The NHS in Wales is committed to providing you with lifelong learning opportunities. This means we’ll support your continued professional development across a wide range of routes, which cover everything from workplace-based training to specialist post registration courses. Wales is a place where the learning never stops, where skills and knowledge are shared openly, innovation is embraced and your contribution is valued. Newly qualified midwives can benefit from our all Wales preceptorship programme. This helps you to consolidate your experience in all areas of practice. Midwives are supported throughout their career by the clinical supervisor for midwives framework. This provides all midwives with a named supervisor, group supervision and one to one support for reflection opportunities and joint learning.
In Wales, we have maintained the NHS bursary for student nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. This package of support sends a clear message about how much we value our healthcare workforce in Wales.
You’ll have access to a range of excellent conference and library facilities managed by a dedicated team of experienced staff.
“Deciding to train to become a nurse allows me to participate in a career where I feel I am making a difference, while giving back something to the community and truly feel like I’m helping people”
Arwel, Staff Nurse
Wales was the first UK country to educate all its nurses and midwives to graduate level. So nowhere takes your professional development as seriously as us. Our high quality training is recognised around the world.
We fund the Research Capacity Building Collaboration (RCBC), to develop research capacity within the nursing and allied health professional workforce. The initiative provides new and experienced researchers in nursing and midwifery, the opportunity to obtain funding for research projects designed to shape the future of the profession.
There are several higher education institutions in Wales approved to provide pre and post registration training. By choosing to train in Wales, you can access every field of nursing and midwifery – the choices are truly inspirational. As a newly qualified nurse you can choose the clinical setting you would like to start your nursing career in – with specialist tertiary services such as burns, cardiac surgery, community teams or GP practices. As a newly qualified midwife in Wales, you can work across the full spectrum of birth environments – everything from specialist fetal medicine services to stand alone birth centres and integrated services – giving you both community and hospital based experience. We embrace diversity, so wherever you study you’ll discover a learning environment that’s vibrant, friendly and inclusive.
Wales is the first nation in Europe to bring in legislation that protects nursing staffing levels – ensuring that nurses will have the time to care sensitively for patients. All maternity units in Wales are expected to be ‘Birth-rate plus’ compliant – ensuring that the correct number of midwives are available for the women receiving care
A career in Wales is full of possibilities. Midwives can progress to specialist midwife, consultant and heads of midwifery roles. Nurses can progress to clinical nurse specialist, advanced nurse practitioner and consultant nurse roles. You can also follow leadership pathways, from ward and team leadership roles, to senior positions.
By working in Wales, you can take advantage of a range of innovative working arrangements designed to help you fit your work around your life. These include flexible working hours, childcare voucher schemes, work-life balance initiatives and on-site crèche facilities.
If you want to come to Wales to work from a different country, our health boards and trusts can offer you a range of relocation packages to help you and your family settle in as smoothly as possible.
“I have found everybody is really supportive of my goals and future career aspirations, and I have been supported towards everything I've wanted to achieve professionally.”
Bryony, Midwife
All health boards and trusts in Wales run staff achievement awards to acknowledge staff who make exceptional contributions to the running and improvement of services. The annual Chief Nursing Officer Conference, the NHS Wales Awards and the Royal College of Nursing Wales Nurse of the Year and the Royal College of Midwives Midwife of the Year Awards, all offer opportunities for you to get recognised for your dedication and innovation.
We welcome nurses, health visitors and midwives who want to come back into the profession. A £1,000 bursary is available for nurses, health visitors and specialist community public health nurses who train in Wales. A £1,500 bursary is also available for midwives who undertake a return to practice course in Wales.
Find out why so many choose to train, work and live in Wales. View our external resources here to find out more information
This section contains information about becoming a nurse or midwife, information for current nurses and midwives
Fast emerging as one of Europe’s most energetic capitals, Cardiff offers world- class shopping, stylish dining, beautifully kept parks and all the other advantages you’d expect from modern urban living. Newport is a city rejuvenated by investment, Swansea appeals with its beach suburbs and the market town of Wrexham offers historical buildings and is the gateway to North Wales.
From the world-renowned Gower coast in the south, to the beautiful Llŷn Peninsula on the edge of Snowdonia National Park in the north, Wales is home to many of the UK’s best beaches – all accessible along a continuous 870-mile coastal path that reveals coves, headlands and bays overflowing with wildlife.
There are three National Parks in Wales. But wherever you go, nature is all around you. From luscious mountains to dramatic river valleys, deserted beaches to rugged cliff tops, the natural landscape offers a stunning backdrop whether you’re in the mood for adventure, looking to unwind or simply following your daily routine
Castles define the Welsh landscape just as much as our hills and valleys. There are 641 in total – imposing, fairy-tale and tumbledown – each offering a glimpse into the past and the chance for you to explore the legends within their walls. Going back even further, there are also dozens of pre-historic sites to see, including some of the best-preserved Neolithic wonders in the UK.
"I’ve been based in Powys my whole career. The Brecon Beacons are on my doorstep and it’s great to bring up the children in an area that offers such a great work-life balance. Everyone is so friendly, and we have a fantastic community.”
Emma, Staff Nurse
For more inspiration, browse our dedicated Live page to see why in Wales, we don’t just offer a career, we offer a way of life.
Live pageReal life stories
“I Googled Wales and discovered what an amazing country it is. I saw what a safe, welcoming, and beautiful place it was”.
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