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 M/F - Nice 06
Employee
2500 - 2700 per month
Rougiers
A medical biology laboratory in Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes region, is looking for its new nurse M/F on a permanent contract. Conditions of employment - CDI - Full time - 7 to 8 hours a day - Possibility of 6.30pm to midnight shifts on a voluntary basis - Shift organization (including weekends and public holidays) The structure You will join a modern network of medical biology laboratories on the Côte d'Azur, with a main technical center based in Nice. The team includes a technical team, and communication with human resources and management is fluid. What's more, the technical platform enables us to work in several specialties, encouraging staff to develop their skills and versatility. Your salary - 2500 to 2700€ gross/month - Night shift bonus - Dialysis bonus: €50 gross/evening - Holiday bonus: €100 net - Home bonus for home interventions - Value-sharing bonus after six months' seniority Assignments - Take biological samples - Work on a technical platform - Bacteriology, haematology and chemistry analyses - Intervention in laboratories and care establishments - Home visits possible in the future - Participation in weekend and holiday shifts - Evening and night shifts possible in some establishments - Rigorous verification and control of samples and analyses Benefits - 60% of meal vouchers paid - Possibility of training in sampling techniques - New, multidisciplinary technical platform - Family-friendly, collaborative working environment - Parking fines paid for professional purposes The little extra Enjoy a daily life between the sea and the hills: close to historic districts and green spaces such as the Cimiez gardens, direct access to the Promenade des Anglais and easy weekend getaways to the mountains. Profile required Registered nurse in France. Contact us on: 07 45 01 29 85 or by e-mail at [email protected] Ad reference: 12710 Find over 4,000 healthcare job offers on our Jober Group website and mobile application. Take advantage of a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts at your service and a totally free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
Health executive - IDEC M/F - Vernouillet 78
Employee
42000 - 48000 per year
Vernouillet
As part of the development of its activity, an EHPAD in Vernouillet, in the Yvelines region, is looking for a health executive - IDEC M/F. The conditions - CDI executive status - All-inclusive 210 days worked The structure You will join an 84-place EHPAD located in Vernouillet, in the Yvelines department. The establishment is part of an associative group operating mainly in the Île-de-France region, with a large network of establishments and employees. In addition, the organization favors care coordination, quality of life paths and governance involving the management committee. Your salary - 42,000€ to 48,000€ gross/year - Ségur bonuses - 5% conventional bonus Missions - Be a member of the management committee, reporting to the facility manager and in liaison with the coordinating physician - Lead and supervise the care team (recruitment, training, assessment, integration) - Develop and ensure implementation of the facility's care project - Ensure that residents are cared for in accordance with the facility's life projects and values - Ensure the implementation of care procedures and protocols to secure care provision - Ensure ongoing links with families and the external network - Participate in monitoring the consumption of the care allocation Benefits - Mutual insurance that also covers the family - Provident scheme - Between 16 and 18 days' RTT - 5% bonus included in salary, paid half in June and half in December - Collective bargaining agreement 51 with transfer of seniority to the date of graduation (IDEC or cadre) - Opportunities for internal mobility within the Group The little extra Vernouillet benefits from a quiet, residential environment, with convenient access to Paris via the Transilien line J, as well as shops, services and green spaces to facilitate daily life and leisure activities. Profile required - Registered nurse in France. Contact us on: 07 45 01 29 85 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Ad reference: 12713 Find over 4,000 healthcare job offers on our Jober Group website and mobile application. Take advantage of a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts at your service, and a totally free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
Health executive - IDEC M/F - Créteil 94
Employee
42000 - 48000 per year
Créteil
As part of the development of its activity, an EHPAD in Créteil, Val-de-Marne, is looking for a health executive - IDEC M/F. Conditions of employment - Open-ended executive contract - All-inclusive 210 days worked The structure You will join an 84-place EHPAD located in Créteil, in the Val-de-Marne. The establishment is part of an associative group operating mainly in the Paris region, with a large network of establishments and employees. In addition, the organization favors care coordination, quality of life paths and governance involving the management committee. Your salary - 42,000€ to 48,000€ gross/year - Ségur bonuses - 5% conventional bonus Missions - Be a member of the management committee, reporting to the facility manager and in liaison with the coordinating physician - Lead and supervise the care team (recruitment, training, assessment, integration) - Develop and ensure implementation of the facility's care project - Ensure that residents are cared for in accordance with the facility's life projects and values - Ensure the implementation of care procedures and protocols to secure care provision - Ensure ongoing links with families and the external network - Participate in monitoring the consumption of the care allocation Benefits - Mutual insurance that also covers the family - Provident scheme - Between 16 and 18 days' RTT - 5% bonus included in salary, paid half in June and half in December - Collective bargaining agreement 51 with transfer of seniority to the date of graduation (IDEC or cadre) - Opportunities for internal mobility within the Group A little something extra Créteil benefits from direct access to Paris via metro line 8 and offers recreational areas such as the Lac de Créteil, as well as nearby shops and services, facilitating daily life and leisure activities. Profile required - Registered nurse in France - IDEC or health executive - At least 2 to 3 years' experience in a nursing home Contact us on: 07 45 01 29 85 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Reference: 12711 Find over 4,000 healthcare job offers on our Jober Group website and mobile application. Take advantage of a network of 1,000 partners throughout France, a team of recruitment experts at your service, and a totally free service that 99% of our candidates are satisfied with.
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