Developer's Community

Okay so let me start by saying: I’m not studying anything even remotely close to nursing. I’m a second-year media student who once fainted watching a YouTube video about open-heart surgery. So yeah, nursing is defo not my lane. But my flatmate Leah? She’s out here doing it. Like, really doing it. And I’ve got to say, I low-key admire the hell out of her.

She’s in her third year of a nursing degree, and watching her go through the whole process has given me mad insight into what it actually takes to become a nurse in the UK. Spoiler: it’s no joke. If you're someone who's ever Googled how long does it take to become a nurse?, just know long enough to make your social life evaporate and your sleep schedule cry. (But also, probs worth it if you're into that kind of thing.)

Let me back up a sec. When Leah first moved in with us, I assumed nursing was just, like, going to lectures, learning how to take blood pressure, and doing some work placements. Easy-ish, right? LOL. Nope. That girl was out the door at 6am for 12-hour shifts while still trying to finish essays and prep for exams. I’d be rolling out of bed to reheat last night’s takeaway while she’s scrubbing up for surgery observations or shadowing a midwife in some chaotic hospital ward. Honestly, watching her has been more educational than some of my own classes.

She told me you need a proper degree in nursing to qualify either adult, child, mental health, or learning disability nursing. So it's not just “I wanna help people” and boom, you're in. There’s actual serious science behind it. Anatomy, pharmacology, ethics… she even did a module on death and dying, which is way heavier than anything I’ve had to deal with in media studies. Like, the biggest dilemma I’ve had this term is whether to film my final project in 4K or just blag it with my iPhone. Meanwhile, Leah’s learning how to handle real-life emergencies.

Something else I didn’t know? You can’t just stroll into it. If you’re asking what qualifications do I need to be a nurse UK, the answer is kinda a lot. Leah had to have decent GCSEs (obviously), then A-levels in science-y stuff, or a BTEC, or even an access to nursing course if you’re coming back to uni later in life. She said some unis are chill with slightly different routes, but you definitely can’t just wing it.

Honestly, I’ve seen her go from being super nervous about her first placement to coming home and telling stories like, “Yeah I had to calm down a patient who was trying to punch a wall,” like it's just another Tuesday. She’s tougher than all of us combined. I mean, I complain when Deliveroo takes more than 45 minutes.

Not gonna lie, there’s been nights where she’s come home dead on her feet, slumped on the sofa in her uniform, eating cereal straight out the box because she’s too tired to cook. And she’s still gotta revise or prep for the next day. But she never seems like she wants to quit. She’ll moan, yeah, but then she’ll talk about a patient she helped or some little moment that reminded her why she chose nursing in the first place. That’s when you realize she’s built different.

So if you’re someone who’s seriously thinking about becoming a nurse UK style, just know it’s more than just a career. It’s a full-on lifestyle. You need patience, stamina, empathy, and apparently an immune system made of titanium (Leah swears she caught like five different bugs in her first month on placement).

And yeah, you’ll probably ask at some point, how to become a nurse UK? Google will give you a million answers. But seeing it up close? I can tell you it’s grit. It’s long hours. It’s being okay with the gross stuff. And it’s loving people enough to care for them at their absolute worst.

I don’t know if I could ever do it. I get stressed editing group projects where nobody responds to the WhatsApp. But Leah? She’s out here saving lives, doing CPR in training sessions, and learning how to give injections like it’s no big deal. The girl’s got nerves of steel and a heart of gold.

Anyway, this isn’t like a “become a nurse now!!” inspirational post or anything. I’m still firmly in my creative lane, drinking flat whites and overusing Canva. But if you’re reading this and thinking about nursing even a tiny bit just know it’s hard but kinda incredible. You’ve got to be built for it, yeah, but I think the world needs more Leahs. And maybe you’re one of them.

Just… maybe don’t watch surgery vids on YouTube like I did unless you’re fully prepared. Trust me. Not fun.