Adult nursing courses
Pre-registration courses
What is adult nursing?
Adult nursing is challenging, inspiring and rewarding.
You will come into contact with a range of people from 16 years on. It provides variety and brings a diverse array of challenges.
There are many situations an adult nurse may encounter such as:
- Providing cardiac rehabilitation to a 40 year old man who has had a heart attack
- Assessing an 18 year old in Accident and Emergency following a motor cycle accident
- Providing wound care to a 78 year old lady in her home
The opportunities and situations are endless...
What does it involve?
Adult nurses focus on the care and needs of the patient rather than the illness or condition. Promoting good health and well-being through education are important aspects of the job.
An adult nurse assesses, plans, implements and evaluates the care and treatment they give. Nurses ensure the person understands what procedure they are going to have with the risks and benefits that may be expected.
They work and liaise with the interprofessional team including doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, radiotherapists and occupational therapists to creating an effective and organised discharge from hospital.
What personal attributes does an adult nurse require?
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing situations
- The ability to communicate effectively with people from a range of diverse backgrounds
- Practical skills
- The ability to remain calm in difficult situations
- Empathy with patients and their families and the ability to gain trust
- Confidence to make decisions
- The ability to work independently and to work as part of a team.
Typical work activities
- Observing, monitoring and recording observations such as blood pressure, pulse, and temperature
- Implementing care plans such as preparing patients for operations, wound treatment, planning and rehabilitation
- Communicating effectively
- Checking and administering medication
- Liaising with other healthcare professionals
- Checking, administering and monitoring blood transfusions
- Teaching skills to student and junior nurses supporting patients and their families in end of life care
- Supporting patients and colleagues in ethically challenging situations.
Career options
As an adult nurse you will hold a degree with a professional qualification recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC Council). It offers a wide range of specialist options that you will enjoy once you have qualified.
Adult nurses may work within hospitals and also play a prominent role in:
- The community served by health centres or general practice centres
- Residential homes
- Specialist units and hospices
- Schools and universities
- Leisure cruise ships
- Research, teaching and education
- Prisons
- Overseas aid and development
- Voluntary organisations
- The armed forces
- Private health care organisations.