Nurse training, is it worth it?

Alleygator

Good evening all, prepare for a long post...

I'm 21 and currently living with my boyfriend and his parents whilst we (unsuccessfully) save for a house. At the moment I am working for the Civil Service on a 2 year contract as an apprentice and I hate it. I've been there for a year now and don't feel as though I am getting anywhere with it and have finally decided that this is not what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Before this I worked for 3 years in the Healthcare industry and also volunteered at a hospital from the age of 15. My main goal in life has always been to become a nurse, ever since I was young this is what I dreamt about. I am looking at the moment to do an access course at my local college to gain extra UCAS points in order to study a nursing degree at a university based just down the round at my local hospital.
Now, here is my conundrum. I am currently earning a little under £17000 (I know, amazing for an apprentice) but due to really hating my job I want to leave. As the access course is only 4 hours a week (I already have a foundation diploma but this is not enough to do the course I am looking at) I want return to Healthcare to pay my way until I can start Uni, but as I am currently unqualified the pay is terrible.
In the long term I know that studying at Uni to become a nurse will be better money wise but I'm not quite sure I can take the financial hit as I barely have £100 a month left over after I've paid my bills as it is as I was stupid with money when I was younger.
I have a car on finance which costs me £350 with both insurance and the finance thrown in, a credit card with nearly £3000 worth of debt, a gym membership that I never use plus I buy all of my own food and pay housekeeping.
I do feel like I'm swimming against the tide. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Marktheshark

Its a £600+ a week job on the end, so I would say yes. go for it.

LottieLou

I am in mixed minds about what to say. I am a nurse, an experienced one at that and I dread to the pit of my stomach going in to work. So much so I am seriously considering quitting before I have an alternative career in progress. I love my work, but the politics of it all and strain it puts on you're life and mental health overall I just cant tell you its worth it!

SmallL

Im currently a support worker in a hospital and have been for two years. It was my intention to do my nursing *IF* I enjoyed the job. I do not however and have recently attained a more technical role elsewhere.

You REALLY have to have the right mindset. You won't go home on time, you might not have time for lunch breaks, you will be pressured from other colleagues and superiors, you will have relatives constantly hounding for your attention while your trying to do your job due to extended visiting hours etc etc. On top of all that you actually need to look after your patients (In my area from 8-10 of them at once, or more if you are short staffed!).

Whilst it's not the career for me, it's a very personal thing and I think you have to do a judgement call.

pineapple123

What can I advise well its a hard job and getting harder to do. It does play havoc with your personal life and causes stress. The pay is not that great for what you have to do and the degree you have to get.
you have to really want to do it as many colleagues have completely left the profession some very soon after qualifying.
However its a self rewarding job with scope to improve up the nursing ladder quickly. Its interesting, challenging and it tests you.
Can you afford it, would you ever be able to afford it. Many work as HCA's before and while undertaking the degree.
HCA pay is low but get onto the books of an agency, some offer much better pay than others. One who I wont name pays £37ph for HCA Bank holiday shift more if in London, crazy much more than a permanent experienced qualified nurse however be prepared to travel for this money, travel pay is also paid out. Shift work brings in extra money and you get lots of experience in different places.
Good luck in whatever you decide.

surreysaver

LottieLou wrote: »

I am in mixed minds about what to say. I am a nurse, an experienced one at that and I dread to the pit of my stomach going in to work. So much so I am seriously considering quitting before I have an alternative career in progress. I love my work, but the politics of it all and strain it puts on you're life and mental health overall I just cant tell you its worth it!

Trouble is, it is like that in most industries in this day and age, not just nursing. Anyone who has done a job for years will have seen changes since the good old days, an no doubt when you started and enjoyed it, there were people who had been there years and now hating it.

The OP, I think, should do it - they will go in without knowing what it was like years ago, will enjoy it, and in 20/30/40 years time will be moaning about it, just like they would whatever career decision they choose.

OP - if you are going to do it, do the training now before you have kids, as you will have to do nights/weekends/long shifts/work school holidays, and get a few years experience under your belt, as it will be harder to do the training after you have kids.

xapprenticex

boyfriend, kids, houses,...... dont people consider getting married (assuming you want to be togeather for the rest of your lives).

Good luck with career too.

agrinnall

xapprenticex wrote: »

boyfriend, kids, houses,...... dont people consider getting married (assuming you want to be togeather for the rest of your lives).

Good luck with career too.

Well as you're the only one that has mentioned the word "boyfriend" in this thread then I fail to see what your point is or why it has any relevance to the OP's situation.

Alleygator

xapprenticex wrote: »

boyfriend, kids, houses,...... dont people consider getting married (assuming you want to be togeather for the rest of your lives).

Good luck with career too.

I'm pretty sure I never mentioned kids... And although it actually isn't any of your business I think finding a house is currently more important than getting married although I would like to in the future.

Thank you everyone for your help, I do have a couple of nurse friends and friends of the family that I've spoken to and they have said the hours are gruelling and can put a strain on pretty much all areas of your life. I do think that once I have trained it will be easier for me to find another area of healthcare perhaps to enter if working within hospitals isn't for me. I just feel at the moment I really don't have any options whilst unqualified.

BlueEyedGirl

Marktheshark wrote: »

Its a £600+ a week job on the end, so I would say yes. go for it.

Where do you get that idea from? A BAND 5 Nurse (newly qualified is a Band 5) the yearly pay is £21,478 that does not equal £600 a week!

https://www.rcn.org.uk/support/pay_and_conditions/pay_rates_2014-15

SmallL

BlueEyedGirl wrote: »

Where do you get that idea from? A BAND 5 Nurse (newly qualified is a Band 5) the yearly pay is £21,478 that does not equal £600 a week!

https://www.rcn.org.uk/support/pay_and_conditions/pay_rates_2014-15

Actually I remember when I had a good months pay (due to unsocial hours etc) as a support worker I was only earning about £200 less a month than a nurse that I compared with. You can easily pick and choose shifts (even working full time bank) as support workers/HCA's are in such demand due to high turnover.