General Nursing is a rewarding profession, where you have many opportunities to make a positive impact on people's lives. Throughout your training, you can expect to learn new skills and knowledge that help and assist patients.
Nursing is a combination of academic, communication and teamwork skills, underpinned by the Health Service values of Care, Compassion, Trust and Learning.
Work Environment
General Nurse (RGN)s typically work in the following Career Sectors:
Videos & Interviews
Ejiro O'Hare Stratton, Clinical Nurse Manager 2
Ejiro O'Hare Stratton is a Clinical Nurse Manager 2 with the HSE working in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda in a supervisory role for Care Assistants. She holds a Certificate in Nursing Studies and has also received a Diploma in Management & Industrial Relations and a BA in Human Resource Management & Industrial Relations.
Videos on the Web
- General Nurse (RGN)- from: Youtube Search
- Chief Nursing Officer - from: icould [UK] Video
- General Nurse - from: YouTube - Video
The Work
From the start of your training, you will learn how to observe patients and assess their needs. You will learn to plan and deliver the most appropriate care for them, and evaluate the results.
It is important to establish a trusting partnership with patients on their care journey. Your aim is to improve your patients’ quality of life, whatever their situation. You will need to consider many factors and juggle many priorities to get the best possible results for your patients.
Your nursing career will involve working with adults of all ages. You will encounter many illness and conditions, which can be long or short-term, e.g. Heart disease, respiratory disease,arthritis, diabetes or cancer, surgery and injuries from an accident.
Where Will I Work?
You could work in a variety of settings: hospital wards, Emergency Departments, Operating Theatre, Intensive care and you may also work in the community setting including the patients' home.
You will work with other professionals such as doctors, occupational therapists, pharmacists, radiographers and healthcare assistants. You will also work closely with patients' families and carers.
Further Information
- General Nurse (RGN) - from: N.C.S. [UK]
- General Nurse (RGN) - from: N.C.S. [UK]
- General Nurse (RGN) - from: N.C.S. [UK]
- General Nurse (RGN) - from: N.C.S. [UK]
- General Nurse (RGN) - from: GradIreland
- General Nurse (RGN) - from: N.C.S. [UK]
- General Nurse (RGN) - from: N.C.S. [UK]
Qualities - General Nurse (RGN)
There are many reasons why you should consider a career as a general nurse. It offers you the chance to make a difference from day one. You are a highly educated professional, with an honours degree and it is a career with excellent employment opportunities.
You will be responsible for a number of patients, each with different needs so you will need to be highly organised and able to prioritise care effectively. A good general nurse is observant, able to assess patients, advocates for and determines the best course of action for them.
You will learn good communication skills so that you can develop good relationships with patients, carers and their families and help them to manage their illness and plan their medical treatment in a way that best suits their normal life. Communication skills also help to work effectively in a team; this is important for nurses as they usually manage the coordination and the shared work of healthcare teams.
As part of your training, you can expect to learn new skills and procedures that help patients. The physical care of patients requires an in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and physiology – how the body and brain work - because nurses are responsible for ensuring that their patients regain the best possible state of health and independence possible, this requires an excellent understanding of their condition.
Skills that nurses use to keep their patients in optimal health are taught in the undergraduate programme and both knowledge and skills are practiced under the supervision and mentorship of qualified nurses. Examples of practical skills include;
- bladder catheterisation
- insertion of nasogastric feeding tubes
- administration of fluids and medications through intravenous catheters
- wound healing and many more.
The social and psychological care of patients and clients is central to the work of nurses. Psychology and sociology modules are therefore included in the undergraduate programme.
No two days are the same in nursing and with ongoing training and the support of your team, you will be able to deal with a variety of situations. Nurses must be resourceful, mature and understanding enough to cope with distressed patients and difficult or sad situations. It is important that you are flexible and use your initiative. As a general nurse you are guaranteed to make a real difference to people’s lives every single day.
Interests - General Nurse (RGN)
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Entry - General Nurse (RGN)
To become a General nurse you will need to undertake a 4 year degree course, consisting of equal amount of clinical and theory, which will lead to a BSc in General Nursing (RGN), which is a Level 8 qualification.
Entry requirements for these courses can vary depending on where and how you would like to study, so it is important to check with the particular college.
CAO Entry:
Higher Education CAO Entry: These programmes are offered through Education Bodies (EB’s) in association with the main Healthcare Agencies (Hospitals/Clinical Sites) Search our CAO coursefinder - just put in the word "Nurse or Nursing" in the search filter and all nursing courses at CAO level will be presented.
Further Education & Training Entry Pathways:
FET Centre PLC Courses Certain Specific QQI Level 5 Certificate Programmes can provide links to Nursing Degree Programmes Search our FET PLC Coursefinder
- Nursing Studies (5M4349)
- Healthcare Support (5M4339)
- Community and Health Services (5M4468)
In all cases places are limited and applicants must have achieved distinctions in five components including;
- Anatomy and Physiology (5N0749)
- Introduction to Nursing (5N4325)
- Human Growth and Development (5N1279) or Biology (5N2746)
You can check our QQI progression route course finder for options Search our progression routefinder
Always contact the Admissions Office of the individual (EB’s) Education Body or visit CAO Nursing FET- QQi places. You can explore relevant admissions contacts Admissions Officers contact list. You can also check www.nursingcareers.ie to check for any changes. Courses completed at FET PLC level, if meeting subject criteria students can apply via CAO under the HELS Higher education links scheme for a place in Nursing programmes.
