Nursing

Nursing is one of the most important and consistently demanded professions in the UK and globally. Adult nurses work with patients across the full span of healthcare settings, from acute hospital wards and emergency departments through to community clinics, rehabilitation units and specialist centres for long-term conditions. The role requires clinical knowledge, practical skill, emotional intelligence and the ability to work collaboratively under pressure within multi-disciplinary teams.

It is a profession where scientific understanding and human compassion are both essential, and where the quality of individual practice has direct and immediate consequences for patient outcomes.

At Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh you will study nursing over four years of full-time study, on a programme designed to prepare you with the knowledge, skills and leadership qualities needed for a successful career. You will develop a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical assessment and care planning alongside the professional, legal and ethical frameworks that govern nursing practice. The four-year structure allows you to develop genuine depth of knowledge and increasingly complex clinical competency, progressing towards the independent practice and leadership capabilities expected of a registered nurse.

On completion you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a registered adult nurse. The typical tariff of 152 reflects the academic and professional demands of a degree that leads directly to a regulated health qualification.

Registered adult nurses work in NHS trusts, community health services, independent healthcare, occupational health, the armed forces and international healthcare settings. Career progression leads to specialist nursing roles, advanced clinical practice, management, education and research. Many nurses pursue postgraduate qualifications to develop expertise in particular clinical areas or to move into roles in nursing leadership, practice education or academic nursing.

Demand for registered nurses in the UK remains persistently high, and the breadth of settings and specialisms available makes nursing a profession with genuine long-term career variety.