Band 5 nurse jobs

Band 5 Nurse jobs: frequently asked questions

Welcome to our Band 5 Nurse jobs page, featuring all the latest roles throughout the UK, as well as frequently asked questions below.

What is a Band 5 Nurse?

Nursing within the NHS operates within the NHS’ banding system – which involves a number of bandings that represent different rates of pay.

Newly qualified Nurses start at Band 5, so a Band 5 Nurse is effectively a newly qualified Nurse, or a Nurse whose qualifications and experience remain at a Band 5 level.

To seek employment within a higher banding, further experience and specialised study is normally required.

Band 5 Nurses could also be referred to as Registered General Nurses or General Nurses, and work within one of the four core NHS specialisms: adult, child, mental health and learning disabilities.

Given the range of specialisms, what a Band 5 Nurse does can vary greatly.

It can also vary based on whether you work in a hospital or a community setting.

What are the daily responsibilities of a Band 5 Nurse?

It’s difficult to pinpoint what a Band 5 Nurse might do on a daily basis, because there are so many different types of Band 5 nursing roles. But broadly, the daily responsibilities could include:

• Creating patient care plans

• Observing and recording the condition of patients

• Managing and administering medication and injections

• Helping doctors with assessments, operations and consultations

• Planning discharges from hospitals

• Educating patients about their ongoing health

• Supporting students and Junior Nurses

• Working with patients’ families to help them understand their situation and supporting them with ongoing care plans

If you work in a hospital, you’ll work in a shift pattern which could include some night shifts and unsociable hours.

However, if you work in the community, a 9-5 working life is far more likely.

What qualifications do you need to become a Band 5 Nurse?

To secure a Band 5 nursing job you need to be registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).

And to be eligible to register you need to complete a nursing degree in any of these four core areas: adult, child, mental health and learning disabilities.

Courses typically last three years and are available at universities and educational institutions across the country.

Half of your course will involve clinical practice, and apprenticeships are available in most locations.

In terms of experience, your degree should set a foundation that helps you to land a Band 5 role.

But in some cases taking bank work or even gaining work experience will put you in a far better position.

How much do Band 5 Nurses earn?

Band 5 Nurses earn approximately £24,214 a year – rising incrementally every year until you reach the top of your banding.

This salary remains the same regardless of your specialism – so Band 5 Staff Nurse jobs pay the same as, for example, Band 5 Mental Health Nurse jobs.

From there, more experience and qualifications can help you to work your way up into higher bandings.

Band 6 salaries can reach £37,000, and Band 7 salaries peak beyond £43,000.

Advanced Nurses, Modern Matrons and Nurse Consultants can earn much, much more – with some consultant-level Nurses earning over £70,000 a year.

Band 5 Nurses have a strong foundation to build all kinds of careers which can even lead to becoming a specialised researcher or lecturer too.

Band 5 Nurses can also choose to find work in the private sector.

Here, salaries are unregulated so what you earn can vary greatly from one job to the next.

As a Band 5 Nurse you can also become a bank or agency Nurse.

In terms of salary, this can in some cases become very lucrative, with high day rates available.

Flexibility is a big attraction too. But your success depends on how much experience you already have.

Nurses who’ve worked in a variety of fields are in high demand within specialist agencies.

Find your next Band 5 Nursing job today

View our latest roles above, or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, create an account and register your CV here and we’ll send you the best and most relevant positions as soon as they arise.