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Children's nurse

Alternative titles for this job include

Children's nurses provide care for children and young people with health problems.

Average salary (a year)

£30,000 Starter

to

£45,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Children's nurse

You can get into this job through a university course or an apprenticeship.

University

You can do a degree in children's nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. You might be able to study another area of nursing alongside children's nursing on some degree courses. 

You might be able to join the second year of a nursing degree if you already have a degree in:

  • a health-related subject
  • psychology
  • life sciences
  • social work

Full-time courses usually take 3 years.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 or 3 A levels, including a science, or a level 3 diploma or access to higher education in health, science or nursing

More Information

Apprenticeship

You might be able to apply for a Registered Nurse Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, if you work in a healthcare setting like a hospital.

The degree apprenticeship takes around 4 years and is a mix of academic study and on-the-job training.

You'll need the support of your employer to do a degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Volunteering

You might find it helpful to get some paid or voluntary experience in healthcare before you apply for nurse training. It might also be useful to have experience working with children or young people. 

More Information

Registration

Further information

You can find advice about how to become a children's nurse from the Royal College of Nursing and Health Careers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of medicine and dentistry
  • knowledge of psychology
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • leadership skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • customer service skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • work with doctors to assess what a child needs if they are ill, injured or have a disability
  • decide what level of nursing care is required 
  • give injections and medication, treat wounds and use medical equipment
  • observe and interpret a child's behaviour to monitor how well their treatment is working
  • support parents and carers who have a child in hospital
  • advise parents and carers on how to give ongoing care at home

Working environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a hospice, at a children's care home, at a GP practice or at a health centre.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

  • specialise in an area like burns, child protection, cancer care, neonatal nursing or intensive care
  • run a ward or team of nurses by becoming a clinical team leader or ward manager
  • work towards a management role like matron or director of nursing
  • train as a health visitor, school nurse or practise nurse in a doctor's surgery
  • do further study to become a nurse consultant and carry out research and training

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a Children's nurse right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Nursing

  • Provider: LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP
  • Start date: 13 September 2025
  • Location: Keighley

Access to Nursing – Online

  • Provider: BIRMINGHAM METROPOLITAN COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 February 2025
  • Location: Not known
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