Registered Nurse
Care for patients across hospitals, clinics and communities, coordinating treatment and being the constant presence in someone's recovery.
Save this career to see your personalized pathway in My Senda.
- Typical pay
- €37k–€60k
- Usual education
- Degree
- Outlook
- Strong and growing demand almost everywhere, with routes into specialisms like intensive care, midwifery or mental health.
A day in the life
Handover at the start of a shift, medication rounds, observations, talking families through what happens next, and documenting everything carefully. Twelve-hour shifts are common, and you are rarely alone — nursing is a team sport.
Ways in
- Nursing degree
- Degree apprenticeship
- Healthcare assistant then top-up degree
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Austria
AHS Oberstufe
A common destination for students on this track.
Belgium
ASO – General secondary
A common destination for students on this track.
Denmark
STX – General gymnasium
A common destination for students on this track.
Spain
Bachillerato de Ciencias y Tecnología
Portugal
Ciências e Tecnologias
France
Bac général — spécialités
Exams you'll need
The gates between you and this job, and when each one comes.
EIR — Enfermero Interno Residente
Optional for general nursing, required for specialties such as midwifery or mental health.
RequiredTest Professioni Sanitarie
Nursing places in Italy are capped and assigned by this test.
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
BSc Nursing
Clinical placements from year one leading to registration as a nurse.
The qualifying degree with placements.
Helpful school subjects: Biology, Chemistry
Diploma in Counselling & Mental Health Support
Practical training for support roles in mental health services.
Helpful add-on for mental health settings.
Helpful school subjects: Psychology
Places that hire for this
AKH Wien – MedUni Wien
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Amsterdam UMC
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP)
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Hires across clinical teams, from placements to permanent posts.
Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
CHUV Lausanne
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Clínica Universidad de Navarra
Hires across clinical teams, from placements to permanent posts.
Comunidad de Madrid
Hires across clinical teams, from placements to permanent posts.
Elsan
Hires across clinical teams, from placements to permanent posts.