Adult Nurse (CAMHS Specialism)

• Work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to decide on the best care to give and write care plans 
• Prepare patients for medical procedures 
• Treat wounds and minor injuries 
• Monitor pulse, blood pressure and temperature 
• Give out drugs and injections 
• Make sure intravenous fluids, food and medicines are administered safely  
• Help with medical tests and evaluations 
• Pass on information to colleagues at the end of a shift 
• Liaise with GPs and social workers to make sure support is in place when the patient leaves hospital 
• Give advice to patients about managing their own health 

• excellent communication skills 
• able to put people at ease 
• the ability to work in a team 
• be able to maintain confidentiality 
• have attention to detail 
• display empathy and sensitivity 
• be emotionally resilient 
• work well under pressure 
• have a flexible approach to work  
• to be able to multi-task 
• be able to manage own well-being 
• have good judgement 

The starting salary of an Adult Nurse is £24,907 rising to £30,615. 

 A Senior Adult Nurse is paid from £31,365 to £37,890. 

 At more senior levels, including Advanced Nurse, Lead Nurse, Modern Matron and Nurse Consultant, the salaries range from £38,890 to £73,664. 

Adult nurses usually work 37.5 hours per week. 

In hospitals nursing staff will do shift work which involves working nights, early starts, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. It is common to have to work unsociable hours. 

Adult Nurses who work in the community may work more regular hours i.e 9am to 5pm.  

Opportunities exist in 

• NHS hospitals   
• private hospitals such as BUPA or Nuffield 
• GP practices 
• care homes   
• prisons  
• the armed forces  
• air ambulance services 
• health promotion 
• overseas aid and development 
• research, teaching and education 
• residential nursing homes 
• specialist units and hospices 
• voluntary organisations 

Nursing can be demanding so it’s good to get any relevant health and social care experience to get an idea of what the role involves. 

For example, work experience as a care worker or in some other work with people in the community is good preparation for life as a nurse. 

If possible, it’s also a good idea to shadow a practicing nurse (although this can be very difficult to organise) or talk to nurses directly about the role. 

It is worth noting that Adult Nurses come from a wide range of backgrounds. Those who progress into the profession through the Degree Apprenticeship in Nursing are likely to come from other care roles such as Healthcare Support Worker, Care Assistant in elderly residential homes or domiciliary care. Those who come through the University degree route may have experience of care and/or experience of dealing with the public in other jobs such as retail, hospitality, education and community work.  

No matter the pathway, it is important is to demonstrate a commitment to helping others. This could come from voluntary work, providing personal care for family or friends or being someone who has a lived experience of certain health conditions and/or disability. 

• Nursing is physically and emotionally demanding but rewarding 
• You will be on your feet for long hours, throughout the working day 
• You will have to deal with challenging situations such as patients and their families being in distress 
• You might be looking after lots of patients on a ward, or one or two patients in intensive care  
• You could be visiting patients at home, on your own 
• You may be working in the community, running a clinic e.g., a diabetes care clinic 
• You could be travelling between hospital units, homes, and clinics 
• You will always be part of a team and work with other healthcare professionals and the patients’ families