How to become a children's nurse
To become a children’s nurse in the NHS, you'll need to complete a pre-registration degree programme accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
What is a children’s nurse?
Children's nurses work in partnership with children, young people, and their families in various health and care settings. They support the physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people under their care. This involves assessing their needs, planning care, delivering treatment, and monitoring their health.
Starting your career as a children’s nurse
Choosing subjects at school
To access a course that could lead to a career in children's nursing, useful subjects include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Psychology
- English
- Maths
Speak to your guidance teacher or careers adviser about subjects offered at your school.
Work placements and volunteering
You may find it helpful to get some healthcare experience by doing a work placement or volunteering. You will get training, increase your knowledge, and learn new skills. This could help you when applying to college, university, or a new job with NHSScotland. Contact your local health board to find out about the work placements or volunteering opportunities available to you.
Education and training pathway
There are many different pathways to becoming a registered children's nurse. Find out the best way for you below.
Pre-registration undergraduate children’s nursing degree
If you have the required qualifications, you can apply for a nursing degree, regardless of age. You could be a school pupil, college student, career changer, or a nursing assistant practitioner.
This pathway involves gaining a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree from an NMC-accredited university. The course typically takes 3 to 4 years to complete. When you graduate, you'll become a qualified nurse eligible to register with the NMC. You can then apply for children's nursing roles in the NHS.
There are 4 universities in Scotland that offer undergraduate programmes in children’s nursing, approved by the NMC:
- Edinburgh Napier University
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Robert Gordon University
- University of Dundee
Search for pre-registration undergraduate nursing degree programmes on My World of Work.
Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP)
SWAP is for adult learners who have been out of education for 3 years or more.
The SWAP pathway offers a supportive route that you can take to re-enter education and pursue a career in nursing. The one-year course will help to bridge gaps in your education.
Completing this pathway will prepare you for entry into a SWAP partnered university undergraduate nursing degree programme. Tuition fees and a bursary may be available.
HNC in Healthcare Practice
Apply for an HNC in healthcare practice if you are an existing healthcare support worker or you do not have the necessary qualifications for direct entry into a university nursing course.
This pathway starts with studying for a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Healthcare Practice, which serves as a stepping stone towards a nursing degree.
Successful completion of the HNC programme may grant you direct entry into the second year of a university nursing course, accelerating your progress towards becoming a registered nurse within NHSScotland.
Taking one year to complete, many colleges in Scotland provide the HNC Healthcare practice qualification.
Colleges that offer the course include:
- Edinburgh College
- Forth Valley College
- Glasgow Clyde College
- North East Scotland College
Search for college courses on My World of Work.
Open university
If you are an existing healthcare support worker who wants to become a registered children’s nurse, the Open University pathway may be right for you.
The Open University offers flexibility with a 4-year part-time course. You will combine working in your existing healthcare support worker role with online study. The distance learning approach includes local placements to provide hands-on experience and training. The Scottish Government covers all tuition fees.
Pre-registration postgraduate children’s nursing degree
To be eligible for the postgraduate pathway, you'll need an undergraduate degree in any subject. The course takes 3 years to complete.
During this full-time course, you will split your time between on-campus learning and practice placements in hospitals and community settings.
In Scotland, the University of Dundee offers a pre-registration post-graduate programme in children’s nursing and a joint programme in children’s nursing and mental health nursing. Both programmes are approved by the NMC.
Search for pre-registration postgraduate nursing degree programmes on My World of Work.
Return to nursing practice
If you were previously registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the return to practice pathway is right for you. You’ll need an NMC statement of entry confirming your previous registration.
You'll also need to meet the NMC's practice hours requirements before you start your readmission application.
If you're unable to meet the practice hours requirement, you can complete one of the following to update your knowledge and skills:
- A return to practice course combines theoretical and practical application to update your nursing skills. It covers a full range of topics so that you'll be up-to-date with healthcare standards and protocols. Depending on practice hours and pace of study, it takes 14 to 26 weeks.
- The Test of Competence will evaluate your knowledge and skills against NMC standards.
Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary
The Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary (PNMSB) scheme is managed by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) on behalf of the Scottish Government.
It includes a non-repayable bursary of £10,000 that’s not income assessed. Other bursaries or grants may be available depending on your circumstances.
You must meet the eligibility criteria:
- you ordinarily reside in Scotland
- your course leads to a degree or diploma of higher education in Scotland
Find out more about SASS funding for nursing and midwifery students.
Get to know the role
Caring for children and young people is different from adult nursing.
You must be knowledgeable about the developmental stages of their health and wellbeing. You'll adapt your communication skills to suit the young person’s age. You'll also learn to interpret children's behaviours and reactions to recognise changes in their health and development and provide appropriate support.
Building close relationships with young people and their families is an essential and rewarding aspect of the role.
Being a children's nurse gives you the opportunity to make a real positive difference in the lives of young people and their families.
As a children's nurse you are a highly skilled professional who has responsibility for the decisions you make within your role.
Your role might include:
- developing strong relationships with children, young people and their families and carers
- carrying out physical examinations and clinical assessments
- monitoring the child or young person’s health and wellbeing
- keeping accurate records of assessment and care
- administering medications and monitoring effects
- responding quickly to emergencies
- supporting parents and carers who have an ill child in hospital or at home
As well as being caring, empathetic and compassionate, you'll need the following skills:
- communicating
- problem-solving
- collaborating
- leading
- critical thinking
Children’s nurses usually work in a team with other health and social care professionals, including:
- medical staff
- healthcare support workers
- dieticians
- occupational therapists
- healthcare scientists
- physiotherapists
- social workers
- play specialists
As a children’s nurse, you could work in:
- hospitals
- health centres
- community settings
- schools
- hospices
- NHS 24
Children’s nurses also work in the care sector, independent healthcare sector and in education.
Registering with the NMC
When you become a qualified nurse, you must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to practice. The NMC are the independent regulator for all registered nurses and midwives in the UK.
This video from the NMC explains what makes you a registered professional.
Learning and development
Once registered as a children’s nurse, there are ongoing requirements for education and skills development. You’ll have opportunities to further develop in your career. You could develop your skills in:
- children's and young people's specific policy
- advanced paediatric life support
- neonatal care
In your first year as a newly qualified nurse, you’ll get extra support and guidance through the Flying Start NHS programme.
Career progression
In the NHS, you may choose to be a staff nurse throughout your nursing career, keeping up to date through continuing professional development. Taking extra courses and workplace learning could lead to progression through the career pathway to senior, advanced, or consultant level.
When you’ve qualified as a registered children’s nurse, there are lots of specialisms to choose from, including:
- accident and emergency nursing
- intensive care nursing
- cancer and palliative care nursing
- community staff nursing
There are also opportunities to move into management or health education roles, such as:
- charge nurse
- clinical nurse specialist
- practice educator
- child health lecturer
Revalidation
Revalidation is a process that all nurses need to follow to maintain their registration with the NMC every 3 years.
It is an ongoing process throughout your career as a nurse and aims to:
- promote good practice
- maintain and strengthen public confidence in the profession
Professional bodies
When you become a qualified children’s nurse, you must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to work in the NHS. You can also join the Royal College of Nursing.
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