Visa note
Important: While this employer offers certificate of sponsorship to the UK, applicants must verify their eligibility for UK work authorization directly with the employer before applying. Sponsorship is not guaranteed and subject to meeting all UK Visas and Immigration requirements. International candidates should check their eligibility for skilled worker visas and ensure they meet all necessary criteria.
Job Details
Company: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Location: Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Salary: £31,049 to £37,796 a year pa pro rata
Schedule: Full-time, Part-time
Employment Type: Permanent
Language: English
Education: Experience
Experience: Qualifications
Essential Qualification: A minimum of six months experience in an acute Trust within the last twelve months (this can include student placement)
Desirable Qualification: Not provided
Essential Experience: Level 1 Registered Nurse with valid NMC registration / students pending registration
Application Deadline: The closing date is 01 February 2026
Employer Website: https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/
Job Summary
Hooray! You’ve completed your training and you’re patiently waiting to step into the world of the Registered Nurse. How does it feel? Scary? Exciting? Intimidating? Overwhelming? All these feelings are completely normal. You’ve spent the last 3 years (or 4 depending on your course) preparing for this moment and now you’re here.
After many long hours, balancing shifts and assignments (and probably lots of coffee), you are very nearly there. In 2026, you will finally become a qualified nurse and we are SO excited for you! After all that hard work, the final hurdle is to find your dream job. At Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) we are confident we can make your dream job become a reality.
If you aren’t already familiar with Cornwall, we could go on for hours about Cornwall’s 300+ beaches, where you could become an adventurer for the day, discovering our stunning coastal paths, woodland walks, moors and mines. Or you might be more interested in our multicultural foodie, comedy and music scene. In Cornwall, we really know how to make a party, festival or event out of any occasion. We even have our very own RCHT staff festival every year, with fabulous headliners, to say thank you for all your hard work!
At Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, we deliver services across three sites: Truro, Penzance and Hayle. We also work closely with the local community Foundation Trust, who have sites all across Cornwall. This diverse geographical spread offers numerous opportunities for nurses to work in different settings and gain valuable experience.
Main Duties of the Job
This role is for newly qualified Preceptee Staff Nurses only. Please note that sponsorship is not guaranteed.
At RCHT, we are never standing still. We pride ourselves on being innovative and exciting. As an ambitious organisation, we are continuously looking for ways to enhance and improve the services we offer to our patients and staff alike. We are highly focussed on research and training and we will equip you with the skills and confidence you need to make positive change on your journey with us.
As a newly qualified nurse at RCHT, there are many diverse areas that you could work in to launch your career. We will help you develop your skills, knowledge and professional confidence. To ensure the best possible start for newly qualified nurses, the RCN recommends undertaking a high quality Preceptorship programme – at RCHT we offer just that. During our 18 month Preceptorship programme, we will support your transition from student to competent practitioner.
From day one, you would be placed within one of our dynamic and supportive teams and allocated a Preceptor who will have relevant experience in your chosen clinical area. They will guide and support your development in practice and review this at regular intervals. You will also receive additional support via the Trust Practice Development Team. We will ensure you have the opportunity to put your skills into practice and you will be fully supported throughout the experience.
About Us
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people – a figure that can increase significantly with visitors during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £580 million.
We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School. The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles.
Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation. Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is a research active organisation.
It’s established South West Clinical School in Cornwall exists to promote clinical academic career opportunities for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals interested in research and evidence-based activities. Read their research paper to find out more. Website: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/clinical-schools/royal-cornwall-hospitals-nhs-trust-clinical-school
Job Responsibilities
We pride ourselves on providing a supportive environment for our newly qualified staff nurses and you will soon feel part of a team and organisation that cares about you and your future nursing career. At RCHT, we understand that our colleagues are our most valuable asset and, therefore, your health and wellbeing is very high on our list of priorities. By joining us, you will have access to a wide range of clubs and societies, fantastic discounted restaurant facilities, free counselling, free financial advice, discounted leisure memberships, a Cycle to Work scheme and much, much more!
Working as part of The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust you will make a positive difference to peoples lives from the moment you start! If you think we are the place for you, click Apply Now! If you would like to hear more before making your application, a member of our Recruitment Team would be delighted to hear from you on 01872 255755.
Provisional face-to-face event date (by invitation only) in February / March 2026 – date to be confirmed. This recruitment event will provide an excellent opportunity for international candidates to learn more about our preceptorship program and nursing opportunities in Cornwall.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential: Level 1 Registered Nurse with valid NMC registration / students pending registration
Desirable: Assessing & Mentoring qualification
Experience
Essential: A minimum of six months experience in an acute Trust within the last twelve months (this can include student placement)
Knowledge
Essential: Understanding of evidence based practice to enhance care
Essential: Understanding of professional and current issues in nursing.
Essential: Understanding of the importance of research and evidence based practice
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. International applicants should note that additional checks may be required based on their country of residence.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Overseas nurses seeking to work in the UK will need to meet specific registration requirements with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
How to Apply
Apply Instructions: Apply via NHS Jobs website.
International applicants checklist:
- Verify your eligibility for UK work authorization with the employer
- Prepare your current NMC registration or proof of pending registration
- Gather documentation of your six months experience in an acute Trust
- Obtain criminal record certificates from countries where you’ve lived for 12+ months in the past 10 years
- Contact the Recruitment Team via email: rch-tr.jobs@nhs.net or phone: 01872255755 for sponsorship inquiries
- Complete your application through the NHS Jobs website before 01 February 2026
Employer Details
Employer name: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
Address: Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro, TR1 3LJ
Employer’s website: https://www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact:
Contact name: Recruitment Team
Contact job title: Recruitment Services
Email: rch-tr.jobs@nhs.net
Phone: 01872255755
Privacy Notice
Please read the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust’s privacy notice for information on how your data will be processed: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust’s privacy notice (opens in a new tab)
We look forward to receiving your application and potentially welcoming you to our team of dedicated healthcare professionals in beautiful Cornwall. This is an excellent opportunity for newly qualified nurses to begin their careers in a supportive environment with comprehensive preceptorship training.
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation or age. We particularly encourage applications from international healthcare professionals who meet the essential criteria for this position.