Choosing Nursing From application to offer and beyond

Becoming a nurse is a life-changing process and making the decision to study nursing at university is the first step. This short guide will help you decide whether it is the right move for you, give you an idea of which field of nursing might suit you best and provide useful tips for making a successful application.

Outlining the academic and clinical support that students can expect during their study, the stresses that they may face, how placements work and the role of the NMC for student nurses, this book includes a wide range of testimonials from nursing students as well as practising nurses.

Most importantly, it shows what is unique about each of the different fields, which include children?s nursing, adult nursing, mental health nursing, learning disability and defence nursing. It also looks at what all of these areas have in common ? what makes nursing nursing and what makes nursing special.

With a final section looking to the future, with tips for getting your first job and highlighting nursing opportunities around the globe, this is the must-have, no-nonsense career advice book for all those considering nursing as a career option or waiting to start their nursing course or indeed for those nurses who are wishing to return to the nursing profession.

Forward Introduction Part 1: Understanding Nursing 1. Defining Nursing2. Men in Nursing3. Nursing Misconceptions Part 2: Researching the Fields of Nursing 4. The Uniqueness of Adult Nursing5. The Uniqueness of Children and Young Person's Nursing6. The Uniqueness of Mental Health Nursing7. The Uniqueness of Learning Disability NursingPart 3: How to Become a Nurse 8. What Skills and Qualities are Important?9. Applying for a Nursing Programme10. Professional Regulation11. Returning to Nursing PracticePart 4: What and Where You Will Learn 12. Life in University13. Life During Clinical Placements14. Stresses of Being a Student NursePart 5: Beyond Nurse Training 15. Employability16. Securing Your First Job17. Nursing Around the Globe18. Embarking on a Journey of Lifelong Learning

Cathy Poole has over 33 years’ experience in health and education. She has held positions in adult orthopaedics, children’s nursing, nursing management, the private sector and the higher education sector. Her main area of interest is renal nursing and she maintains her clinical professional development as a Bank Staff Nurse at a Children’s Hospice.