My job is a Band 7 role and today I will talk to you about making that transition from a Band 6 to a Band 7 Nurse and I will give you what’s my top tip to make it happen!

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What Is A Band 7 Nurse?

There are many different types of Band 7 Nurses.

It could be Advanced Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Practice Development Nurse and a big etc.

A Band 7 Nurse will be expected to undertake advanced leadership, for example lead a ward in a ward manager post.

Band 7 Nurses also should be able to do management competencies like being able to deal with the patient movements in the hospital in a Bed Manager post.

This is a significant jump from Band 6 Nurse, as the responsibilities are much larger.

In this video I will share my experience on how I reached this position, and will share some tips that I think are important if you want to become a Band 7 Nurse.

My Experience As A Band 5 Nurse

Let me share my experience.

After becoming a qualified nurse 5 years ago, I started working in an elderly ward as a Band 5 Nurse.

After a year I got the opportunity to switch to the Haematology field — you can’t imagine how happy I was, as it’s always been my passion!

I worked as a Band 5 in the Haematology ward for about a year; and I saw my senior colleagues giving chemotherapy or doing bone marrow transplants and I found it very interesting.

That prompted my curiosity, so I started to look for courses and I requested study days to develop my knowledge in Haematology.

A year later, I completed a chemotherapy course, now is known as the UKONS passport, and became a Chemotherapy Nurse.

I also completed in parallel a bone marrow transplant course to be able to do bone marrow transplants.

All of those extra-courses enabled me to gain useful new skills and I think ultimately were crucial to help me to be promoted to a Band 6 role.

Moving Up To Band 6

I started to be in charge of the ward as soon as I got promoted to Band 6.

My manager was extremely supportive and gradually taught me more about management.

At the beginning I didn't like the management aspect of the role at all; but she taught me lots of useful skills.

I realised that I could organise myself well, doing management tasks - like complete a risk assessment and doing clinical tasks — like being on the ward.

I became gradually more interested in management, and asked to complete new courses, like communication, as you can see I’ve always had to improve my accent.

I also involved myself in some nursing groups, as I knew being involved in a project is a plus when you are going to apply for a Band 7 role.

So I joined a project and became the i-mobile or rapid response team, link nurse from the ward I was working.

One day I did ask if I could shadow the Bed Manager, because I always had that curiosity, as they were always around and I did not understand what they were doing.

That’s when I started to learn much more about the structure of the hospital and how it actually works in terms of patient movements.

After a year learning from my ward manager and sticking around the Bed Managers, a Bed Manager position came up in Haematology.

I thought it was my opportunity, so I went for it.

But, before I got the promotion, I had to do a very stressful interview.

Actually the interview is a really important part, so let explain a bit more how I prepared.

Band 7 Nurse Interview Tips

Before I applied for this position, I practiced a lot with my colleagues and my ward manager.

So I not only focused on the theory but also on the practice.

I think if anyone wants to apply for a promotion they must go for it and prepare themselves as it is a real acquire of knowledge that preparation!

In my case, I think practicing scenarios with my colleagues and manager really was what prepared me the best!

For example I prepared scenarios like how a Bed Manager would act in case of a massive infection on the department.

I looked for information in many papers and as well I learned how to look for information resources in the hospital.

I learned how those infections spread, which patients are more vulnerable and why, what protection equipment needs to be used, how can be applied the policy of the hospital, many things.

This is just an example, but the clue is to prepare tones of scenarios.

And even if you don’t pass the interview, make sure to ask for feedback and take it onboard.

You’ll always have a second chance, so make sure you learn from your failures!

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My Experience Of Becoming A Band 7 Nurse

Now my life as a Band 7.

Can you imagine my face when I got the offer?

Well, actually... I was really, really scared.

I started when the COVID-19 first wave started, so imagine for a minute the life of a Bed Manager during COVID-19.

The person in charge of the patient movements in the hospital, starts working when the hospital is completely blocked due to the virus.

All the wards changed and so were the way all the departments worked.

It was a massive challenge for me, but I got a lot of support from my new colleagues from other departments and the Clinical Site Managers.

To be honest my first 2 months were very very hectic.

From one day to another, all the wards were short of staff and a couple of wards closed.

No one knew anything about this virus.

So we had to reallocate patients prioritising their COVID-19 infection status over the medical specialty they should be in.

Everyday new information was coming out and the way we allocate the patients changed every 2 days.

But by the time we create space for the patient, that patient became positive, it was frustrating, we had to change everything.

My colleagues were in the same terms as me but with more experience than 2 days, so they had lots of patience when I was facing doubts of were to allocate patients and tried to help as much as possible, even letting me allocate my patients on their departments.

But I am so glad I did learn from the worst scenario because when the hospital began to get capacity again and go back to semi normal, I started to enjoy my job much more.

I realised that I did learn tones of things during those first months.

I encourage everyone to embrace challenges like this, go for your expected promotion, go and try!

You will get very resilient and in the worst case the process is extremely enriching for your career.

My Top Tip To Become A Band 7 Nurse

There are of course many roles, but in general my top tip is: to be proactive.

Do not wait for someone to tell you to do things.

Get involved with projects in your area.

There are development opportunities available — you just need to find & grab them.

For example, you can either participate in the audit group or infection control group.

Ask if there are any studies days available and take every opportunity to learn.

And when you do your job, do it as well as you can and do it for your patients, not for the bosses.

Do not work hard just to impress but work with your heart, as a result you will feel more confident, and that makes a difference. Your read a article about the salary of Band 6 Nurses.

My Experience Of Transitioning From A Band 6 Nurse To Band 7 Nurse