Nursing career change, am I able to afford it?

seasideme

You can also get a reduced student loan even if this is your second degree.

£449 a month bursary & £750 three times a year, if what one of my friends gets. Just over £600 a month all added up. If I go this route I will need to work agency shifts to make up the shortfall.

Can't you try for a secondment through your trust that way you get the lowest band 1/2 pay which is just over £14,200 a year. I hope to do it this way.

LauraRN

I wouldn't recommend nursing to anyone...

mel48rose

LauraRN wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend nursing to anyone...

A lot of us are dedicated and happy with our choice. If you feel like that its time to leave the profession.

Person_one

I did my nurse training as a mature student after working as a HCA, I was seconded by my trust so paid the band 2 wage throughout, no bursary.

Speak to the education/development department at your trust and see if this is something they offer.

Your previous degree is irrelevant when studying nursing, the course is exempt from the rules about existing qualifications so if you weren't able to get a secondment you'd be eligible for all the same help as every other student.

A lot of student nurses joint bank or an agency to do HCA shifts in-between uni and placement. This isn't guaranteed income but as you've already got experience and a foot in the door you'd be better off than most.

One other thing I would say, are you and your OH in it for the long haul? Are you committed to each other and planning a permanent future together? If you are and if he truly is supportive, then you shouldn't be trying to find a way to pay 'half the bills' you should be jointly trying to figure out how to make your joint income cover everything when pooled together as one.

rtho782

My girlfriend is currently in year 3 of her nursing course, so hopefully I'm up to date!

The NHS will pay your tuition fees unless they paid for your previous degree.

Your bursary will work out about £400 a month.

I don't know how your previous degree affects student loans, but my girlfriend gets a non-means tested maintenance loan that is about £730 a quarter.

I'm on £23k, and I pay all the bills etc, she buys the food from her bursary. We aren't loaded, but we manage fine, renting a 1 bed flat, running a car and a motorbike, feeding two cats and a rabbit. Even if you don't get the student loan, we mostly spend that on treats like the new TV we just bought, as it's not regular monthly income.

My logic is that her living here costs me no more than it would cost me to live here without her - I even get a council tax discount as she's a student. So I don't even feel like I'm "supporting her".

I would say even with your partner on £19k it's doable, you just have to be a bit of a hermit like us!!

She doesn't work at all as we've made the decision that her grade is more important than having a bit of extra cash. Were you to do some bank shifts for a care agency, you could easily supplement his income to be no worse off than we are.

I don't know how much your mortgage is, but our rent is £600 a month, and you are currently managing to pay it on a HCA wage, so I don't suppose it's a massive mortgage.

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel now, and in a couple of months, she will be on more than I am.

Polarbeary

LauraRN wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend nursing to anyone...

Agreed! I left nursing and at least I can say I have a degree. Hard physical toil, hours of unpaid overtime, some verbal /physical abuse, no breaks etc

Fairycake00

Hi guys, not replied as have not been too well of late.
But thanks for the advice everyone. Unfortunately my trust aren't seconding at the mo due to lack of funding. I currently work in the community and my department would not second me for nursing as it means they would lose me as a member of staff, as we are all HCA's in this department.
So looks like there's no way around it but to work and study at the same time then. ��

flea72

You will get nhs bursary and reduced rate maintenance loan, so about £7.5k a year. It is possible to work whilst doing yr degree, but you need a job that is flexible, as yr shifts whilst on placement will vary. Most people find agency/bank works best as you can pick/choose shifts

most people on my course, have just sucked up the drop in income and thought long-term. In that student overdraft/cc will see them over, until they graduate and get a job and can pay it back. Its either that, or keep putting it off until you can afford to do it. Which for most people would mean never