Help Please! First post - Want to retrain as nurse.

mousekat

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, I have been a lurker for ages and finally decided I need some advice which I know I can definatly get here!
Basically I want to go back to college this september and complete and access to nursing course, unfortunatly I dont have enough GCSE'S to go straight to uni, but i feel doing the year at college will help me ease into education again.

I am really willing and able and am really passionate about becoming a nurse, eventually I would like to go into mental health nursing.

Has anybody done this course or similar?
I'm worried about funding because I may not have an income soon and the course is £1100 and I am already in about £2000 worth of debt on credit cards.

Does anyone know if any funding will be available to me?
I live with my partner who works full time.

I just dont know where to start and would appreciate any sort of advice,


Thanks for reading,

Lauren

clairec79

Not sure about the funding for the access but for the nursing course your fees are paid and you get a bursary (and/or student loans)

The one thing though which leapt out of me was you said in the past you found it difficult to deal with the change in shifts, in nursing you have similar but worse in some ways in that you don't get a week to go into the same pattern, so in a week you may get late (finishing at 9.30 - but likely to get off later by the time you have handed over) then early (start 7am next morning), another early, a day off, a late then an early then day off. That's when you do a full week of days when they mix days and nights into the picture (normally you get days or nights but if it's short you get both in the same week or go from a Saturday night to an early Monday morning - Sunday counts as a day off even though it's a sleep day)

mousekat

Yes I know the sort of shift patterns that nurses work, I have researched thoroughly and have known a couple of student nurses.

To be honest this retail job is not something I want to do, so anything about it will make me miserable.

Oldernotwiser

If this is your first level 3 course you shouldn't have to pay fees for it under something called the "level 3 entitlement"; if you're under 25 you'll also be eligible to apply for the Adult Learning Grant of up to £30 per week.

Many people in your situation will be doing shifts of care work whilst studying. These are often evenings and weekends so fit in well and will also enhance your nursing application.

Good luck

spendapennyortwo

Nursing messes up your biological clock. Unfortunately the NHS (stupidly) does not work by a fixed roster, for nursing staff, so you end up working ridiculous shift patterns. I'm dual trained (mental health and adult) and have now left the profession. Going on to train as a hypnotherapist now for flexibility in working hours. Nice career if you can tolerate the shift patterns, if not, don't waste your energy training.
Sorry not sure how the Access course works, I went straight into nursing aged 17.

surreysaver

clairec79 wrote: »

in a week you may get late (finishing at 9.30 - but likely to get off later by the time you have handed over) then early (start 7am next morning)

That's illegal. The working time directive says you need at least 11 hours off between shifts. So if you do end up staying late and it encroaches on the 11 hours, you have to come in late the next day.

mousekat

surreysaver wrote: »

That's illegal. The working time directive says you need at least 11 hours off between shifts. So if you do end up staying late and it encroaches on the 11 hours, you have to come in late the next day.

thats absolutely true, my OH works in a pub doing all hours and they still put 11 hours between each shift as it is illegal.

To be honest I dont want this thread to get into an arguement about working hours, I originally posted a thread about how unhappy I was at my current work place , which has eventually lead me to be signed off with stress from the doctor.

I felt that I could get advice here, where people wouldnt judge me, All I wanted was some advice from people who had maybe been in my position, and maybe from people who were so miserable in their jobs that they wanted to retrain to make better of themselves.

Lauren

ormus

if you really want a degree and you dont have the normal entry qualifications then try the OU. they have zero entry requirements.
you will be expected to do a foundation year though.

a lot of other unis will also accept certain mature students without the usual A levels. again a foundation year is the norm.
tuiton fees are normally paid for low income persons. living costs are another matter entirely.

Oldernotwiser

ormus wrote: »

if you really want a degree and you dont have the normal entry qualifications then try the OU. they have zero entry requirements.
you will be expected to do a foundation year though.

a lot of other unis will also accept certain mature students without the usual A levels. again a foundation year is the norm.
tuiton fees are normally paid for low income persons. living costs are another matter entirely.

You can't train to be a nurse with the OU!

OP, if you are the type of person to suffer from workplace stress, I'd think very carefully about nursing. I'd certainly get as much relevant experience as possible, both for your own sake and to show admissions tutors that you can cope.

surreysaver

I have heard lots of nasty things about Kingston University if you were thinking of going there...

maninthestreet

surreysaver wrote: »

That's illegal. The working time directive says you need at least 11 hours off between shifts. So if you do end up staying late and it encroaches on the 11 hours, you have to come in late the next day.

Doesn't the UK have an opt-out to the Working Time Directive?