Nursing career change, am I able to afford it?

Fairycake00

Hi everyone,
:rotfl:
I'm new to this site, but joined because any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am in such a quandary,I've searched and searched web sites for info to help me.:(

My life's dream is to become a nurse, but it seems at 37 and with a mortgage, I have realised this ambition far too late. Now that a degree is needed, it seems I am completely stuck.
I am currently a health care assistant working in the NHS, I am 37 with no children, but have a mortgage and a partner who only earns 19k a year. He would not be able to support me to go back to uni full time for 3 years.
I already have a degree, so would not be eligible for student finance. The only thing that I can find is an NHS bursary that I would be entitled to. But this is approx 5k a year, and I cannot pay half the mortgage and bills on this.
Is there anyone out there who can give me advice on what exactly I could claim financially. I would need approx 14k to manage.
(Oh and I have already looked at the career development loan which will give only a max of 10k over 3 years) still not enough.
Thanks guys,
:A

Mistral001

It is great to be single-minded - sometimes. But often people look upon a drastic career change as a way of solving all their problems at once. I made very drastic career changes in my twenties meaning that I needed to get a second degree and train for 5 years for a professional qualification. It was not a easy path.

Andy_L

Does the trust you work for offer any opportunities to do the training whilst still employed as a HCA?

ali-t

I think you need to accept that in order to pull it off you will have to give up the next few years of your life to studying, taking on sessional/bank health care work and not seeing much of friends and family. Working 7 days a week between uni/placements/paid work is going to be the way to do it.


I did it years ago and it nearly killed me but was worth it. Lots of promotions and wage rises in the years following it and I figured that if I could survive that then nothing any job could throw at me would knock me down.


Good luck, if you really want to do it you will find a way.

mel48rose

Do the trust not offer secondments? I would check this out. I did my nurse training 7 yrs ago. It was hard work and financially difficult but it was defo worth it. Good luck x

asajj

Is there a part time option? My friend was an accountant and wanted to become a counciller.

She had to do it part-time and had an arrangement to work 4 days rather than 5 and used the 1 day to go to school.

She wasn't earning that much as an accountant as she wasn't qualified and also was paying a mortgage but she was very careful with her spending.

Perhaps you could try a part-time option if it is available?

agrinnall

It's not directly applicable to you as I assume you don't live in Scotland, but my university's Funding for Nursing page shows a range of support available including bursary, dependent's allowance and scholarships. You should check with the universities you are interested in to see what they offer.

http://www.rgu.ac.uk/future-students/finance-and-scholarships/nursing-and-midwifery-students

polgara

I'd definitely get in touch with you training and development team - depending on which path you take there is a shortage of nurses and I know my trust is currently looking to second staff to nurse training - both at a traditional university and also Open University.

Miss_Moneysaver

Hi,


What is your first degree in?

qazitory

mel48rose wrote: »

Do the trust not offer secondments? I would check this out. I did my nurse training 7 yrs ago. It was hard work and financially difficult but it was defo worth it. Good luck x

My partner is currently training to be a nurse and is getting paid a band 2 wage. It's less than we are used to, but it's better than giving up work completely.

Have you looked at Open University if your Trust doesn't offer placements?

Also what's your first degree in as you might be entitled to some credits so your second would be shorter?

Sncjw

Open uni won't do it because you need to complete practical hours. I'd contact nhs bursary for help as the funding has changed since I was there,

It can cause you to burn out if you do work, placements uni and uni work all at once. Ask about the funding for mortgage help. Could your partner if you have one not help pay more towards mortgage. I'm afraid this course is a demanding course also even though you may not be scheduled in uni they expect you to do self study and it's a full time course.
I'd contact the uni you want to go to and nhs bursary for help on financial side.