Who is Registered Ward Nurse in Nursing
2024 Mar 22
To put it in simple terms, the role of a Registered Ward Nurse in a hospital is incredibly essential. It takes great skill, compassion, discipline and knowledge.
If you want to understand more about the role and forge a career, you have come to the right place. We will discuss about this role, the education you need and the skills you must develop to become successful and make your career as a Registered Ward nurse.
So let’s get started!
The Role of a Registered Ward Nurse in Healthcare
The role of a Registered Ward Nurse in Healthcare is two fold -
- As a primary caregiver, you are responsible for patients’ well-being. All of the medication, treatment and other therapy that a patient requires comes directly through you.
- As a staff member, you must keep your ward clean and decontaminated, assist the doctor whenever necessary, and support your fellow staff members.
- Provide holistic care to the patient without any discrimination.
Essential Skills for a Successful Registered Ward Nurse
Let us take a look at some vital skills for the role -
Clinical Skills and Bedside Manner
- Assessment - The first thing that a Registered Ward Nurse does is gather all of the necessary information about their patient. This is done by monitoring the patient’s vitals such as their heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure levels.
- Education - Your patient and their family have a right to information. Your job is to provide this information calmly and simply.
- Communication - Make the patient feel at home by communicating clearly about your role. Listen to the patient carefully and address their needs.
- Hygiene - As a healthcare worker, sanitation and hygiene should be top priorities. Equipments, floors and beds must all be kept clean and germ-free to avoid any kind of infections.
- Rapport - Your role does not end when therapy for the patient is complete. Keep in touch regarding their overall health and ensure that they are healthy.
Administering Medication and Medical Teamwork
- Medication - Ensure that the right dosage is given at the right time, following the doctor’s instructions.
- Caring for wounds - Any open wounds, cuts, lacerations etc. can lead to severe health concerns. You must immediately attend to them and make sure the wound is healing.
- Therapy - This includes physical and mental therapy as and when required. A Registered Ward Nurse has to administer this therapy under supervision and monitor patients’ therapy sessions.
- Teamwork - Organise, communicate, and execute. You must help your fellow nurses maintain a high standard of care, and be there as a team whenever and wherever needed.
Infection Control and Physiological Knowledge
- Decontamination - As discussed before, keeping the ward sanitised reduces the risk of bacteria, viruses and other infectious diseases spreading. You must also educate your patients’ families about methods of decontamination.
- Practical knowledge - You must have an advanced understanding of the human body and its functions. This will help you deliver better care and support doctors and other staff members.
- Quality, Legal and Ethical Standards - Your quality of care should not only be because of the rules and regulations, but also because of your ability and empathy. You must follow and comply with all legal and ethical standards..
The Journey to Becoming a Registered Ward Nurse
Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements
To begin your journey towards becoming a Registered Ward Nurse, you need to complete a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree.
After, you may go for an Associate Degree in Nursing, or head straight into your professional career.
The Importance of Active State Licensure
The practice of nursing requires a valid and active license. The Active State Licensure is required for a variety of reasons -
- Legal - Any kind of medical practice without a valid license is punishable by law.
- Accountability - With a license, the governing bodies assigned to supervise medical practice can make sure that the standards of care are being met.
- Employment - As a Registered Ward Nurse, you can only get employed with a valid state license. It also states your commitment and dedication to medical practice.
- Credibility - An active licence puts trust in the minds of the patients and their families.
The Value of a Clean Background Check and Drug Screen
Regardless of your education and expertise, a clean background helps both with your practice and your employability.
The first step towards it is complete sobriety. You must be in complete control of the situation at hand to be able to provide good care.
Various countries have various standards and priorities when conducting a background check or drug screening. This may be done before or after employment, or throughout the nurse’s career. Here are a few methods commonly used for the same -
Urine Sampling
One of the premier methods of drug testing is done via urine sampling. The nurse is asked to provide a sample of urine in a controlled environment, which is then sent to an independent body for testing.
The urine is tested for several substances ranging from opioids to methamphetamines.
Blood Sampling
In much the same way, drug testing via blood sampling is done by extracting a sample of blood in a highly monitored environment, and sent for testing.
Since this sample has a short detection window, it is tested quickly for a variety of drugs.
Hair Follicle Testing
A lesser known but commonly used testing process is done via taking a sample of hair, generally from the scalp.
With an extended window of detection, this kind of testing
The Importance of Documentation in a Registered Ward Nurse's Role
Documentation is a required practice in healthcare. It helps with the following -
- The well-being of the patient. Documentation prevents errors in delivering medication and therapy.
