What can a nursing graduate do?

Mary, 27, will graduate in September as a nurse with a diploma in higher education nursing, but she can't find a permanent NHS post. How can she maintain her skills till the job market picks up?

1 Mary might join an NHS trust bank, which provides temporary cover. However, the Nursing and Midwifery Council recommends that a nurse's first four months post-registration should be supervised and supported, so she would be ill-advised to register with the bank as a nurse. She could register instead as a healthcare assistant, earning up to £15,107.

2 The NHS's agency, NHS Professionals, has established a preceptorship programme creating 100 temporary nursing opportunities for newly qualified nurses. The initiative might appeal to Mary if she is prepared to live in the north of England or the Midlands where the scheme has run as a pilot project. It is due to be extended to other parts of the UK depending on demand and cooperation from NHS trusts.

3 Mary could become a community support worker for a county council, caring for frail or disabled adults. Although the post requires personal, rather than nursing care, it does allow her to gain experience in the local authority sector. With the increasing development of joint posts across health and social care, it provides her with invaluable new experience. The salary is up to £17,985.

4 Mary might opt for an 18-month postgraduate professional training qualification in midwifery. Although the profession is also facing a recruitment squeeze, the Royal College of Midwives says it is not as tough as that facing nursing. After training, Mary's career options will have increased. A newly qualified midwife earns from £19,166.

5 Mary has a better chance of finding a job as an NHS nurse if she moves to Scotland. There is a 3.5% nurse vacancy rate, no jobs freeze, and only one health board is facing a financial deficit this year. Her qualification is recognised in Scotland and the new Agenda for Change pay rates that have not yet been implemented there will be backdated.