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Where a Nursing Degree Could Take You

A degree in nursing opens up a wide range of career pathways and progression opportunities. According to NHS Health Careers, nursing is one of the most employable degrees in the UK, with Adult Nursing offering the broadest range of roles across the NHS and private institutions. At LSBU, 94% of our Nursing graduates have a job 15 months after graduating (Complete University Guide 2025), and our Nursing & Midwifery graduates have the highest median earnings across the sector 1 year after graduation (LEO data released 2024).

Below we explore where a degree in nursing could take you; specialisms you might not have previously considered, roles outside of clinical settings, and opportunities to see the world working as a nurse abroad.

Progression & Specialism

At LSBU, nursing placements take place across a variety of wards to give students insight into different career pathways. On the adult nursing degree for example, students attend medical, surgical, critical care, outpatient and community placements.

Once you have graduated and become a registered nurse, there are many opportunities for specialisation with experience and further training. NHS workers undertake an annual personal development review to encourage career progression with the NHS offering continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities to support development. With experience and/or further training, you could progress into roles and specialisms such as:

  • Senior staff nurse
  • Ward sister/charge nurse
  • Advanced nurse practitioner
  • Matron
  • Nurse consultant
  • Theatre/surgical nurse
  • A&E nurse
  • District and community nurse
  • Intensive care nurse
  • Paediatric ICU / ITU nurse
  • Neonatal nurse
  • Oncology or chemotherapy nurse
  • Endoscopy nurse
  • Geriatric nurse

Some qualified nurses may decide to work with a nursing agency, in a private hospital, or train in a private field of healthcare, such as an aesthetics nurse.

Another route available to qualified nurses is in research. Clinical research nurses work testing whether a new approach to treatment or care is better than current options. Research nurses may deliver treatment as part of a clinical trial, contribute to the development of new drugs, treatments, care pathways or regimens for patients, support data collection or oversee the management and completion of research.

Our Nursing academics at LSBU began their careers working in their chosen field of nursing, before deciding to move into education. Read about their journeys here.

A Stepping Stone into Healthcare

Each field of Nursing & Midwifery has a separate registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council. If after your degree you decide to gain a second registration in a separate field - such as midwifery - or even in a different healthcare field - such as occupational therapy - you can complete a post-graduate pre-registration shortened course in the new field.

Your first degree and work experience will contribute towards your Recognition of Prior Learning, which allows you to use your existing qualifications and experience to exempt you from modules that overlap closely with your existing awards.

Beyond Clinical Settings

When picturing a career in nursing, most people will think of a hospital or doctor’s surgery, but a degree in nursing can also offer roles outside of the typical clinical setting.

The British Army recruit nurses to work within NHS hospitals with military units, ground based environments such as medical regiments, and overseas field hospitals. They currently have British Army Nurses based in countries including Cyprus, Canada, Nepal, Kenya and Sierra Leone. Benefit from medical and dental cover, subsidised accommodation, opportunities to specialise and more. The British Army also offer an Army Nursing Bursary during your degree worth up to £42,000.

Nursing roles are available within prisons, working either with the NHS or with private healthcare providers. Prison nurses work alongside multidisciplinary teams in what are often varied roles. The role of a prison nurse could include health assessments for new prisoners, minor injury and illness care, management of long-term conditions, emergency care and substance misuse.

District Nurses play a key role in primary care teams, providing care for people in their own homes or in care homes, assessing healthcare plans and monitoring the quality of care. Nurses can also work in care homes providing care for the elderly or individuals with physical or learning disabilities.

School Nurses undertake additional training and qualifications to become specialist community public health nurses. They work with children and young people in educational settings, within the home, or in health centres, working to improve their health and wellbeing. The role could include things like raising awareness of health issues, promoting and educating on healthy living, and supporting with ongoing medical needs.

See the World with your Nursing Degree

There are many countries where the skills of UK nurses are in high demand, and as such they are actively recruiting UK trained nurses for work abroad. Adult Nursing is generally the most transferable qualification, as not all countries have equivalent qualifications in mental health, learning disability and children’s nursing. Requirements vary between countries and employers, as some require additional training and/or post-registration experience (the RNC recommend at least 6 months of post-qualification work experience in the UK before working abroad). Visas, work permits and the registration process vary from country to country, so it's worth doing your research.  Popular destinations for UK nurses include:

- Australia

- New Zealand

- United Arab Emirates

We've already mentioned the opportunities working abroad as a nurse with the British Army, and there are similar opportunities to experience nursing in developing countries through working or volunteering with international charities such as the British Red Cross, Voluntary Service Overseas, and Doctors Without Boarders.

If you want to be on the move while working, Cruise Ship companies offer roles at sea during cruises, providing medical advice and treatment from minor first aid to life support interventions to guests and staff on board. Many companies require two or three years clinical experience before  being able to join the team.

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