Career/life change

LongTallKatie

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Access courses to Medicine are very different from the more general courses that lead into nursing and other health careers - entrance qualifications to medicine are on a totally different plane from entrance to nursing qualifications. Don't forget, it isn't that long ago that you could get into nursing with nothing higher than a few GCSEs!

Rubbish, Access Courses taking the Science route are just that, science studying Chemistry, Biology and Physics over a 12 months course. The same Access Course could get you onto a Radiology Course or a Medical Degree, with the required GCSE's. It is no harder than an Access to Nursing course in which you would normally study, Biology, Psychology and Sociology.

tomtontom

Outofoffice wrote: »

If the dream becomes a reality, I've no problem spending thousands getting there.

So how much are you willing to spend on something that is very unlikely to happen? And as asked several times, how do you plan to fund your dream?

I do wonder if you have an idea of the reality of being a GP. You want to help people, that's great, but what about all the people you won't be able to help? How will you deal with the suicidal patient when all you can offer is a referral with no guarantee when they'll even be assessed, or the patient in need of a certain medication that has been withdrawn because it is expensive?

gunsandbanjos

Outofoffice wrote: »

Congrats on your First Class! If you don't mind me asking, did this improve your career prospects? Are you now doing something you enjoy?

Thanks, it definitely improved my career prospects! I spent 13 years working in hospitality and once I graduated I went into the banking industry. Love my job:)

Outofoffice

tomtontom wrote: »

So how much are you willing to spend on something that is very unlikely to happen? And as asked several times, how do you plan to fund your dream?

I do wonder if you have an idea of the reality of being a GP. You want to help people, that's great, but what about all the people you won't be able to help? How will you deal with the suicidal patient when all you can offer is a referral with no guarantee when they'll even be assessed, or the patient in need of a certain medication that has been withdrawn because it is expensive?

I have some money saved, next to no debt (mortgage and car excluded) and I have a very understanding partner.

In my current and previous employment I have some experience with the situations with difficult medical situations, i imagine it's like any job there will always be parts of it which will be harder than others. It may be unlikely to happen, but does that mean I don't even try? I don't think so.

Lois_Lane

Outofoffice wrote: »

I am in the same situation in terms of the office job, and I know there are many people who would take my job in the morning if they were offered it. However, 10 years of sitting at a desk, with the prospect of another 30+ years at the same desk is soul destroying!

The plan? I am trying to figure it out at present :rotfl: hence the OP!

What made you choose the OU course you're doing? Were you thinking of progressing within the industry you're employed in? The reason I ask is that most employers want their staff to develop and progress, rather than do the same thing for 30 years.

Have you thought about how the degree you're studying for could help you get a better job in the same company or another company? With 10 years experience you must have some valuable transferable skills in addition to the theory you've picked up doing the degree.

LL

missbiggles1

LongTallKatie wrote: »

Rubbish, Access Courses taking the Science route are just that, science studying Chemistry, Biology and Physics over a 12 months course. The same Access Course could get you onto a Radiology Course or a Medical Degree, with the required GCSE's. It is no harder than an Access to Nursing course in which you would normally study, Biology, Psychology and Sociology.

As you'll see from the link I posted earlier, most medical school require a specific Access to Medicine course rather than the more general Access to Science course. I'm afraid you're completely wrong about their not being any harder than studying social sciences and soft science (Biology/Human Biology) options you need for nursing.

I'll post the link again in case you missed it and you'll see that the medical schools that accept Access courses (not all do) in the main are looking for Access to Medicine rather than the more general course.

http://www.medschools.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/MSC%20DSC%20Guidance%20on%20Access%20to%20medicine%20and%20dentistry%20courses.pdf

Also, the BMA's information for mature students.

"Many medical schools now accept results of Access to Medicine courses from mature students, providing a route to university for students who do not have qualifications beyond GCSE/O-level."

Outofoffice

Lois_Lane wrote: »

What made you choose the OU course you're doing? Were you thinking of progressing within the industry you're employed in? The reason I ask is that most employers want their staff to develop and progress, rather than do the same thing for 30 years.

Have you thought about how the degree you're studying for could help you get a better job in the same company or another company? With 10 years experience you must have some valuable transferable skills in addition to the theory you've picked up doing the degree.

LL

At the time I started I did want to progress in my current organisation. However, I was young and inexperienced and that has now changed along with my ambitions for my career. So I thought about what I would like to do and I've always had a dream of helping other in a medical profession. Hence, the ambitious idea of becoming a GP....although it is in the very early stages, I can see it may not be entirely realistic....but why not try eh?

tomtontom

Outofoffice wrote: »

I have some money saved, next to no debt (mortgage and car excluded) and I have a very understanding partner.

In my current and previous employment I have some experience with the situations with difficult medical situations, i imagine it's like any job there will always be parts of it which will be harder than others. It may be unlikely to happen, but does that mean I don't even try? I don't think so.

No one is suggesting you don't try and further yourself, just that you be realistic in your expectations.

I still don't think you fully understand the limitations that GPs face. Do you not wonder why so many are leaving the profession, going overseas or retiring early?

Gingernutty

To become a GP you'll need

at least five GCSEs at grades A/A* including English, Maths and at least one science subject (that's maybe one - two years)

a minimum of three A levels in Chemistry and either Biology, Physics or Mathematics with one other academic subject at grades AAA or AAB (so another two to three years)

Universities that teach Medicine are very likely to demand that any candidates pass a Biomedical Admissions Test and The UK Clinical Admissions Test

If you've jumped through those hoops and you are accepted onto a course to study a medical degree

Then you need to complete the course and gain at least a 2:1 (that's five years worth)

Then you need two years general experience

Specialist GP training (that's another 3 years worth)

Most universities will expect candidates to have had some experience in a medical setting so you will have been employed as a Healthcare Assistant, hospital volunteer or have experience as a St John's Ambulance volunteer and done some shadowing in a hospital, clinic or GP setting.

Then, in about fifteen years time, you might have the qualifications and experience to be hired as a GP.

OR

If, by the time you've finished your GCSEs and A Levels, you don't have any science qualifications, there are a few universities that do a 6 year degree course which includes an intensive foundation course.

That will, of course, take sixteen years

OR

If you have at least a 2:1 degree in a science subject (fours years study), there are intensive, accelerated four year medical degree courses.

If you are serious about this and want to study to be a GP, then you'll qualify before you're 50 years old.

Good luck with that. :rotfl:

Savvy_Sue

Have not read everything, but am pretty sure the OP will find some bits of medicine 'boring' or 'uninteresting', but not doing well in those bits isn't really an option for a GP.