Nursing and Midwifery

This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in Nursing and Midwifery.

See also our page on Health Professions

What is Nursing and Midwifery?

Nurses, midwives and health visitors provide health care and health promotion services in hospitals and in the community. They work as part of interdisciplinary teams that include doctors, other health care professionals and other professionals such as social workers and psychologists.

The health sector employs approximately 2 million people across the UK within the National Health Services, independent healthcare providers and voluntary organisations (Skills for Health).

As a nurse it is possible to work in, among others, hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics, nursing and residential homes, occupational health services, voluntary organisations that run hospices or residential care and the pharmaceutical industry. Nurses also work in the prison service, university education, on cruise ships or for the armed forces (Royal College of Nursing).

Midwives are often the key health professional supporting, guiding and caring for the mother, baby and family through the months of pregnancy, during the birth itself and afterwards in the postnatal period (Royal College of Nursing).

Prospects : Types of jobs - Healthcare
A wide range of detailed job profiles including adult nurse, child nurse, health visitor, learning disability nurse, mental health nurse and midwife.

Prospects: Industry Insights - Health
Information about working in the sector, how to get into it, labour market information and more.

Prospects: Options with your subject - Nursing
Detailed information on a broad range of job options for nursing graduates

How do I get into it?

Skills for Health
The Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the UK health sector.

NHS Careers
Comprehensive careers information for all careers in the NHS including entry requirements and routes into nursing, as well as a list of institutions that provide nurse training and education.

NHS Recruitment Scotland
NHS education and recruitment for Scotland

Nursing and Midwifery Council
Information and advice for students and recently qualified nurses/midwives.

University of Brighton courses database
Search for relevant courses at the university

Prospects Community - Public and voluntary sector

Information on education, health care, higher education, government jobs, social care and the voluntary sector.
www.prospects.ac.uk/public
www.prospects.ac.uk/charities_voluntary_sector

Finding a job or employer in this sector

NHS Profile Pools

The NHS may have contacted you to notify you of the profile pools, however if you haven't picked this up the following information will be of use to those qualifying and seeking first NHS posts in 2007.

NHS Profile Pools

To post your details on the SHA website for Trusts to view:

  • Log on to www.jobs.nhs.uk and select ‘my profiles’ link from the left hand side of the page
  • Select your SHA (South East Coast) and follow the instructions.

N.B. this is not a substitute for applications so you still need to search for vacancies.

The above information is applicable to people applying for posts in 2008 and it is subject to change. Keep an eye of the NHS jobs website for more details.

The main employers of nurses are NHS Trusts and private hospitals.

Local Health Organisations

NHS South of England
Established on 3 October 2011, It comprises South Central, South East Coast and South West Strategic Health Authorities

Brighton and Sussex Universities Hospitals NHS Trust

www.bsuh.nhs.uk

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust

www.esht.nhs.uk

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust

www.westernsussexhospitals.nhs.uk

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk

National recruitment sources

British Nursing News Online

www.bnn-online.co.uk

Health Service Journal

www.hsj.co.uk

MedrecUK

www.medrecuk.com/

National Health Service Jobs

www.jobs.nhs.uk

Nursing Job Advertiser

www.nursing-job-advertiser.com

Nursing Jobs Online

www.staffnurse.com

NursingNetUK

Job and course information

Nurserve

www.nurserve.co.uk

Nursing Times - available in hard copy at Falmer library

Practice Nurse

(available at Falmer library)
www.practicenursing.co.uk/jobs/jobpage.aspx

Royal College of Midwives Journal

www.midwives.co.uk

Greathealthcare

For medical, nursing and healthcare jobs.
www.greathealthcare.co.uk

Further Information and useful links

Nursing/midwifery links

Royal College of Nursing

Professional union for nursing. Includes information on nursing specialisms
www.rcn.org.uk

Regional organisations

NHS Education for Scotland

Nursing, midwifery & health visiting pages
www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/nursing

Northern Ireland Practice & Education Council for Nursing & Midwifery

www.nipec.hscni.net

Professional Health Organisations

Department of Health

www.dh.gov.uk/Home

Institute of Healthcare Management

www.ihm.org.uk

National Health Service (NHS)

www.nhs.uk

Key points

  • The health sector employs approximately 2 million people across the UK.
  • As a nurse it is possible to work in, among others, hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics, nursing and residential homes, occupational health services, voluntary organisations that run hospices or residential care and the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Midwives are often the key health professional supporting, guiding and caring for the mother, baby and family during and after pregnancy

Resources