (four years in Scotland).

The first year of an approved nursing course follows the Common Foundation Programme. This will include:

• an introduction to the four branches of nursing and maternity care
• developing observational, communication and caring skills
• studying anatomy, physiology, psychology, sociology, social policy
• learning core practical skills.

In the remaining two years of training, you specialise in the child branch of nursing, and study the development and care of children who are healthy as well as sick. You will attend relevant clinical placements in a variety of settings; this accounts for around 50% of the course.

Funding is available for nurse training. Nursing diploma and degree courses attract a non-repayable bursary to cover living expenses; bursaries for a diploma (or Advanced Diploma) are non-means tested; bursaries for a nursing degree are means-tested. Course fees are also usually paid. For more details about student financial support, check the NHS Careers website in Further Information.

As a qualified nurse you need to renew your professional registration with the NMC every three years. In order to re-register you must complete a minimum of five days' (35 hours) related study within the previous three-year period, which can be anything that has helped you maintain or develop your role within nursing. Check the NMC website for information on additional criteria and advice.

To specialise in community child nursing you need to complete further training after registration; this usually takes around 30 weeks. You can also go on to qualify as a health visitor or school nurse; check the relevant job profiles or NHS Careers website (in Further Information) for details. 

If you are a former registered nurse wishing to return to the profession, you can take a return-to-practice course; available throughout the UK, these courses consist of a mixture of theory and practice. Contact NHS Careers (in Further Information) for details.

Opportunities

As a nurse you will find most job opportunities within the NHS, however, you can also work in the private sector and schools.

As a nurse in the child branch you can go on to train in another branch of nursing - adult, learning disability or mental health. You can also move into health visiting, school nursing or practice nursing in a doctor's surgery (check the relevant job profiles for details). There are also opportunities for self-employment, and working with nursing agencies.

As a qualified and experienced registered nurse, you may be able to progress into the role of sister, ward manager or team leader. In this role you will be responsible for efficiently running a ward, or team of nurses in the community, conducting appraisals and performance reviews.

You may have the opportunity to continue in a management role as a matron or director of nursing. Another way to progress in your career is to pursue a clinical specialism, seek promotion as a nurse practitioner and ultimately become a nurse consultant. 

As a nurse consultant, you will spend at least half of your time working directly and independently with patients. This role will also include conducting research in your area of expertise and creating and implementing training. To be a consultant, you need a Masters degree or PhD.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Newly qualified nurses working in the NHS earn between £19,200 and £24,800 a year. 
Nurse specialists can earn up to £31,000.
Team managers can earn £36,500.
Nurse consultants can earn between £35,000 and £61,000.

Extra allowances may be paid to those living in or around London.

Further information

School of Nursing
Shore Road
Newtownabbey
Co Antrim
BT37 0QB
Tel: 08700 400 700 Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0870 1122 211 School of Nursing and Midwifery
Medical Biology Centre
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7BL
Tel: 028 9097 2233 Tel: 08000 150 850
Email: learning@nhscareers.nhs.uk Innovation House
Bridgend Road
Llanharan
CF72 9RP
Tel: 01443 233 333 Rosehill
New Barn Lane
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3LZ
Tel: 0870 112 2206 for general enquiries
Tel: 0870 112 2200 for application packs 23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
Tel: 020 7637 7181
Registration contacts
Overseas: 020 7333 6600
General: 020 7333 9333 22 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1JX
Tel: 0131 226 7371 PO Box 376
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655