How to transition from a Band 5 to a Band 6 nurse

23rd January, 2023

Posted by

Nursing

If you’re a nurse wondering how to transition from a band 5 to a band 6 role, this article is for you. We’ll cover the main differences between a band 5 and a band 6 nurse, what it takes to progress and some tips to help you get there. So, sit back and relax because we’ve got everything you need right here.

Search our band 5 nurse jobs

Search our band 6 nurse jobs

At Pulse, we regularly have band 5 and band 6 nurse jobs available, including both temporary and permanent positions. Register with us to get access to our latest roles. A member of our recruitment team will also get in touch to discuss your work preferences and career goals, so that we can find the perfect nursing job for you.

What is the difference between a Band 5 and Band 6 nurse?

One of the main differences between a band 5 and band 6 nurse is responsibility. In general, band 5 nurses are considered entry-level roles with no direct clinical responsibility. Whereas band 6 nurses are usually in charge of the day-to-day running of wards, which brings more responsibility to their role.

A band 5 nurse’s duties will typically include:

Administering medications under supervision
Completing basic tasks such as taking vital signs
Collecting specimens from patients
Preparing equipment for surgery
Setting up rooms before procedures take place
Assisting doctors with patient examinations/procedures and recording data into medical records after each completed session

Meanwhile, a band 6 nurse’s responsibilities will often include supervising other staff members, providing clinical leadership and working on more complex patients and procedures.

How to become a band 6 nurse

Moving from a band 5 to a band 6 nurse requires you to hold a full band 5 nursing qualification and have at least 12 months post-registration experience as a registered nurse, with specific experience in one or more of the following:

Complex patients, including those who may be challenging to manage
Working as part of a team with other professionals, e.g., doctors
Being accountable for your own practice
Taking on increased responsibilities and making decisions independently
Team management
Clinical supervision of newly qualified nurses
Rostering and filling in for the absence of a senior nurse/ band 7

To progress from a band 5 to a band 6 nurse, you should also have relevant knowledge for the role you are applying for, whether that is in paediatrics, theatres or community nursing. 

How long does it take to transition from a band 5 to a band 6 nurse?

While some nurses can progress from band 5 to band 6 within a year or two, others may take longer. The length of time will depend on how much experience you have as a nurse and how much time you can devote to continuing professional development (CPD).

Many people who progress from band 5 to band 6 do so at their current employer by carrying out extra training. There are also opportunities for external training through various providers that can help you reach this goal if necessary. If you are working as an agency nurse at a senior band 5 level, consistent experience through a line of work may also help you gain the required experience and allow you to test out different settings as well as the specialism you’d like to progress in.

In summary, how long it takes to transition from a band 5 to a band 6 nurse depends on your experience and proven ability – but don’t worry. With enough hard work, dedication, and clinical experience, anyone can transition from a band 5 to a band 6 nurse.

What are typical band 6 nurse roles and responsibilities?

When you become a band 6 nurse, you will take on increased responsibilities and often hand over certain clinical skills to your team.

The responsibilities you take on will typically include ensuring that solutions are provided for problems that arise on shift and liaising with other departments outside of nursing whenever necessary. Therefore, moving to the band 6 level requires further leadership and management principles training. As a band 6 nurse, you will need to demonstrate your ability to:

Take on a more senior role within your ward or department, supervise other staff, and take on extra responsibilities
Provide clinical leadership to other staff. For example, if there is an annual review taking place on your ward, then it would be appropriate for the band 6 nurse in charge of the ward to attend this event rather than a band 5 nurse who is less experienced to answer questions from other staff members

What skills and experience are needed for a band 6 nursing role?

As a band 6 nurse, you can expect to work with more complex patients and procedures. In addition, you will need to be able to:

Work effectively with others; understand the needs of individuals, groups, and communities; manage conflict; use communication techniques appropriate for diverse cultures, values, or situations
Manage complex problems using critical thinking skills based on scientific knowledge; stay abreast of developments in nursing practice through continuing professional development (CPD) provided by employers or other organisations

How much do band 6 nurses get paid?

Band 6 roles start at £33,706, and rise to £40,588 for nurses with more than 5 years of experience (source NHS Employers).

What to expect from a band 6 interview

So, you’re thinking about making the transition from a band 5 to a band 6 nurse? That’s great, let’s help you to prepare. What do you know about this kind of job interview? Are you ready for it? At Pulse, we’ve got you covered.

When making that first step from a band 5 to a band 6 nurse, it’s most likely that you will be looking for a permanent band 6 role to begin with. During these types of interviews, expect to be asked questions about your career and experience and how they relate to the position you’re applying for. The answers you give to these questions will be used to evaluate if you understand the clinical aspect of the job as well as the managerial responsibilities and leadership that come with it. This is because band 6 positions are, in most cases, entry-level roles into management and leadership, where you’re also expected to lead staff, service improvement, quality, as well as treat patients.

The requirements will vary based on the position. Still, you must showcase that you have a high level of clinical skills as well as an understanding of leadership and its influence on the quality of care. You should also demonstrate strong communication skills and emphasise the importance of day-to-day staff management, including rota management, conducting annual appraisals, dealing with disciplinary issues, and staff training and development.

10 common band 6 nurse interview questions

When moving from a band 5 to a band 6 position, common band 6 nursing interview questions that are likely to be asked when applying for a permanent role include:

Talk us through your reasons for applying for this band 6 post
What have you learned in the past 12 months that makes you a suitable candidate for this position?
Walk us through your recent career and highlight relevant training and experience which will be helpful to you in this post
Talk us through an example demonstrating your ability to deal effectively with emergencies
Describe a time when you used your communication skills to improve the care of one of your patients
Describe when you used your leadership skills to resolve a complex patient situation
What would you do if you suspected your patient was being abused?
Describe how you use reflective practice in your daily work
What strategies would you implement as a senior nurse to ensure your team followed correct infection control and prevention procedures?
What tools do you use to ensure you communicate effectively with your patients and others?
Tell us about a time you have had to manage a difficult situation, what did you do?
Talk to us about your experience managing junior staff
Describe to us the process you would follow to manage incidents and complaints

Band 6 interview tips

If you’re interviewing for your first band 6 nursing position, here’s our tips and advice to help you make the best first impression:

Interviews for permanent band 6 roles will typically be more formal than your previous ones. Interviewers will ask questions about your experience and qualifications for the job, so make sure you do your homework, or talk to your recruitment consultant here at Pulse beforehand
During these interviews, you’ll also likely be asked about your teamwork skills, so prepare examples from past jobs where you worked well with others or had to solve problems without help. When looking for information about your teamwork skills, interviewers will often ask questions like “How did your team handle this problem?” or “What did you learn from working on this project?”
Compassion and empathy are at the heart of answering any senior staff nurse questions, just as it’s the case when working with and supporting patients. Therefore, ensure that you mention keywords such as listening, understanding, root cause and collaboration

Moving from a band 5 to a band 6 nurse can be challenging, but the rewards are worth it, and we hope this article will help. It’s important to remember that your role as a nurse is always evolving and that you must keep on top of new skills, knowledge, and experiences so that when you reach this level, you will be ready for it.

Nursing opportunities with Pulse Jobs

Pulse is a leading UK agency for nurses, offering exciting permanent and temporary opportunities across all specialisms for both band 5 and band 6 nurses in the NHS and private healthcare sector. Why not explore our exclusive opportunities if you’re in the market for a new role? 

You can also register your interest with us and let our expert recruiters do all the hard work and source the perfect job to help you reach your career goals.  