Job hunting decisions and tips
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Investigate the entry requirements for graduate allied healthcare jobs
Some allied healthcare professions require you to graduate into your chosen field; others allow graduates to convert your degree with a diploma. Explore your chosen career route here.
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Life as a student nurse
Read about three nurses' experiences moving from theory to practice and taking the first steps in their career.
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Graduate management careers with a healthcare twist
If you want to learn how to be a manager, you’ll find your niche in healthcare. From finance and HR, to project management and informatics, the sector offers a huge variety of roles to suit graduates from all degree backgrounds.
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How do I get a graduate job in healthcare operations and management?
Find out how to get into a career in healthcare management, learn about the skills and training you'll need and explore options such as the NHS graduate scheme.
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Becoming a GP
If you like thinking on your feet and meeting a wide range of individuals, working as a doctor in general practice could be the right career choice for you.
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NHS vs the private sector nursing: what type of graduate employer will you choose?
Our overview of the various graduate employers in nursing and healthcare, including the NHS, the armed forces and independent healthcare organisations.
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Career planning is key for medical graduates
You need to assess your strengths and aspirations to decide on the best possible match when considering which specialty would be right for you.
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Don't want to be a medic? Graduate careers outside medicine
If you're not sure that a career practising medicine is what you want, don't panic. You can transfer the skills you've gained through your medical degree to something else.
Training and qualification
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What to expect heading into the foundation programme
The foundation programme consists of a series of placements and assessments, with time allocated for formal education.
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No medical degree? No problem! A graduate medical degree is the cure
No medical degree but you want to become a doctor? Get advice on how to get onto a graduate medical degree.
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Find out about the NHS graduate scheme and other healthcare management programmes
Healthcare isn’t just for medical and nursing graduates – there are also opportunities for graduates who are looking for a career in management.
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Graduate entry into nursing: your training options
Explore the routes you can take into nursing if you studied a different degree and where you can find funding.
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Register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): your graduate career depends upon it
The NMC keeps a register of qualified nurses and defines the competencies necessary for a graduate career in nursing and midwifery.
Job descriptions
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Counsellor: job description
Counsellors work in confidential settings with individuals who are experiencing personal difficulties, to help them overcome their problems and to make appropriate changes to their life.
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Paediatric nurse: job description
Paediatric nurses assess, plan and provide nursing care for children who are suffering from a wide variety of conditions including diseases, illnesses and cancer or who are recovering from surgery.
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Health promotion specialist: job description
Health promotion specialists may work in the community, promoting good health, or in strategic work, developing health policies.
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Psychologist (educational): job description
Educational psychologists work with, observe and assess the behavioural, social, emotional and educational problems and needs of children and young people below the age of 19 years.
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Mental health nurse: job description
Mental health nurses are responsible for planning and providing support and medical and nursing care to people in hospital, at home or in other settings who are suffering from mental illness.
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Dance movement therapist: job description
Dance movement therapists use movement and dance within a therapeutic environment to help individuals of all ages who are experiencing physical, psychological, emotional or mental problems.
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Paramedic: job description
Paramedics provide patients that have been involved in accidents, emergencies or other crises with specialist care and treatment.
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Health service manager: job description
Health service managers are responsible for the strategic, financial and day-to-day management of general practitioner, local authority and hospital health services.
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Psychotherapist: job description
Psychotherapists help and treat individuals who are experiencing emotional and psychological difficulties to understand their problems and make appropriate changes to their lives.
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Midwife: job description
Midwives deliver babies and provide antenatal and postnatal advice, care and support to women, their babies, their partners and families.
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Dental hygienist: job description
Dental hygienists help to prevent dental decay by cleaning patients' teeth and providing them with education about how to care effectively for their teeth and gums, and the affects of diet on oral health.
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Physiotherapist: job description
Physiotherapists use a variety of physical techniques and therapies in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients who are suffering from illnesses and/or injuries.