Tertiary Programmes
This innovative pilot programme is one of the first of its kind. Students will start their preparation for the general nursing degree programme in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector leading to direct access to the third level college.
Students will spend the first year of this programme in their local Education and Training Board (ETB) college and then move directly to the higher education programme, with locally designated pathways (Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Castlebar, St Angela’s College, Sligo or ATU, Donegal) to undertake their four-year Nursing programme.
Mature Entry:
All candidates are required to apply through CAO. Mature Entry is for those that are 23 years of age or older by 1st January in the year of entry, applicants are also required to sit a test. The Nursing Careers Centre (NCC) of Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, NMBI) assesses candidates.
Mature entry route is based on applying for a nursing course via www.cao.ie by 1st February or late application date of 1st May. Applicants can also avail of the change of mind facility on CAO up to 1st July. Although it is possible to make a late application to mature nursing, it is not possible to apply late for other mature entry routes. Other mature entry routes should be applied for by 1st February, to ensure they can engage in any mature assessments. Check out NMBI Mature student guide for more information.
Places are limited and mature applicants must satisfy the minimum entry requirements for the Nursing programme and will also be assessed based on each Colleges [RPL] Recognition of prior learning.
Career / Professional Development
Once you have qualified as a Registered General Nurse (RGN) you may choose to stay in the general setting (Medical/Surgical) or you may choose to move into a specialised area i.e. Intensive care, Operating Theatre or Care of the Elderly. You may decide to move to an area such as Public Health Nursing/ Midwifery/Children’s Nursing/Mental Health Nursing/Intellectual Disability Nursing.
There are many opportunities for ongoing education and development for nurses. This incorporates education, clinical leadership development, research, innovation, specialist and advanced practice. The National Office of Nursing and Midwifery will provide further information and guidance on supporting your nursing career options. Check out a list of current CPD on offer.
Postgraduate study options: NFQ level 9-10
- Nursing
- Nursing - Advanced Practice Nursing
- Nursing - Cancer Nursing
- Nursing - Coronary Care Nursing
- Nursing - Critical Care Nursing
- Nursing - Critical Care
- Nursing - Cardiovascular
- Nursing - Dermatology Nursing
- Nursing - Diabetes Nursing
- Nursing - Emergency Nursing
- Nursing - Gerontological Nursing
- Nursing - Infection Prevention & Control Nursing
- Nursing - Intellectual Disability Nursing
- Nursing - Intensive Care Nursing
- Nursing - Medical Surgical Nursing
- Nursing - Neonatal Nursing
- Nursing - Ophthalmic Nursing
- Nursing - Orthopa
Last Updated: April, 2023
Pay & Salary - General Nurse (RGN)
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €59k
Your standard working week will be 37.5 hours on a shift pattern, which can include nights, early starts, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Salaries vary by employer, location, experience, qualification, shift pattern, and sessional rates.
https://assets.hse.ie/media/documents/Pay_scales_for_2.2.22_and_1.10.22_adjustments_V2.pdf
Data Source(s):
HSE.ie/ Indeed/ Glassdoor
Last Updated: July, 2024
* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.
View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available
Labour Market Updates - General Nurse (RGN)
This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
The Slaintecare Action Plan 2023 highlights that an additional 4,592 nurses/midwives were employed in the health service since 2020; funding for an additional 149 posts for advanced nurse and midwife practitioners has also been secured. In addition, the Minister for Health has announced funding for 854 additional nursing posts.44 Over 3,000 new employment permits were issued for nurses in 2022, primarily for staff nurses. This reliance on supply from outside of Ireland has resulted in an increasing share of nurses who are non-Irish citizens (at over 30% in quarter 4 2022).
Vacancies for nurses appeared frequently in the vacancy data in 2022 (both DSP and OVATE) and difficult-to-fill vacancies in the Recruitment Agency Survey included for staff nurses, theatre, ICU, oncology, nurse managers. Supply from the higher education system is expected to increase, with the announcement in Summer 2023 of an additional 208 places on nursing courses to be made available in Irish higher education institutions and a further 200 places reserved for students from the Republic of Ireland, to be delivered in Northern Ireland. Nonetheless, given the duration of training programmes, demand for nurses is likely to continue to outweigh supply leading to a continued shortage, with replacement demand alone for such a large occupation contributing to continued job openings.
Useful Contacts - General Nurse (RGN)
-
Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)
- 18-20 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
- (01) 639 8500 LoCall 0818 200 116
- [email protected]
- Click Here
-
Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, HSE Dr Steevens’ Hospital
- Dublin DO8 W2A8
- 01 635 2471
- Click Here
-
Regional Nursing and Midwifery Planning & Development Units
