Having studied this profession in our nursing job description, let's now focus on an essential aspect of this career: how to become a nurse? In this article, we'll take a look at the prerequisites for training as a nurse, as well as the various stages along the way.
What is a nurse?
Nurses are care specialists. Usually working in hospitals, they are responsible for the specific care and hygiene required by patients. As part of their work, they may also provide psychological support or carry out administrative tasks. The nature of their work means that they may have to work at night or at weekends, as medical needs do not follow schedules. It's a demanding job, requiring a strong sense of self-sacrifice. A sense of service and support are essential to withstand the pressures of the job.
The different routes into the nursing profession
There are a number of different ways to enter an Institut de Formation en Soins Infirmiers (IFSI). Students can take a general, technological or vocational baccalaureate. It is also possible to enter with a nursing assistant diploma, a childcare assistant diploma, a medical-psychological assistant diploma or a nursing diploma from a European Union country (provided you can show proof of 3 years' practice).
Entry to the IFSI is by competitive examination, but this is not national. Students must therefore contact the structure(s) of their choice via the Parcoursup platform. After providing proof of certain obligations (vaccinations, absence of pathologies, etc.), the candidate must take two eligibility tests. The first is a two-hour written test, while the second is a psycho-technical test designed to assess abilities. To pass, candidates must obtain an average score of at least 8/20. Once this stage has been validated, a final oral examination before a jury will decide whether or not to admit the candidate to the IFSI.
The nursing training course
Students admitted to the IFSI must follow a three-year training program. In total, training to become a nurse lasts 4200 hours, broken down as follows:
- 1ᵉʳ semester: 231h lectures, 234h tutorials; 60h guided personal work.
- 2ᵉ semester: 126h lectures, 183h tutorials; 41h guided personal work.
- 3ᵉ semester: 118h lectures, 177h directed classes; 55h guided personal work.
- 4ᵉ semester: 109h lectures, 187h directed classes; 54h guided personal work.
- 5ᵉ semester: 116h lectures, 184h directed classes; 50h guided personal work.
- 6ᵉ semester: 50h lectures, 85h tutorials; 40h guided personal work.
These different periods cover different subjects and disciplines, including human, biological and medical sciences; nursing techniques, foundations, methods and interventions; and professional knowledge and postures.
Possible specializations for becoming a nurse
There are many specialties available to qualified nurses, generally after several years of practice. Of course, all require additional training of varying duration. These are the best ways to apply for nursing jobs. These include
- Anesthesia : nurses can specialize in preoperative, perioperative and postoperative care. They assist the anaesthetist during surgical procedures and manage patients' pain.
- Operating room : the nurse assists the surgeon during operations. They are responsible for equipment preparation and sterilization, as well as safety and hygiene in the operating room.
- Childcare : Nurses focus on the care of children, from birth to adolescence. They work in maternity wards, pediatric departments or child protection structures.
- Health executive: nurses develop their skills to be able to manage a care team or teach in nursing schools.
- Infirmier de Pratique Avancée (IPA) (Advanced Practice Nurse): this is a recent specialty, having been introduced in 2018. IPA nurses can monitor patients referred by a doctor, prescribe complementary examinations, request follow-up and preventive procedures or renew prescriptions.
Skills developed
Technical skills
To provide care in a comfortable and safe environment, nurses must possess technical skills such as :
- Mastery of technical gestures
- Care of wounds and dressings
- Use of medical equipment
- Knowledge of pharmacology
- Resuscitation techniques
Interpersonal skills
Since they are in contact with a fragile, sick and vulnerable public, these professionals need to demonstrate many interpersonal skills in order to relieve patients of their pain, whether physical or psychological. What's more, they have to be able to work irregular and sometimes hectic schedules. All this requires characteristics such as :
- Empathy
- Compassion
- Communication skills
- Teamwork
- Conflict management
- Adaptability
- Resilience
Administrative skills
Although they do not always perform these functions within the organizations in which they work, nurses must still master office skills such as :
- Medical records management
- Planning and organization
- Knowledge of protocols
- Inventory management
- Care follow-up
In short, training to become a nurse is demanding and comprehensive. It enables us to reinforce the medical workforce with competent, operational professionals as soon as they leave school. What's more, the most ambitious nurses will be able to diversify their careers by specializing in one (or more) of the many ramifications of this colorful profession, making it one for the future.
