Acute and Critical Care

NHS nurses start at level 5 and with experience and further qualifications can progress into a range of areas.

Clinical	Management	Education	Research
Level 5 Clinical Staff nurse It’s likely that you will work in an acute setting (such as an emergency ward), in people’s homes or a primary care setting (such as a GP’s practice or hospital ward). As part of a multidisciplinary health and social care team, you will use your decision-making and clinical skills to assess patients and deliver care as part of an interdisciplinary health team.
Level 6 Clinical Senior staff nurse You will work in the same settings as a staff nurse, but with more responsibility and management duties, supervising teams of nurses to provide the best possible care for patients with complex needs.	Level 6 Management Team leader You will manage a multidisciplinary healthcare team and have responsibility for the delivery of high-quality care.	Level 6 Education Lecturer practitioner Supporting other practitioners in their learning, you will deliver education and training in either an educational or healthcare setting, or a combination of both.	Level 6 Research Research assistant You will likely work in a university or other research centre, supporting research teams by preparing interviews, recruiting research participants and collating data.
Level 7 Clinical Nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist Nurse practitioners provide expert care at an advanced level for patients with undiagnosed needs, while clinical nurse specialists offer high-level advice related to specific conditions or treatments.	Level 7 Management Ward sister/charge nurse Ward sisters/charge nurses deliver high-quality and effective care designed to improve the lives of patients, while supporting families and carers. You will have responsibility for a defined clinical area, as well as manage teams and resources.	Level 7 Education Senior lecturer Working in an educational or practice setting (or both), you will deliver training and create a supportive learning environment. Operating with greater autonomy, you will either work on your own or lead a team of educationalists or healthcare professionals.	Level 7 Research Clinical trials nurse/research fellow A clinical trials nurse combines direct care with clinical research. You will contribute to the development of new trials and take a lead on gaining R&D approval. A research fellow is usually based in a university or research centre and develops the evidence base to support the delivery of health and social care within a specialist area.
Level 8 Clinical Clinical director/nurse consultant Practising at a high clinical level and providing expert consultancy, these roles blend direct, higher level clinical care with education, research and management activities.	Level 8 Management Theatre manager/modern matron Theatre managers ensure robust systems and processes are in place to deliver high-quality care. They also develop and implement business plans and services. Matrons provide clear leadership, setting and maintaining standards of clinical excellence.	Level 8 Education Head of department Designing and leading education programmes, either in a university or practice setting (or both), you will provide academic leadership and ensure high levels of teaching.	Level 8 Research Reader Working at a university and specialising in a specific area, your research will be published in peer review journals and potentially have a big impact on the way care is delivered.
Level 9 Clinical Clinical professor You will provide high-level consultancy in a clinical setting, manage multidisciplinary teams and work within a university, teaching and leading research in a specialist area.	Level 9 Management Policy adviser/board director Leading organisations and teams, you will play a key role in setting the strategic direction of your organisation, contributing to its financial success and overseeing performance and regulatory compliance.	Level 9 Education University dean It will be your responsibility for the entire strategy of the school or faculty, establishing nursing education courses and creating a culture where high-quality learning and research can thrive.	Level 9 Research Professor University professors lead and develop nursing research and the education of nurses and other healthcare professionals.