The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word BEDMAKER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
B
E
D
M
A
K
E
R
More clues leading to the result BEDMAKER
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ward nurse perhaps" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ward nurse perhaps = bedmaker.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BEDMAKER mean?
BEDMAKER noun- Someone who manufactures beds
- (Cantab) a domestic servant employed by a University for the benefit of its students