Nurses make up one of the largest staff groups within the NHS, and they play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the NHS. Once nurses have their qualifications, they will start at a band 5 pay level as a staff nurse. Many staff nurses will begin their career in a hospital setting and will progress within the ward. Traditionally, wards have a defined career progression path set in place, with each stage being achieved through experience, training, and clinical knowledge. We’ve taken an in depth look at the role of a staff nurse, and how this role may be different to other registered nurses.
Staff Nurses
In basic terms, a staff nurse is a qualified nurse who is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and is usually part of a larger care team on a hospital ward. They are a nonsupervisory nurse who provides routine health care to patients including care and recovery. Staff nurses will typically report to a higher-ranking nurse or healthcare professional (such as nurse practitioners, advanced practice registered nurses, directors of nursing or doctors). Generally, the title of staff nurse refers to someone who works in a hospital, but you will also find staff nurses working in care homes, psychiatric care facilities and rehabilitation facilities.
A staff nurse is a type of registered nurse, meaning that they must have graduated from an accredited nursing programme and earnt a nursing license. Staff nurses perform duties such as welcoming patients, assessing their immediate health condition, and measuring vital signs like temperature, pulse, breathing rate, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. They will help doctors to perform diagnostic testing, administer medication, and prepare patients for discharge with at home care instructions and plans.
What is the role of a staff nurse?
The role of a staff nurse focuses on patient care and well-being. They are the hands-on face of nursing that you see in the healthcare sector, and most likely the first healthcare professional that you will speak to when you have to visit a hospital (or any other health care facility). Before the doctor or nurse practitioner arrives, the staff nurse will usually assess a patient’s condition while taking vital reports to allow the doctor to give a thorough assessment. A staff nurse will plan and provide compassionate and competent care to patients, and they promote health and healing through observation and monitoring, and then by evaluating the effectiveness of the care provided. They have a key role in preventing illness and further injury, and staff nurses are responsible for ensuring that each patients needs are met by liaising with a multi-disciplined team including specialist nurses, physio’s, doctors, occupational therapists, and social workers. They also may be in charge of overseeing healthcare assistants, nursing associates and student nurses.
Sometimes it will be necessary for a staff nurse to make referrals for specialist assessments, such as mental health screening, but they will also need to be extremely aware of safeguarding issues that may affect the patients well-being. Each nurse is accountable for the care that they give, and it is crucial that they uphold the values of the workplace as well as the NMC code and the 6 C’s of nursing.
What are the main duties of a staff nurse?
A staff nurse’s main goal is to promote patient health and well-being by providing high quality nursing care using their knowledge and skill base. It is necessary for them to take care of all their patients with no discrimination and update their family members. Their duties will include:
Monitoring a patient’s condition and assessing their needs to provide the best possible care
Observe and interpret a patient’s symptoms and communicate them to doctors and nurse practitioners
Work with other members of the team to devise individualised care plans
Perform routine procedures such as blood pressure tests and injections and fill in patients’ charts
Administer patient medication and adjust if necessary
Inspect the facilities to maintain hygiene and safety
Provide instant medical care in emergency situations
Assist surgeons during operations
Supervise students and nursing assistants
Form a supportive and compassionate environment for patients and their families
Expand their knowledge with further education and training
Are staff nurses different from registered nurses?
In essence, a staff nurse is a type of registered nurse but there are some differences in the position due to the education and training. The minimum requirement for you to become a staff nurse is a two-year associate degree in nursing. This will qualify you to take the NCLEX-RN and earn your registered nursing certificate. Registered nurses who want to specialise in a different type of nursing will then pursue other education to gain supervisory skills for advanced nursing positions. They typically spend more time in education and training programmes than staff nurses. Registered nurses can work in surgical environments and as travel nurses, while staff nurses will generally work in hospitals or long-term care facilities. A staff nurse will have more direct contact with patients than a registered nurse and provide more emotional support, whereas a registered nurse will tend to have more supervisory roles and are usually responsible for training junior nurses, maintaining medical equipment, and scheduling shifts.
What do you need to become a staff nurse?
The main route into qualifying as a staff nurse is to take a nursing degree in one of the four nursing specialisms:
Adult nursing
Children’s nursing
Learning disabilities
Mental health nursing
Some degrees cover two of these fields (dual field degrees) and the course is usually three years long. In order to apply for a full-time undergraduate nursing degree, you will need to have at least 2 (more often 3) A levels or equivalent, as well as a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C/ 4 including English, Maths and a science.
There is also the postgraduate option available for those who studied a relevant subject like health, biological or social sciences. This course is shortened to 2 years due to previous education and experience. The final option is to choose a nursing degree apprenticeship which are being offered by a small number of NHS organisations. They are similar to a nursing degree and involve a mix of academic study and placements. In order to apply for the role of a staff nurse you must have the following:
Proven experience
Exceptional knowledge of nursing care methods and procedures
Knowledge of emergency care and situations
BSc or diploma from a nursing programme
A valid nurses licence
Nursing is a highly vocational career path to take, so in addition to educational requirements there are also some skills that will help you to truly thrive. These include:
Caring and empathy – probably the most important quality to possess
Good communication skills – these are critical as the role of a staff nurse relies heavily on being able to communicate with other nurses, doctors, and other units (as well as patients and families)
Brilliant attention to detail – the role of a staff nurse can be very demanding and nurses are always under pressure, so you must be able to provide the highest quality care no matter what the situation
Good problem-solving skills
Good stamina – the physical demand of a nurse is one of the most underestimated aspects of the job, and you need to be able to work on a busy ward for long shifts
A desire to keep learning – medical knowledge is something that is constantly moving, and you will need to be adapt and willing to learn new things all the time
In order to become a great nurse, you need to be committed and connected on a deep level to your vocation. There are things that can be learnt over time, but it is important that you are not only caring and compassionate, but also capable of handling difficult situations under pressure. It is a job that is exceptionally demanding, but one that is also extremely rewarding.
If you are interested in some of the best nursing roles, all you need to do is register with us today. Our consultants are on hand to guide you through the entire process and get you started on your locum journey. We have made the entire process as simple as possible with an online compliance portal and registration process!