Naval Nurse (Student)

You’ll gain all the skills and qualifications you need for a career in nursing. This is a highly competitive role with potential long lead time to join.

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. The Royal Navy is only as good as its people, so keeping them healthy is essential. Once you’ve qualified as a Naval Nurse you’ll play a key part in keeping our personnel fit and healthy.

What you’ll do

• Joining the Royal Navy as a Student Nurse means you’ll get paid to study your BSc in Adult Nursing at Birmingham City University, completely paid for by us.
• You’ll complete Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh before starting university in either September 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.
• 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.

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.
• 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.
• Six weeks of paid holiday every year.

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.
• 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.

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.
• Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form.
• You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension, and Mechanical Comprehension.
• A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role.
• Medical and eye tests must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors.
• This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you.
• 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.
• This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy is a pass or fail course.
• 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.