what is a general nurse?
As a general practice nurse, you are part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). You usually work in GP surgeries and hospitals with doctors, dietitians and pharmacists. You provide primary care and handle every aspect of patient treatment, from treating small injuries to assisting in minor operations.
Your job involves assessing, screening and administering drugs to people of all ages. You also provide basic nursing care like immunisation, vaccination, wound care and collecting samples from patients. Sometimes, your job involves dealing with long-term conditions like diabetes, asthma and heart disease.
Your key role as a general nurse also involves offering health care advice on weight loss, smoking cessation and contraception. You run rehabilitation programmes to promote people's health.
Working as a general nurse involves a wide range of duties, which provides a challenging and rewarding work environment. That means you need to be adaptable and flexible to handle different cases. As a general nurse, you also require people skills, as you work closely with patients and their families. Your role allows you to develop long-term relationships with individuals to manage their conditions and help them improve their wellbeing.
You are trained to provide care to all types of patients, and you can work in any healthcare facility. As a general nurse, you work in hospitals, GP practices, primary care clinics, nursing homes and hospices. You also work in government agencies, college campuses and the military. Companies with in-house clinics also rely on general nurses to treat employees.
Would working in health as a general nurse suit your flexibility and interest in helping people? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a general nurse role.
average salary of a general nurse
According to National Careers, the median salary of a general nurse starting out is £24,907 per year. When you are experienced, you can earn over £44,503 annually. Your salary usually comes with great benefits like life insurance, uniform allowance and medical insurance. You also receive other benefits, like paid vacations and extra pay for working overtime.
The salary of a general nurse usually varies depending on the healthcare facility and employer. When you work for the National Health Service (NHS), your salary and benefits depend on the rates set by the Agenda for Pay in Bands. For instance, an NHS general nurse's salary starts at Band 5. Your earnings will range from £26,104 to £32,915 per year as a trainee general nurse working under a senior practice nurse. When you gain experience, you move to Band 6, where your salary begins at £33,072 annually, while general nurses with additional years of experience earn around £40,736 per year.
what factors affect the salary of a general nurse?
As a general nurse, your experience and education level dictates your compensation package. When you have many years of experience, you are likely to earn more than someone with a few years in the field. The healthcare facility you work for also determines your earnings. Sometimes, working in the private sector provides higher salary prospects than government agencies.
types of general nurses
Classification of general nurses depends on the area of specialisation and specific duties. Some of the types of general nurses include:
- nurse practitioner: as a general nurse practitioner, your job involves general patient care, diagnosing and treating minor conditions and injuries. You can also prescribe medicine to patients.
- registered general nurse: as a registered nurse, you assist physicians and doctors with hands-on patient care. Your role also involves maintaining patient records and explaining the treatment to patients.
working as a general nurse
Becoming a general nurse is a rewarding career that involves helping people. It's a hands-on job that requires confidence and passion for serving others. Let's explore specific duties and the work environment of a general nurse.
-
general nurse job description
The specific duties and responsibilities of a general nurse include:
- recording a patient's symptoms: as a general nurse, you ask patients about the symptoms they are experiencing and record their vitals. It simplifies the diagnosis process of a doctor. You update the patient's medical records with the new diagnosis and the doctor's recommended treatment plan. You also gather information from a patient's file like allergies, current medications and relevant family history that will help with the diagnosis.
- administering treatments: as a general nurse, you participate in developing treatment plans and administering medications prescribed by physicians. You also treat minor injuries, clean and dress wounds, insert and remove catheters and change bandages.
- performing diagnostic tests: during diagnosis, the doctor may recommend various tests on the patient. As a general nurse, you collect blood, tissue, urine or stool samples and send them to the lab for analysis. You are also responsible for analysing the results of the tests and sharing your findings with the team.
- conducting physical examinations: as a general nurse, you assess the overall health of a patient before they begin a new treatment plan. For instance, you need to determine their temperature, blood pressure and heartbeat. You also test a patient's reflexes, examine their throat, eyes, ears and nose, and inform the medical team of their health condition.
