Any single parent students on here?

Kay.Samuels

I'm a single mum and my plan is to go do a 1 year access course at college starting in September, to prepare me for a 3 year nursing degree. I am determined to do it but just wondered how other single parents are finding it both practicality wise and the financial side of things? Would be great to hear of other's experiences!

Person_one

I'm a student nurse and while I'm not a parent I know that a lot of the parents on the course find childcare very hard to manage due to the unpredictable nature of shifts on placements. You could find yourself working a 37.5 hour week with 7am starts, 10pm finishes and some night shifts with only a few weeks notice to get your childcare arranged.

The NHS bursary has an extra childcare and dependents element so there is help for parents, have a look on this calculator to see what you might be entitled to once you start the actual degree:

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students/3576.aspx

Bear in mind though that the goalposts could change at any point between now and when you start, its all up in the air at the moment.

Good luck!

Dunroamin

I'm not a parent either but I had many guidance clients in your situation, doing an Access course before going into nursing.

Some managed very well and others didn't, mainly because of lack of organisation and/or not appreciating the demands of the course. To a great extent it depends on factors like the age of your children, the level of support you can look for from friends and family, how long since you studied last and what was your existing level of achievement. If too many of these are negative you'll have a more difficult time of it.

However, it's perfectly possible, it's a well trodden route and I wish you luck.

Kay.Samuels

Thanks for replies. My son is 7, 8 in October but his age is a bit of a red herring as he is autistic so quite 'young' for his age. His dad has him two nights a week, and I have my mum as another possible over night carer, he also already goes to a cm once a week just so there is a local child carer he is familiar with and she is available for him when I'm at college. So I have 3 regular child care options, and then a good friend who I can ask for last minute predicaments. Oh and obviously he goes to school too :rotfl:

I was told by the college careers person that I could apply straight to uni because of my qualifications but it's been a while since I was in a learning environment (last course was OU) so I want to do the access course to refresh my studying skills and get me back into the swing of things!

Person_one

Kay.Samuels wrote: »

I was told by the college careers person that I could apply straight to uni because of my qualifications but it's been a while since I was in a learning environment (last course was OU) so I want to do the access course to refresh my studying skills and get me back into the swing of things!

I wouldn't waste a year if I was you. There's usually plenty of support available for people who are struggling with the study skills side of things such as essay writing, revision techniques etc.

You could get a late application in now and be starting in September if your UCAS form is strong.

Kay.Samuels

I appreciate your advice, and although the impatient part of me agrees, doing the one year access course will also give my son another year before I start doing placements on shift hours.

I also feel another to build my confidence in the next year through the access course, and do a little more relevant voluntary work too. I don't want to start a degree and have to muddle through, I would rather know that I can start it in a year from a stronger position and hopefully hit the ground running.

Hope that makes sense! :-)

Fourcandles_3

A friend and I did an access course together and she went on to do nursing. The access course was ok, childcare was manageable, mostly 9 - 4pm. The placements on the nursing however vary widely. Her last one was 12 hour shifts at the local hospital, five days a week including weekends, which by local was over an hour and a half away buy bus each way. Without a brilliant before and after school club neither of us could have done it.

Her next one is two towns over - she doesn't drive, and cannot get a bus from our village through the next city and two towns past that in time for her shift start. Nor do the busses run when she finishes. She doesn't have a huge amount of family support and it has been really hard. She has had to call in a lot of favours and some of her family has got quite fed up with it.

That said she is on her final year and she would tell you if you have the support, parents, neighbours, family etc do it. Good luck, it's not easy but so very worth it x

Kay.Samuels

Thank you fourcandles (love your name BTW), you have just pushed me to admit I really need to get my driving licence before I start my nursing degree!!! I enjoy driving and CAN do it, but then when it comes to test day I turn into a nervous idiot - so frustrating!! I do need to have another crack at it though. :-)

I am thankful that I have various avenues of childcare, I have been building up this network of support slowly and intend to add another one or two people if I can. It's important for my son that childcare is someone he is familiar and comfortable with so I have to have people in place I can rely on.

Person_one

Having a car is a godsend on a nursing degree, I must admit. One woman on my course has to set off at 4.30am to get to her placement by 7.30am on public transport!

Kay.Samuels

Yes, the uni is a pleasant bike ride away from where I currently live but even the town's main hopsital would be MUCH easier to get to in car. Public transport in my town is great during the day, not so great in the evenings/early mornings! Plus there are the placements that are more off the beaten track.

I have time to get on the road though, and I do need to do it anyway so hopefully this will give me the extra push. :-)

halfpint78

I am also a single parent and planning to start a post grad course in September. It sounds like you've really thought it all through and have a really clear idea of what you want. That's half the battle. I know I am going to totally struggle financially but have fantastic support from friends and family in terms of childcare/practical support. I just keep asking myself 'do I want this badly enough?' Good luck with it all