Re: Advice for retraining - Nurse

smartsaver2011

Can anyone offer any wise words of wisdom on a career change. I am in my 30's and want to look at becomming either a mental health nurse or adult nurse. Unfortunately I have no formal qualifications other than below average GCSES, maths and science was a D if I remember!

Anyway, I wanted to know the fastest route into nursing, however taking on board it will have to be part time as I need to work still to pay the mortgage. So I was wondering has anyone done anything similar, if so how, and also when going to Uni if you are doing the course p/time is it two days a week etc, How is it worked out.

Thanks

dizzyrascal

I have just had a look on the website of our local university where nursing is an option and all their undergraduate courses are full-time. They are one of the biggest universities that teach nursing so I think you need to think about the direction you want to go in.
In other words, I don't think you can do a part-time option. I am happy to be corrected if this information is wrong

First of all you need to contact your local university and see what access course they prefer (or it could be A levels). See if you have any experience that they might consider useful.
It might help to see when they next have an Open Day and then you will be able to talk to the course tutors.

Studying nursing attracts an NHS Bursary but it is not a great deal of money. Although nurses have commented on this forum about supplementing their income with agency and care work.
Again, you can look up the amounts online via the NHS or talk to the admissions tutors.

Cherry_Bomb

Have a look on the student nurse forum
https://www.studentnurse.org.uk

Loads of info on there in the wannabe section that will help you.

Personally I did the full time 3 year route and worked alongside to top up my bursary. It's hard work dealing with placements, assignments as well as working but it is doable.

Definitely contact the uni you're interested in first of all to find out what they will accept in the way of access courses.

saltire2012

I'm afraid you'll struggle to find a nursing course that offers a part-time route - most if not all are full time.

You may want to look at other similar career options?

Realbairn

I did my training a few years back and like you I needed to work as I had a family. I worked on the nhs bank and fitted shifts into my schedule which worked well for me, also you get enhanced monies for weekends and nights. It is hard work but it is very doable.

chanie

I used to work in an NHS teaching hospital about 5 years ago and we used to sponsor nursing assistants to complete their training - so we would continue to pay them full pay whilst they trained and they would work during term holidays.

I wasn't clinical staff, sasso I don't know the details, but its worth investigating.

You would of course need to get a job and then demonstrate you are good at what you do, but I remember that some assistants only worked for 1-2 year before they started their training.

clairec79

TBH if you do the part time nursing course (which many unis don't offer) it's still fulltime hours just longer holidays

That said I managed to do do bank nursing auxillary work alongside it to top my bursary up

annie_d

I thought from next year all nursing courses were degree level entry only although i could be wrong.

NurseMoneySaver1122

smartsaver2011 wrote: »

Can anyone offer any wise words of wisdom on a career change. I am in my 30's and want to look at becomming either a mental health nurse or adult nurse. Unfortunately I have no formal qualifications other than below average GCSES, maths and science was a D if I remember!

Anyway, I wanted to know the fastest route into nursing, however taking on board it will have to be part time as I need to work still to pay the mortgage. So I was wondering has anyone done anything similar, if so how, and also when going to Uni if you are doing the course p/time is it two days a week etc, How is it worked out.

Thanks

I think the others are correct, not many Uni's (if any) are offering P/T nursing degrees.

I did a Nursing degree full time and you get a non-taxable bursery to help. Like others have said, it isn't a lot so I had to top mine up by also working P/T. One bonus to consider however, is your bursery isn't counted towards taxable income. Therefore, if you work in addition to the course, you will not be taxed until your wages ALONE go over the current years tax allowance...if that makes sense?! Also, I know some people on my course got council tax relief, and some other help (dependant on circumstances).

Like the others have said, it's a lot of hard work to carry out placement hours, keep to assignment deadlines, revise to exams and hold down a part time job...needless to say, not much socialising occurs lol, but it is very doable if dedicated.

Best thing is to contact your local Uni and enquire, as they all work slightly differently.

Best of luck