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Job Role
Naval Nurse (Student)
Job Role

Naval Nurse (Student)

You’ll gain the all skills and qualifications you need for a career in nursing.

AdventureHealthcareHands onHumanitarian aidMedicalApprenticeships

High interest role

This is a highly competitive role with potential long lead time to join.

You may wish to consider joining the Royal Navy in a similar role:

Medical Assistant (Submariner)

Working predominantly on submarines, you are responsible for providing routine and emergency medical care to the crew in a challenging environment as part of an elite and highly respected team.

Or find another role
  • £25,200 - £57,000
  • A-Levels / college qualifications
  • Surface Fleet
  • Medical
  • Rating level

At a glance

This job sits within the Healthcare & Medical Profession and is a Healthcare & Medical Rating (Student) role. The Royal Navy is only as good as its people, so keeping them healthy is essential. Wherever you are in the world, once you’ve qualified as a Naval Nurse you’ll play a key part in keeping our personnel fit and healthy.

£25,200

Earn up to this amount while studying at university

£40,000

Earn over this amount after university and initial training

University

Get paid to study for your BSc in Adult Nursing

6 weeks

Of paid holiday every year

Free

Medical and dental care

Travel

All around the world
Student naval nurse at work
Life in the Royal Navy is extraordinary, which is why I wanted to join in the first place. Doing vital work in some amazing places, gives you a real buzz.

Siobhán

Naval Nurse, Medical Branch

Role details

What you’ll do

Joining the Royal Navy as a Student Nurse means you’ll get paid to study your BSc in Adult Nursing as Birmingham City University, completely paid for by us. You’ll complete Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh before starting university in either Sept or January, depending on when you get your A-level results. You’ll train alongside other military students, which means you’ll have great academic and personal support for the duration of your training. Once you’ve qualified, you’ll start at one of our Joint Hospital Group Units in Plymouth, Portsmouth or Birmingham. Personnel are embedded into the NHS trusts in these areas, where you’ll consolidate your nurse training. You’ll begin preceptorship and a 2-year foundation programme which enables you to rotate through different clinical areas. You’ll then get ready to deploy when required on one of our medical capabilities. You’ll have further opportunities to specialise in different areas, including Critical care, emergency medicine, primary care (and many more).

Your role

  • Complete your BSc in Adult Nursing at Birmingham City University
  • Once qualified, you’ll consolidate your training during preceptorship and the foundation programme 
  • Maintain clinical skills working alongside the NHS within a Joint Hospital Group Unit
  • Deploy in challenging environments all over the world
  • Take opportunities to carry out specialist courses in areas including Intensive Care,  Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Primary Care and many more
  • Become part of a world-class medical service that’s respected far beyond the Armed Forces
     
 

Pay & benefits

  • A salary of at least £25,900 after you’ve been in-service for 6 months 
  • University fees paid for plus subsidised accommodation and an additional food allowance
  • As a qualified Nurse, you’ll earn a salary of £40,000
  • Fantastic pay and promotion opportunities throughout your career
  • An excellent pension scheme
  • Sports and adventure training
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Free medical and dental care
     

 

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing
  • You could have the opportunity for further post-graduate study in specialist clinical areas
  • Ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities
  • Standard and enhanced learning credits for personal and professional development
  • Civilian recognised Leadership and Management Opportunities
     

Skills you'll develop

  • Command, leadership and management training with recognised civilian qualifications
  • Clinical mentorship roles
  • Ability to work outside your comfort zone in unfamiliar and challenging environments
  • Leadership and management
  • Adaptability and flexibility to carry your nursing skills into any situation
     

Eligibility

  • Aged 17 and a half to 39
  • Multiple entry points exist to gain 120 UCAS points; check with MSAT PO as not all accepted
  • At least 3 GCSEs at grades A-C (9-4) (or Scottish equivalent), which must include English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. Other Level 2 study may be considered
  • Be a British or Irish national, or a Commonwealth citizen, or a Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)

Skills & Interests

  • Passionate and enthusiastic with an eagerness to learn
  • Quick thinking and calm under pressure
  • A caring and compassionate nature
  • A team player>
  • An adventurous spirit

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

Step 1

Submit an application

Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form
Apply
Step 2

Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
To prepare, you can practise the DAA

practise the DAA
Step 3

Interview

A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role
Step 4

Medical and eye tests

These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors
Step 5

Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you
PJFT
Step 6

Student Nurse Selection Board

This is a 1 day board held every February in Portsmouth where you will deliver a 10-minute presentation on a clinical subject, take part in a team working exercise and sit a 30-40 minute interview with the Nurse Education Advisor and Specialist Medical Recruitment Team. 
Step 7

Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy is a pass or fail course
CPC
Step 8

Start training

Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh. University intakes are either September or January, depending on when you get your A-level results. You’ll start at HMS Raleigh 12-14 weeks before you’re due to join BCU.

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Day one
Start Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh
Professional training
Complete your 3 year BSc in Adult Nursing
Year four
Join one of the Joint Hospital Group Units and commence preceptorship
First promotion
Promote to Leading Naval Nurse on completion of your degree
Second promotion
Based on merit, if you work hard you can be promoted to Petty Officer

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