can i become a nurse/care assistant?

KayEdwards

I used to be a computer engineer. I had a career change 5 years ago and worked as a home carer for a few months, then as an auxiliary in a hospice, and applied for my nurse training which I finish in 3 weeks. I did the Diploma because the bursary is different (more) for diploma students than it is for degree students. I wouldn't have been able to pay my rent on the bursary I would have got if I did the degree.

So people can get an idea the bursary for the diploma is currently about £546 a month for students over 26. Any extra you earn is from a part time job and most of us have them, mine is for a charity nursing cancer patients who are dying. Degree and diploma students study the same course, tho the degree students have to submit a dissertation in the final year and do their last year's essays at a higher level. The pay they can expect in their first job is identical tho those with a degree will possibly find it easier to climb the ladder so to speak.

Its the best thing I ever did - I am 37. The oldest student in my group is 55.

Kay

inkie

I qualified as a nurse in 1992 (certificate level)- entered training at age 17, had to sit a maths test as only had grade d gcse maths, and 'paid' as a student nurse (about £600). Worked as nurse for 12 months and then started midwifery training (diploma), and then topped up to a degree and did a msaters part time (all paid for by work), and study leave as well. So, what I am trying to say is that don't think that you have to do the degree straight away - there is always oppertunity later. It did me no harm - by the time I was 29 I was a H Grade nurse manager - most nurses don't get to this level in their career, and had 2 kids in the process, and then quickly jumped up to being a senior manager doing service redesign. I would still be nursing/working in NHS now if it wasn't for a divine calling!! Hope all works out well

lechat

You can definitely become a health care assistant. I'm at uni and do it in my holidays, and have no qualifications in the field. Some hospitals prefer you to have an NVQ in healthcare but at a lot of places its not essential and they will give you the opportunity to train.

In the meantime I reccomend you join an agency to do carework, you may be sent to residential homes, private homes, hospitals.. where I work gets a lot of agency people, many of whom do not have an nvq or experience. You could do this while you are looking for a permanent healthcare job, and you could put it on your cv which would help! The bonus is you will get paid more by the hour than permanent staff and get to choice when you work, so could do this on top of another job.

I registered with NHS professionals with my 2years of healthcare exp, and only got a confirmation email to say they would be in touch.. but they never did get in touch! But I am in London so maybe the competition is fiercer than elsewhere.

Hope that helps!

alwaysonthego_2

The access is a quick route into nursing, but you do need experience in caring, so it is recommended you do work experience at a care home or hospital. I think there is a test you can sit at university for an extra quick route but it is hard and you do have to pay for it, can't remember what it's called

foreign_correspondent

Hi, you could go for a job as a clinical support worker, (used to be auxilliary nurse, healthcare assistant, the names are always changing!) - personality and attitude seem to be more than important then qualifications - I used to do some of the induction training for new CSW's - they were generally a lovely bunch from lots of different backgrounds, ranging from 18 year olds, through to fifty something mums returning to work!
It would be a good way to see if you like working in a hospital environment (and getting paid for it!) before you commit to the nursing training.
There has been a recent increase in the number of CSW posts around the country, so it might be a good time to look!
Good luck x

ps please dont think you have 'mucked up' the last 10 years of your life... its all learning and gets you to the places you are today!! If you hadnt tried different things and made mistakes (as we all do, being human, lol) you might not have realised that caring for people is something you want to do!

petetidball

If you seriously want to get into it, don't let qualifications get in the way. As people have said, the access course is a good way to do it. I'm at uni at the moment, and a lot of mature students took that route. Another option is to go for a job as a support/care assistant either in the NHS or with a private company and after a while ask them to second you to nursing. Thats how I've managed to do it. I was seconded after being with them 18 months. My employer pays me my full wage to study, so I get twice what the bursaried students get, I do bank shifts to bump up my wages, and there's a very good chance they'll take you on as a nurse once you graduate. The fact that you'll gain experience as you work before starting nursing also helps, and prepares you for that first day on placement a little better!! I've worked in sales and retail before I started in care, and I got the job with no relevant qualifications. I love doing it, and know I've found the job I'll (hopefully) do for the rest of my life.

stressedaah30

hi i am an assistant manager of a care home and from my experience u should be able to get into care work although ss usually want nvqs but private homes and agencys take on people who just have the passion to do job once iemployed wiith one of these they may pay for u to do nvq or can get free if under 25
be prepared for the not nice side of the job u sometiimes need a tough atomach if u get me and to start with mite be on minimum wage
dont know bout hospital procedures
good luuck i love my job being doing it for 15 years