Thinking of retraining as a nurse...

bubblegum6000

After reading the success of the 'teacher' thread I wanted to ask the same about nursing!

I have been thinking about retraining for a while, but as my public sector job probably won't exist in a couple of years and I'm not good for anything else, I would like to do a job that is more caring and enjoyable! I love looking after people and would really like to go in to nursing. However, giving up work, going to uni and living on the bursary seem so scary! I have just split up with my partner and now have no friends other than work peeps in this area so giving up work would be major for me! So am hoping i'd also be able to meet friends on the course if it's not too demanding!

I'd just love to hear if there are any nurses out there and whether you love it and how difficult is the training etc?

I'm up for a challenge but feel very scared! Many thanks :-) x

hippychick1

Hi there,

I am halfway through my first year of nurse training, and I love it! I have wanted to do it for quite a while now. I started in January, and was un uni 2 days a week up until Easter. After Easter I had my first placement, working on a ward at my local hospital for ten weeks. I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would, and didn't want to leave!!

I'm now back at uni, 2 weeks left then we have 6 weeks off:j

We have had a couple of essays to write, and I have two exams in September. The workload is easy to cope with so far, and I'm a single parent of three young children. It's the placement I found difficult, working shifts full time was a shock to the system, but you get used to it.

I have met so many new people, and made some great friends. Go for it!!

McKneff

Hello Bubblegum, if you want to do it, do it now, so its scary, so what if it demaniding, you'll cope because you will have so many new friends and colleagues to get you through it.

youve coped with the split with your partner, put two fingers up to him and say 'youve done me a favour'
.
What if you get to 60 sorry 65 for you youngsters now, drawing your first weeks state pension and
you think, i wish i had gone into nursing. You will do things that you regret, we all do that but dont not do things that you might regret .


I didnt follow nursing, Im 60 and yes, i am getting state pension. The one thing
i regret not doing above all else in my life is not doing nursing.

Grab life with both hands, now, get your self motivated. get some gumption,

Sorry, just trying to get your gander up. Go Girl.
and good luck
Annie

McKneff

hippychick1 wrote: »

Hi there,

I am halfway through my first year of nurse training, and I love it! I have wanted to do it for quite a while now. I started in January, and was un uni 2 days a week up until Easter. After Easter I had my first placement, working on a ward at my local hospital for ten weeks. I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would, and didn't want to leave!!

I'm now back at uni, 2 weeks left then we have 6 weeks off:j

We have had a couple of essays to write, and I have two exams in September. The workload is easy to cope with so far, and I'm a single parent of three young children. It's the placement I found difficult, working shifts full time was a shock to the system, but you get used to it.

I have met so many new people, and made some great friends. Go for it!!

:T:T:T respect, a lady with balls (so to speak :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

inkie

I qualified as a Registered Nuse in 1992, and as a Midwife in 1995. I am still registered, but since 2004 have been a vicar. Today I did some hospital visiting of someone from our church, and I am so glad that I have left nursing. It reminded me of all the things that I do not miss!

I would advise that you get some caring experience for two reasons really: it will give you exposure to the reality, and also will stabd you in better stead when applying if you are still convinced that this is the right thing for you to do.

Person_one

Why don't you try being a healthcare assistant or a support worker in a hospital? That way you'll be able to find out a bit about what's involved and have a real boost on your application of you do want to apply, its quite competitive these days. A lot of trusts will take you on with no experience and train you in an NVQ.

The earliest you could possibly start a nursing degree now is September 2011 so use the time inbetween wisely! (I think applications close at around the end of the year but do check, you wouldn't want to miss the deadline!)

slummymummyof3

You will also need to check that you have the correct entrance qualifications.

Morgan_Ree

Hey bubblegum

I'm a 2nd year doing adult nursing.

It's stressful, emotional and completely knackering. It has it's good points too But I love it and wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

You'll have some crap placements (and mentors!) who'll make you question why you ever wanted to be a nurse, then you'll have some amazing placements and meet amazing people, and you'll remember why you wanted to be a nurse in the first place!
How you cope with the workload depends entirely on your own capabilities. I'm not amazing at the theory side of things (much prefer the hands on stuff, not the sitting in a lecture hall learning the why's) but I manage ok.

Have you had a look into the entry requirments?
Are you aware the diploma is being phased out? It's going to be degree only from I think 2012 onwards.

If you really thing nursing is for you I would get some experience as a HCA first. It's not all running around saving lives casualty style :cool:
A lot of people on my course started it thinking they were going to be shipped off to A+E/MAU dealing with all sorts. They soon got a shock (and left) when they're first placement was a nursing home
People like that are always weeded out in the first year.

But definitely, if it's what you want then go for it. You'll regret it if you don't

kittendothroar

I would recommend getting some experience as a healthcare assistant first too, you can do bank shifts without much commitment to get an idea if you like it or not. Check out the nhs professionals website or contact your local trust/ hospital for more details.

I work as a HCA full time on a geriatric ward and it can be very demanding, and the shift patterns are trying at times but overall the people make it worthwhile

Taypier

Don't do it! lol I qualified in September. The course is demanding, half theory, half practical. Shift work and 3 essays due in at one time make it very stressful. I loved most of my placements but nursing is hard work. If I knew how I would be treated on the wards by patients, staff and relatives then I wouldn't have done it. If I could go back I would do something like physio or occupational therapy.. still in care but you can walk off the ward lol Good luck in whatever you decide.

I agree with others try doing agency work with your local hospital or NHS Professionals as a support worker. I was a support worker in a nursing home and it's a lot different to hospital work.

Taypier

Just read your post again. You say you want to care and for it to be enjoyable. Now I'm qualified I find it hard to find the time to provide what I think is the right care, its sad and it frustrates me. As a student or support worker I had more time to spend with patients and I wish I could get that back now. Def try a support worker role first and take it from there.