Support Workers
Nursing support workers work closely with registered nurses to care for sick or injured people of all ages
Starting your career
To become a nursing support worker, you need a good standard of education. There are no entry requirements, but useful subjects include:
- Biology
- English
- Maths
*GCSEs in Maths and English would also be required
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a good way to start your career in healthcare.
Modern Apprenticeships
A Modern Apprenticeship in Healthcare Support (clinical) is appropriate for people interested in working in a healthcare support role.
Find out more about apprenticeships at apprenticeships.scot
Work placement
Whether you’re at school or have decided for a change in your career, work placements offer a great opportunity to discover what it’s like to work in the healthcare industry. When applying to college, university of for a role in care, a work placement is a great way to show your experience, as well a way to learn new skills and improve your knowledge of care.
The role
Working closely with the nursing team, you’ll monitor each patients health and wellbeing by observing them and updating their records. You will communicate with other healthcare professionals, patient’s families and carers to provide a high level of care that reflects what matters to them as individuals.
What you’ll do
Your main tasks include:
- monitoring a patient’s health
- updating patient records
- helping patients to wash, shower or dress
- serve food to patients or help them to eat
- keep supplies and equipment in order
Top skills
These skills and attributes are required to work in the healthcare field:
- caring for people
- communicating with people
- listening
- motivating people
- problem-solving
- relationship-building
Who you’ll work with
You could work with:
- nurses
- carers
- doctors
Working environment
You could work in:
- hospitals
- clinics
- GP practices
- in people’s homes