- providing support and advice to patients: as a general nurse, you need to ensure the patient is comfortable and understands the treatment plan. You also provide support when a patient receives challenging medical news and advise them on ways to improve their health.
- educating patients on managing illnesses: as a general nurse, you educate patients on various symptoms and ways of managing them. You also explain post-treatment home care and provide clear instructions about when a patient needs to see a doctor immediately. You can recommend rehabilitative exercises or practices to improve patients' health.
-
work environment
General nurses work in GP surgeries, clinics and hospitals. You can also work with the military or academic institutions. Your work environment depends on your area of specialisation and industry sector. For instance, if you offer your services to private companies, you will work in corporate settings, while working in the military involves working outdoors. When you work in hospitals, you spend most of the day on your feet helping patients. You are also required to wear a uniform in healthcare centres.
-
who are your colleagues?
As a general nurse, you work alongside a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners. You also work in close proximity to paediatric nurses and adult nurses, as well as other specialists like pharmacists role, orthoptist, physiotherapy assistants and dieticians.
-
work schedule
The work schedule of a general nurse is between 38 to 40 hours a week. You may work regular hours in clinics and private health centres. However, if you work in emergency centres and busy hospitals, you work on shift schedules since hospitals run 24 hours a day. That means you could work evening, early mornings, weekends and public holidays. When you work in clinics, you can find part-time opportunities. Since the job is hands-on, remote working opportunities are not usually available.
-
job outlook
As a general nurse, you are trained in all nursing roles. That means you can go on to specialise in specific areas with extra training. For instance, you could become an adult or paediatric nurse. Alternatively, you can move to community health roles like district nursing and care home nursing. You also have a chance to improve your skills and gain certification to become a registered nurse practitioner or nurse manager.
-
advantages of finding a general nurse job through randstad
Finding your general nursing job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a general nurse is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
You can become a general nurse in the following ways:
- university degree: as a general nurse, you need to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. That means you should complete a degree in nursing or related health studies before seeking certification and registration with the council. If you have a background in a different health career and want to join general practice nursing, you can do a specialist practitioner conversion course.
- work experience: to get employment as a general nurse, you need to be a registered child, adult or mental health nurse. You can land a job when you have experience in chronic disease management, childhood immunisation and taking blood samples. Some employers also require expertise in community nursing roles.
skills and competencies
As a general nurse, you need the following skills and competencies:
- caring: you need to be caring to provide the best care for patients. Being caring helps you administer treatment on time to alleviate pain and advise patients on the best ways to boost recovery.
- attention to detail: as a general nurse, you juggle many tasks, from receiving instructions from physicians to conducting examinations. You need to be detail-oriented to avoid mixing up treatment plans or administering the wrong medicine to patients.
- problem-solving skills: you need natural problem-solving skills to succeed in the role since you handle various patients, and sometimes the diagnosis from tests isn't clear. Exceptional problem-solving skills help you avoid adverse patient outcomes.
- stamina: the physical demands of being a general nurse can take a toll on you. Your role involves lifting and adjusting patients, walking around the hospital or administering treatment. Being physically fit makes your work easier.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a general nurse
-
what is the difference between a general nurse and a registered nurse?
A registered nurse has certification from the Nursing and Midwifery Council to perform their duties with minimal supervision.
-
what are the qualities of a general nurse?
A general nurse needs to be empathetic and considerate to patients to provide the best care. You also need stamina and physical fitness to withstand standing for long hours.
-
what is the role of a general practice nurse?
As a general practice nurse, you work with the primary healthcare team to assist with patient treatment and care. You deal with minor tasks like treating small injuries.
-
what is the highest level of a nurse?
The highest level of clinical nursing is an advanced practice registered nurse. Your role will involve prescribing medication and treatment plans.
-
how do I apply for a general nurse vacancy?
Applying for a general nurse job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
