Nursing is a very important job and one that is often under paid and under appreciated. Nurses are a vital part of the NHS and private medical sector and although often challenging at times, can be extremely rewarding.

If you are considering becoming a nurse then you will need to think about what part of nursing you want to go in to. As with many professions within the medical industry, you may have to work long shifts during various times of the day. This can have a massive impact on your family life and something that you may not want to do if you have young children at home.

It is important to understand exactly what your job entails. There is paperwork that needs to be completed and you need to be able to have patients to work with people of all different backgrounds and level of understanding.

It is essential that you are a good team worker and that you can also work well on your own. You will often need to think on your feet and be prepared to work longer hours if an emergency arises.

Entry requirements for nursing degree courses vary because each university sets its own entry criteria, but you are likely to need at least two (usually three) A-levels or equivalent qualifications at level 3, plus supporting GCSEs including English, maths and a science (usually biology or human biology).