Taking a nursing degree!!

[Somerset1972]

Hi all! Just looking for some advice from any nurses/student nurses out there. I really want to train as a children's nurse. My dd1 has had t1 diabetes since she was 2, I haven't worked for a long time now as she is severely needle phobic and it has been a nightmare!! When I was much younger I did a lot of care work Sen work and I have never forgotten some of the lovely people I cared for. I did my nvq in teaching and learning and worked in a school for a while but with 3 kids of my own I'm not feeling it anymore! My dd3 is due to start school in 2017 and I'm feeling the itch to get myself a lifetime career! I feel I could offer support and so much understanding to people that are unwell and especially to families that have children with long term health conditions, after all I've lived it for 10 years! I can work insulin pumps, inject, calculate insulin ratios, insert cannulas count carbs etc! I would probably go into childrens nursing as I dont think my nvq's would go against me either. The only thing putting me off is the workload and the studying. My dd1 can sometimes become very unwell, how understanding is a university when it comes to things like this? And if I ever missed a deadline for an assignment would it all be over?? Am I likely to be up till 4 in the morning everyday catching up? And what about placements? How many days a week are you on them for? (I understand you usually do them in blocks). I really do want to do it but am I taking on too much?? Any advice much appreciated!

[calamityjam]

Placements are 37 1/2 hours a week and yes deadlines are deadlines regardless of the circumstances. I won't tell you its easy because its very heavy going with 7am starts and 12 hour nights. Also the entry requirements are quite high at some unis. Not sure what you have other than nvqs but you will need recent study plus 5 GCSEs including maths English and science plus 3 a levels at decent grades. All that said loads of people with children managed on my course but you do need support.

[ElderlyKoreanLady]

I'd recommend an access course to get started. I'm starting a children's nursing degree this year and that's how I got my qualifications up to scratch after so long out of education.

[Somerset1972]

Thanks, I do have the GCSEs and was planning on doing the health related access to uni course starting in September

[ElderlyKoreanLady]

Mine was Access to Nursing and Allied Health Professions. It was very varied and interesting and the time commitment will give you an idea (at least for starters) about how you'll manage deadlines if life gets in the way.

[calamityjam]

I also did an access course after 20 years out of education. The best thing I ever did both career wise and for my self esteem. Good luck both of you

[ShutUpSirius]

I am going to uni to do adult nursing in September.

I have a teen with arthritis. I have a 1 year old too. My teen has now moved out.

I went back to college as my qualifications were out of date so doing HNC. It's aligned with first year of uni.

I'm tired a lot. Huge amount of study, written work, research.

Placement is amazing. Some of my college classmates hated it and on seeing the reality left the course.

Financially I'm struggling. But getting by.

I find depending on the patient groups I'm working with, it can be quite emotional.

I have an interest in palliative care. To be so wet behind the ears that I don't always know how to compose myself or find the right words can be hard. You will find difficult situations on wards.

I am versed in Enthesitis Related Arthritis. I know about drugs, physio, etc. But I don't want to be a rheumatology nurse.

[Somerset1972]

I think I would find it really interesting, I'm just worrying I mean what do you do if you get up in the morning and your kids are throwing up? Or they have an accident at school? That's what really worries me!!

[Sunshine87]

Nursing course is full time and full on. They don't get the same holidays as normal students. Working hours are normally 12hr shifts 37 hours a week, you don't get to pick shifts as you tend to work with your mentor and could be working nights.You have to complete a set amount of practice hours so if in the event your DD was poorly you could be held back a cohert to catch up in regards to coursework i've never know anyone get an extention on it.

[VegasIsBest]

Funding for nursing students is changing from 2017 unfortunately. Moving from bursaries to £9k fees and loans like other university courses. So you'll need to take that into account as well.

[DonaldsDuck]

Have you thought about becoming a health care assistant? Once upon a time I was going to train as a nurse but I didn't get into university.
I did all my training on the job (in a GP practice) and do similar work to the nurses. I don't know how it would work with children specific care, but it's the same type of work once you've done some courses.

[Somerset1972]

Yes I'm aware of the funding changes, if I was to start off on 21k a year I would pay back roughly £5 per month.