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Nurse/Phlebotomist (M/F) - Belleville-en-Beaujolais 69
Employee
2153 - 2153 per hour
Belleville-en-Beaujolais
A group of clinical laboratories in Belleville-en-Beaujolais, in the Rhône department, is seeking a phlebotomist (M/F) for a permanent position. Requirements - Permanent contract - Full-time - Monday through Friday - Every other Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Organization You will be joining the headquarters of a group of independent laboratories that has been operating in the Rhône-Ain-Saône-et-Loire region since the 1960s. The network comprises about 20 locations and more than 150 employees, including biologists, laboratory technicians, phlebotomists, medical secretaries, and couriers, who work closely with private practitioners, nursing homes, and clinics. Furthermore, the work environment emphasizes close patient relationships and high-quality service. Compensation - Gross monthly salary of €2,153 - Recognition of prior service - Incentive and profit-sharing bonuses ranging from €3,500 to €3,800 net per year Responsibilities - Collect blood samples and various bacteriological and mycological samples - Assist with in-person and telephone customer service - Record patient files and handle administrative tasks - Receive samples collected off-site and verify their compliance - Perform pre-analytical processing of samples - Prepare samples for transport between sites and to subcontracted laboratories - Actively participate in the laboratory’s quality management system - Print reports for clients upon presentation of a voucher - Communicate validated results to prescribers Benefits - Participation and profit-sharing bonuses - Health insurance fully covered by the employer - Works Council - Lunchroom - Training opportunities for recent graduates - Manageable workload and stable hours - No work on holidays and no changes in lab assignments - Small, close-knit team and friendly work environment That Extra Something Belleville-en-Beaujolais is located in the heart of the Beaujolais wine region, renowned for its vineyard landscapes and annual festival. Additionally, the location offers a pleasant living environment with local amenities and convenient access to nearby towns. Qualifications - Registered nurse with a French state nursing diploma - Class B driver’s license required Contact us at: 07 45 01 29 85 or by email at [email protected]. Job Posting ID: 13130 Find over 4,000 healthcare job openings on our website and the Jober Group mobile app. Take advantage of a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts ready to assist you, and a completely free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
Nurse/Phlebotomist (M/F) - Saint-Vulbas 01
Employee
2153 - 2153 per month
Saint-Vulbas
A group of clinical laboratories near Saint-Vulbas, in the Ain department, is seeking a new phlebotomist (M/F) for a permanent position. JobRequirements - Permanent contract - Full-time - 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Work on Saturdays as scheduled The Organization You will join an independent group of clinical laboratories that has been in operation since the 1960s and consists of a multi-site network. The facility’s services include routine testing, walk-in specimen collection, and assisted reproductive technology (ART) and sperm analysis, with specialized testing outsourced to external partners. The facility near Saint-Vulbas is home to a team of approximately 40 employees, including phlebotomist nurses and phlebotomist technicians, and operates from a fixed location with no site rotation. Compensation - Gross hourly wage of €14.20 - Seniority credit - Incentive and profit-sharing bonuses ranging from €3,500 to €3,800 net per year Responsibilities - Collect blood samples and various bacteriological and mycological samples - Assist with greeting clients in person and answering the phone - Record patient files and handle administrative tasks - Receive samples collected off-site and verify their compliance - Perform pre-analytical processing of samples - Prepare samples for transport between sites and to subcontracted laboratories - Actively participate in the laboratory’s quality management system - Print reports for clients upon presentation of a voucher - Communicate validated results to prescribers Benefits - Participation and profit-sharing bonuses - Health insurance fully covered by the employer - Employee Representative Council - Lunchroom - Training opportunities for recent graduates - Manageable workload and stable hours - No work on public holidays and no changes in laboratory assignments - Small, close-knit team and friendly work environment That little something extra Saint-Vulbas offers a peaceful, green living environment, close to the Rhône River and the natural areas of the Ain region. The town also benefits from the economic vitality of the Plaine de l’Ain region, while remaining easily accessible from Ambérieu-en-Bugey, Bourg-en-Bresse, and the Lyon metropolitan area. Qualifications - Registered nurse with a state nursing degree obtained in France - Class B driver’s license required Contact us at: 07 45 01 29 85 or by email at [email protected]. Job Posting ID: 13152 Find over 4,000 healthcare job openings on our website and the Jober Group mobile app. Take advantage of a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts ready to assist you, and a completely free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
Phlebotomy Nurse (M/F) - Hauteville 01
Employee
2150 - 2150 per month
Corlier
A medical testing laboratory in Hauteville, in the Ain department, is seeking a new phlebotomist (M/F) for a permanent position. Requirements - Permanent contract - Part-time - Every other Saturday - 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Organization You will be joining an independent group of clinical laboratories that has been in operation since the 1960s and consists of a multi-site network. The business combines routine testing, walk-in specimen collection, and assisted reproductive technology (ART) and sperm analysis services, with specialized testing outsourced to external partners. Compensation - Gross hourly pay of €14.20 - Seniority credit - Incentive and profit-sharing bonuses ranging from €3,500 to €3,800 net per year Responsibilities - Collect blood samples and various bacteriological and mycological samples - Assist with greeting clients in person and answering the phone - Record patient files and handle administrative tasks - Receive samples collected off-site and verify their compliance - Perform pre-analytical processing of samples - Prepare samples for transport between sites and to subcontracted laboratories - Actively participate in the laboratory’s quality management system - Print reports for clients upon presentation of a voucher - Communicate validated results to prescribers Benefits - Participation and profit-sharing bonuses - Health insurance fully covered by the employer - Works Council - Lunchroom - Training opportunities for recent graduates - Manageable workload and stable hours - No work on public holidays and no changes in laboratory assignments - Small, close-knit team and friendly work environment That little something extra The Hauteville Plateau offers a beautiful natural setting, with numerous hiking trails and an environment ideal for outdoor activities during your free time. Qualifications - Registered nurse with a state nursing degree obtained in France - Class B driver’s license required Contact us at: 07 45 01 29 85 or by email at [email protected]. Job Posting ID: 13150 Find over 4,000 healthcare job openings on our website and the Jober Group mobile app. Take advantage of a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts ready to assist you, and a completely free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
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