can i become a nurse/care assistant?

postingalwaysposting

hi all i am a little bit of a failure as i have mucked up the last 10years of my life, but anyway i would love to become a nurse or a care assistant (that helps out in hospitals with care of the sick) is it possible? i have looked on websites and they all want certain things and i have no clue how to train etc.... so far i have 9 gcse's a-d, national diploma merit in animal management, keys skill 2 in application of number and information technology.... can anyone steer me in the right direction of what i need/can do or is it a no go?

*btw at the momment i work in retail*

kittiwoz

Looked into this for a friend a while ago, hope I remember it right. If you have 5 GCSEs A to C including maths & english or equivalent you could apply to an ND in nursing but they would probably want someone with more relevant experience. You could do an NVQ with your current qualifications which would then get you onto the ND or a degree in nursing. I think because you are older than my friend you could also do an access course which might well be the best route for you since these are tailored to students returning to education after a break. There is also sort of an apprenticeship scheme, I think called nursing cadets, where you work as say a hospital porter, while doing the NVQ to get experience and you get your fees paid for you by the NHS.

There is better info on the Royal College of Nursing website: www.rcn.org.uk/resources/becomenurse.php
See also www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/careers/nursing/index.html and http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/nhs-knowledge_base/data/4888.html

postingalwaysposting

thanks kitti, i will look into this in much more detail i think

clairec79

Contact the local hospital, maybe you could get some bank work. I think mine said if you had no experience you had to do an, unpaid, days training. As a student midwife my placement experience counts and I get quite a bit of bank work - could do more but tend to do a day during term time and 2 a week during holidays - get regular on a surgical ward at the moment

lynzpower

PAP,

Have a word with NHS Professionals.

There are loads of jobs at my local hospital, as a health care assistant type work, doing things like cleaning, bed making interacting with patients, gathering suppies etc. Alternatively you could look at doing work in a residential setting such as an older peoples care home, which should stand you in good stead.

INcidentally, I have a book on caring from my OU course, if you want it ( sorry youll have to pay the postage its yours for nothing

wigginsmum

Don't let your past put you off. My sister was a depressive who tried to commit suicide several times and was sectioned in the local psychiatric unit. 15 years later she's a fully qualified forensic psychiatric nurse in charge of the very ward she was on as a patient.

astonsmummy

wigginsmum wrote:

Don't let your past put you off. My sister was a depressive who tried to commit suicide several times and was sectioned in the local psychiatric unit. 15 years later she's a fully qualified forensic psychiatric nurse in charge of the very ward she was on as a patient.

thanx for this post, it has put my mind at ease, i want to get in healthcare/nursing and one of the things i would like to do is study mental health, wont be a few years yet though as have my own mental health probs but it's good to know it wont hold me back xx

netally

My Mum went back to Uni to do Nursing, but she had worked as a Nursing Assistant for a few years (which you don't really need qualifications for, but they will probably send you to do an NVQ after a while).

Basically there are 2 main routes into nursing. The Bsc Nursing degree would require either A-levels or an Access to Nursing course. The Diploma (which is also done at uni) usually requires 5 GCSEs A-C and interviews which involve group work and stuff to make sure you're the right personality.

I met some of my mums uni friends and they were a really varied bunch. Ages range from 17-55 and from all kinds of backgrounds.

You could firstly trying looking at the NHS site and also NMAS http://www.nmas.ac.uk/ who you apply through for Diplomas.

Good luck! xx

netally

Oh, and a quick fact.... 25% of mental health nursing students are on anti-depressant medication! :O

postingalwaysposting

thanks all for all your comments etc, i have decided to try and find a way in... the problem is i cant really stop working so i will prob do as lynz said and look at helping as a volunter at old people homes etc, i would love to be a nurse but i think i will have to save for a few years before i start training

astonsmummy

postingalwaysposting wrote:

thanks all for all your comments etc, i have decided to try and find a way in... the problem is i cant really stop working so i will prob do as lynz said and look at helping as a volunter at old people homes etc, i would love to be a nurse but i think i will have to save for a few years before i start training

You could also try age concern, my mum's friend works for them the old pople pay u for light housework or to take them shopping, some just want company. it's not much pay wise but your not tied down to a job where u have to do a certain amount of hours.

I've got an interview for a job doing homecare next week, its basically caring for people in thier own homes, getting people up washed and dressed in the mornings, and ready for bed, some people have calls through the day too but you generally need to have a car for that but it is good for experience as you see a mixture of people who suffer from a wide range of illnesses.
I've also just applied to do an open universtiy course in health and social care which is 60 points towards a degree, the job also offers NVQ training.
I think most if not all care providers the NVQ training.

Whatever you do good luck xx