Adult nursing
What is it?
Many people come into this area of nursing expecting to learn practical skills and procedures. You will learn these and much more! The mark of a professional is the ability to assess situations and modify care accordingly.
What does it involve?
Adult nurses work with old and young adults with diverse health conditions, both chronic and acute. They juggle numerous priorities and use caring, counselling, managing, teaching and all aspects of interpersonal skills to improve the quality of patients’ lives, sometimes in difficult situations. Depending on experience and training, adult nurses can hold positions at most levels of the NHS career framework.
As a nurse in the adult branch you will be working at the centre of a multi professional team that includes doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, radiographers, healthcare assistants and many others.
You will have close contact with patients and their families. As part of your training you'll learn how to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for individual patients. To ensure consistency between nurses you need to record progress. You can be hospital based or work in the community (where more and more healthcare is being delivered).
What are the special demands?
You will need presence of mind and flexibility to juggle the needs of a number of individuals at the same time. Communication skills are fundamental to successful nursing. You must have personal skills to set people at their ease in pressurised and sometimes difficult circumstances.
You will also have the tremendous satisfaction of knowing your contribution really counts in reducing suffering and promoting the health of the people in your care.
The adult branch of nursing will suit individuals who wish to work in a busy, multidisciplinary team but can also use initiative where required. There’s a lot to learn in a fast changing, demanding environment, so it’s essential for you to be highly observant and able to assess what is best for the patient. Willingness to take responsibility for people’s well-being is essential, and a commitment to continuing learning throughout your career is vital.
Subject: A bit about Adult Nursing... 
Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:24 pm