UK nurses who have valid and current Nursing and Midwifery Council registrations may call themselves registered nurses. These highly qualified nurses help patients become healthier and inform people about ways to prevent injuries and diseases.
Although most nurses work in hospitals, many are employed by public health agencies, physicians' offices, schools and businesses. Some registered nurses even visit patients' homes. Shift work is common, and this job requires a lot of standing, walking, bending, and stretching. Such nurses must be careful not to injure their backs when moving patients.
The UK no longer provides second level nurse training, but nurses who have undergone this training may still legally work in their profession. Most newly registered nurses are first level nurses whose titles include RNC (specialising in child), RNLD (specialising in learning disabilities), RNA (specialising in adult), and RNMH (specialising in mental health)
By 2013, all new nurses in the UK must hold a university degree, but those who currently do not have a degree may study part time, and their employers often pay the tuition fees. Salaries for the post vary widely from just over £13,000 per annum for entry level positions to nearly £100,000 a year for senior positions.

• Being self motivated
• Being able to work in diverse environments
• Being efficient and thorough
• Being patient and compassionate
• Being assertive and respectful
• Being professional
• Handling stressful situations
• Being a good listener and communicate ideas effectively
• Being physically and mentally fit and stable
• Team work
• Problem management

Registered Nurses may have any number of qualifications but they must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to practice in the UK. Their training typically takes between two and four years. If you are interested in becoming a Registered Nurse you should be over 17 years old, have your GCSEs (especially in Mathematics and English) and you will need to study courses such as Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Sociology, Social Policy, Patient Care, Communication, Maternity Care, and other Nursing related subjects. The NHS and the NMC provide detailed information about the requirements to become a Registered Nurse.