Spirit needed to be a nurse (5)

I believe the answer is:

angel

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'spirit' is the definition.

'be a nurse' is the wordplay.
'be a' becomes 'an'.
'nurse' becomes 'gel' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'an'+'gel'='ANGEL'

'needed to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for angel that I've seen before include "Christmas tree decoration" , "Theatre backer" , "One backing plays" , "Spiritual being - financial backer" , "Heavenly body" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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