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Health visitor: job description
Health visitors are registered nurses who visit, support and educate families with children, from pregnancy to the age of five, promoting good health and preventing illness.
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Child psychotherapist: job description
Child psychotherapists use language and play to observe, assess, help and treat children and young people who are experiencing behavioural, emotional, social and psychological difficulties.
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Music therapist: job description
Music therapists use music within a therapeutic environment to help individuals of all ages who are experiencing physical, psychological, emotional or mental problems.
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Dentist: job description
Dentists are medical healthcare professionals who focus specifically on the oral and dental hygiene of their patients.
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Adult nurse: job description
Adult nurses plan and provide nursing care to adults suffering from a wide variety of medical conditions and illnesses, supporting their treatment, recovery and well-being.
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Herbalist: job description
Herbalists treat a variety of physical conditions, illnesses and allergies through the holistic use of plants in conjunction with medical knowledge.
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Children's nurse: job description
Children's nurses plan and provide holistic nursing care to children suffering from a wide variety of illnesses.
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Nurse: job description
Nurses plan and provide medical and nursing care to patients in hospital, at home or in other settings who are suffering from chronic or acute physical or mental ill health.
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Dietitian: job description
Dietitians promote good dietary health and treat nutritional problems by providing practical advice about food choices, based on scientific research.
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Aromatherapist: job description
Aromatherapists treat a variety of physical conditions, illnesses and psychological disorders with essential aromatic oils that are extracted or distilled from flowers, trees, spices, fruits or herbs.
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Learning disability nurse: job description
Learning disability nurses provide care and support to adults and children with learning difficulties to help them live as independently as possible.
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Chiropractor: job description
Chiropractors use a variety of physical techniques and therapies to treat and rehabilitate patients who are suffering from disorders and/or injuries of the back or musculoskeletal system.
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Nutritional therapist: job description
Nutritional therapists advise about and treat a wide range of medical conditions by assessing patients' requirements for food, vitamins and minerals while taking general health, well-being and lifestyle into consideration to provide holistic treatments.
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Doctor (general practitioner, GP): job description
General practitioners provide confidential patient consultations and initial medical care within a community-based setting.
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Art therapist: job description
Art therapists use art to help patients surpass psychological difficulties and allow them to express emotions and feelings.
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Retail pharmacist: job description
Retail pharmacists provide general healthcare advice and supply prescription and non-prescription medication to the public. A retail pharmacist works in a retail setting rather than in a hospital or GP surgery.
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Nutritionist: job description
Nutritionists help to advance an understanding of how diet affects the health and well being of people and animals.
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Occupational therapist: job description
Occupational therapists help adults and children of all ages to overcome physical and mental problems that are the result of disability, injury or illness.
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Doctor (hospital): job description
Hospital doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions, disorders, and diseases through the application of specialist medical skills and knowledge.
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Practice nurse: job description
Practice nurses work within the community where they plan and provide nursing care, treatment and health education to patients of all ages.
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Speech and language therapist: job description
Speech and language therapists diagnose, advise about and treat speech and language problems to help people communicate effectively.
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Sports therapist: job description
Sports therapists use a variety of physical techniques and therapies in the rehabilitation and treatment of athletes who are suffering from injuries or illnesses.
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Orthoptist: job description
Orthoptists diagnose and treat the vision problems and eye abnormalities of patients of all ages, checking for evidence and symptoms of disease, injury or visual defects.
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Dramatherapist: job description
Dramatherapists perform controlled sessions where theatre and drama-based activities are used to observe and explore the behaviour, attitudes and emotions of individuals experiencing physical, psychological, emotional or mental health problems.
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Psychologist (clinical): job descriptions
Clinical psychologists work to reduce psychological distress in people with mental or physical health problems.
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Medical physicist: job description
Medical physicists use analytical and applied scientific techniques to assist healthcare workers in the safe diagnosis and treatment of patients.