Private nursing jobs

Private nursing jobs: frequently asked questions

Welcome to our private nursing jobs page, featuring all the best Private Nurse jobs currently available across the UK. Here are some handy FAQs for anyone wishing to learn more about what’s available for qualified Nurses in the private sector.

What does a Private Nurse do?

A Private Nurse is a qualified or Registered Nurse who chooses to work in the private sector.

Private Nurses carry out much the same duties as Nurses working within the NHS.

They can operate within hospitals or a community setting, and use all the same skills they’ve developed throughout their studies and career.

The key difference lies in the fact that private hospitals and facilities can operate differently to NHS locations, because they operate independently.

Private hospital patients pay for appointments and treatments, often to reduce waiting times for procedures.

Inevitably, private facilities aren’t as busy, so usually offer a greater degree of privacy and attentiveness.

Furthermore, private healthcare locations are often highly specialised, built to serve very specific needs like orthopaedics or maternity.

Nonetheless, they are diversifying, and some private hospitals mirror the services offered within the NHS.

All in all, this means that as a Private Nurse you’ll be using the same skills and offering the same level of care as you would within the NHS – but the nature of your daily duties and the benefits you receive could vary from one job to the next.

What are the daily responsibilities of a Private Nurse?

Because private healthcare facilities operate independently, the nature of your role as a Private Nurse can vary.

But for all intents and purposes, your duties will reflect those carried out within the NHS, so are likely to include:

• Creating patient care plans

• Observing and recording the condition of patients

• Managing and administering medication and injections

• Helping doctors with assessments, operations and consultations

• Planning discharges from hospitals

• Educating patients about their ongoing health

• Working with patients’ families to help them understand their situation and supporting them with ongoing care plans

You could work in a hospital or community setting, but in most cases you are more likely to work in a standard 9-5 pattern than within the NHS.

However, shift work may still apply in some hospitals.

How do you become a Private Nurse?

To become a Private Nurse, you need to become a Registered Nurse.

That means registering with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), which is only possible once you have completed a nursing degree.

Courses typically last three years and are available at universities and educational institutions across the country.

Half of your course will involve clinical practice, and apprenticeships are available in most locations.

The majority of Private Nurses begin their working career within the NHS, but this isn’t strictly necessary – some newly qualified Nurses work for private institutions immediately.

As is the case whether you work in the public or private sector, the more experience you have, the better.

So, when you’re studying it’s a good idea to pick up some part-time bank work – all of which will stand you in good stead when applying for jobs.

How much do Private Nurses earn?

Unlike within the NHS, salaries in the private sector are unregulated and can vary widely.

In some cases you can earn more than in an equivalent position in the NHS, and sometimes you might earn less.

As a point of reference, within the NHS as a newly qualified Registered Nurse you’ll earn a Band 5 salary – which currently starts at £24,214 a year.

That salary rises incrementally every year until you reach the top of your banding, which is over £30,000.

In terms of wider benefits, you’re unlikely to receive the same generous holiday entitlements or maternity and paternity pay as you might in the NHS.

However, it’s likely that your job might have a little more flexibility.

Ultimately, every private nursing job has to be treated individually.

Assess the salary and benefits on offer for each and every one, and have in mind what your equivalent pay packet would be within the NHS.

Also, don’t forget that in the private sector you’re free to negotiate salaries like any other private company worker.

Find your next Private Nurse job today

View our latest roles above, or if you’d like some help with your job search, create an account and register your CV here – we’ll send you the best and most relevant roles as soon as they come up.