FAO: Any Nurses pls, I need your help. :)

Bambywamby

Hello there


I am thinking of changing profession. I would like to become a registered nurse, I am 37 years old and have a background in caring (Deputy Manager of a Care Home for the elderly for 12 years) and would like to know the best way of going about it.
There are some positions currently available at my local hospital for Auxilary Nurses, I am wondering if I apply for those positions and I am accepted, can I go on to be a registered nurse by following this route? Or would I need to go to college and start from scratch etc?

What I am basically asking is, what are the routes into nursing?

Any information will be greatfully accepted.

Thank you in advance,

Bam x x

LucyB-Bride_to_Be

hi, to become a registered nurse, you have to go to college and do either a diploma or a degree in nursing. Applying for a position as an auxillary would be a good idea though, as when you apply to do your nursing they look at your experience as well as the qualifications you have, so the more experience you have of working in a nursing environment the better! HTH x

Flipped27

As far as I know, if you haven't done any studying in the last 5 years you would need to complete an access course prior to a degree or diploma.

When i looked into it a few years ago, an access course was a year long and 3 days a week - or you could do an OU course i think?

It put me off as I had young children and couldn't have afforded it whereas when you do a nursing/midwifery degree or diploma you get a bursary....

Good luck

minxystar

Hello

I am 35 and just finishing the first year of my nursing diploma. I didn't have any recent study experience (the most recent was over 6 years ago) and neither did I have any care experience, but I did have a previous degree and A levels. My Uni tend to send out "Biographical questionnaires" for you to fill in andI got in via that route.

Another possible way to get in is to go and work as a Health Care Assistant/Auxilary as you mentioned and see if your health authority will sponsor you to train. This might take a while and as you already have experience I would just apply to Unis and see what happens.

I would definately say go for it though, I spent a long time deciding to make this move and I can honestly say I love it and am so glad I decided to do my training!!

Edited to add: This forum has a lot of useful info and you can ask questions: http://www.studentnurse.org.uk/

Clare

Bambywamby

Thank you all for your input. I have enough qualifications to apply for the Nursing Diploma (starting September 2010 ) so I will still apply for the Auxillary job too. The more experience the better.

Thank you for the forum addy Minxy, it looks really informative. x x

Swirlywurly

Some universities have diploma intakes in January or March, if you are worried about waiting

NoahsPennilessMummy

Hi, I`m a qualified nurse....just wanted to make you aware that nursing is moving towards being degree only training in the near future....just as midwifery training has done.....so soon there will not be any diploma courses just degree....not sure what they will be looking at as entry requirements..they are usually a bit less restrictive on "older" candidates.

Flipped27

I hope you go for it - I kind of wish I had. I have 3 young children now so its kind of out of the question and I am destined to be sat behind a desk for the rest of my working life!!!

Good luck!

debjay

Bambywamby wrote: »

Thank you all for your input. I have enough qualifications to apply for the Nursing Diploma (starting September 2010 ) so I will still apply for the Auxillary job too. The more experience the better.

Thank you for the forum addy Minxy, it looks really informative. x x

Also some Trust's may sponsor you through your training and pay you your salary as an auxiliary nurse while you train

Girlzmum

I'm just about to finish my nursing training (I'm doing a BSc (Hons)), I did an access diploma part time for 2 years prior to applying, I know my uni wanted you to have studied within the previous 5 years and I had left school 8 years before so couldn't use that, however I didn't have any experience in healthcare. I started when my youngest was 8 months old and my eldest was 3, it was a struggle but it was definately worth it.

Now all I need to do is get through the next 7 weeks and find a job!

jessbrown100

Hi Bambywamby :hello:

I've just sent off my UCAS form for the nursing diploma at Sheffield Hallam (Jan 2010 start). I've done my level 3 in Health and Social Care in the last five years and also my A1 Assessors and am currently working as a H&SC Assessor. The nice advisor at Hallam told me just to apply without doing the access course and see how it goes. Hope you decide to do it, I'm really hoping that I get in. If you do apply then and get on the course feel free to PM me as we'll both be going through the same thing!

Good Luck!
Jess