Everything You Need to Know About Adult Nursing

Adult nursing can be an exceptionally rewarding career, as you help a wide range of people with their health and wellbeing.

If you want to find out more about adult nursing or are considering moving into nursing as a career, we’ve put together this guide to help.

What is adult nursing?

Adult nursing is when you offer nursing support services to adults. Anyone over the age of 18. It is sometimes referred to as general nursing.

Nurses help people suffering from illness or injury by carrying out medical procedures and providing a diagnosis. They are also involved in making sure patients are comfortable as well as reassuring their relatives.

Nurses offer support in a variety of different settings, from hospitals and GP surgeries to patients’ houses and the armed forces.

Nurses are also involved in preventative health campaigns, for example, helping people quit smoking and offering advice on weight loss.

What skills do adult nurses need?

Adult nurses need to be able to multitask as they may need to look after several patients at once.

They also need to be observant and have good attention to detail in order to spot potential health issues.

Empathy is essential in this line of work. Patients or relatives may be upset or distressed, so nurses need to be able to sympathise and be able to offer emotional support and have strong communication skills.

Nursing can be a challenging but rewarding job, so it’s important to be resilient.

How to move into nursing as a career

If you want to move into nursing as a career, the best way to do this is through an undergraduate degree. A full-time adult nursing degree takes three years, although you can also study on a part-time basis. During your studies, you will spend about half your time in the classroom and the other half doing a work placement at a hospital or NHS trust facility.

If you already have a degree in a relevant subject like psychology or biological sciences, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate programme or join the course at a later date.

Once you have qualified as a nurse, there are many different opportunities available. For example, you can decide to specialise in a particular field (like a specific ward or A&E) or prepare for a supervisory or managerial position.

Get your degree in nursing with the University of Bolton

Our BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) degree is offered in partnership with the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust so if you are looking to obtain your degree in nursing, we can provide an exceptional learning experience and high-quality learning placements. What’s more, we’re rated No.1 for Teaching Satisfaction in the North West.*

We’re currently accepting students for our January 2022 intake. This means if your New Year’s Resolution is to go into nursing, we can help get you there sooner than you think.

Find out more about our nursing and midwifery courses today.

*Guardian University Guide, 2022