- Evaluation. With thorough record-keeping, you can assess the patient’s situation better.
- Planning of care. Records will help you plan and maintain a plan of therapy for the patient.
The Challenges and Rewards of Being a Registered Ward Nurse
Working in a Dynamic Environment and Adapting to Changes
- Stress and the management of stress is a crucial factor in your role. As a Registered Ward Nurse, you will be under immense stress to maintain a high standard of care.
- Demand and responsibility are also factors you have to balance. Nursing is a physically demanding role, and you have the primary responsibility of caring for the patient.
- Contamination is a risk. You will have to take steps towards proper sanitation and decontamination to protect yourself from infectious diseases.
Rewards
On the contrary, working as a registered nurse can be very rewarding.
- If you have compassion and empathy, the opportunity to care for others can be extremely rewarding for you.
- A Registered Ward Nurse is a stable role and offers plenty of areas for growth.
- Depending on your experience, you can be a high-value and highly compensated worker.
- Stability - Nursing is a high demand and high stability position. Although there is a lot of competition, the numbers of nurses upskilling and moving into managerial positions sees steady growth every year.
- Job Satisfaction and Personal Development - Nursing as a discipline puts you under a lot of pressure, but the autonomy and respect provided more than make up for it. Additionally, the opportunities for personal and professional development are numerous in this field.
Exploring Job Opportunities for Registered Ward Nurses in the UK
The Demand for Registered Ward Nurses in the UK
- With an ageing population, the United Kingdom needs more healthcare service providers and institutions.
- There have been ongoing issues related to staff resources in the UK. That could mean more opportunities for new staff members.
- The National Health Service has launched several new initiatives to make nursing in the UK more lucrative.
- Not only that, with a competitive rate of pay, added benefits and flexible work hours, the private sector with pharmaceutical companies as well as private medical institutions are an increasingly viable option for nurses in the UK.
The Role of NHS in Providing Opportunities
The National Health Service is the premier healthcare arm of the government of the UK and is the biggest healthcare employer in the country.
With the level of training and experience that the NHS aims to provide, it could be beneficial to pursue a nursing career in the UK.
The Role of The Private Sector in Providing Opportunities
The Impact of the Healthcare Community on Job Availability
As the healthcare infrastructure continues to grow, the healthcare community can offer more jobs, better working conditions and a better standard of care.
Along with that technological, economic, scientific and medical advancements in the field of care continue to provide excellent opportunities for stable work, study and growth.
Demand is relative to supply, there is a growing demand for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Due to which there will be more opportunities for continued career growth and progress.
Understanding the Salary Expectations for Registered Ward Nurses in the UK
How Much Does a Ward Nurse Earn in the UK?
According to the official pay scale chart of the NHS, a Ward Nurse begins their compensation package at Band 5.
Band 5 means they can earn between £26,000 and £34,581.
Factors Influencing Salary Levels
- Education - The level of formal education you have often determines the starting pay you will get.
- Experience - The experience in handling dynamic environments, seeing to your duties and maintaining a high standard of care will also influence your salary.
- OSCE- Completing the UK licensure exam and getting the NMC pin will also influence your salary.
The Process of Becoming a Registered Ward Nurse in the UK
Can an American RN Work in the UK?
After meeting certain requirements, an American RN can certainly work in the UK.
Understanding the UK's Nursing Registration Process
- For effective and streamlined communication, you must be well-versed in English.
- You must have a state licence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK.
- You must be a citizen of the UK or have a working visa.
- You will have to pass the NMC’s Objective Structured Clinical Examination better known as the OSCE.
- Finally, you will have to adhere to the standards of care in the UK, following the laws without fail.
Conclusion
Nursing is a responsibility and care-driven profession. From the moment a patient is brought in, you need to help them on the journey to better health.
If you think that nursing is a viable career option for you, start making the right preparations. With the right mindset, you can achieve your dreams and maintain the highest standards of care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Registered Ward Nurses
Who is a registered ward nurse?
A registered ward nurse is a licensed healthcare professional who works in healthcare facilities, often in a specific ward.
What level is a registered ward nurse?
According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Registered Ward Nurse belongs to the Registered Nurse level. This means that they have passed the minimum qualification of a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or another qualification equivalent to that.
How to become a registered ward nurse?
To become a registered ward nurse, you must complete your Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, get your state licensure, choose a speciality and apply for jobs in your role.
