Have i got no chance?

[DownstairsMixUp]

Hello bit difficult to explain but wanted to know some other output here!

I worked as a health care assistant and gained an NVQ Level 2 in health and social care, at the time (this was 2008) I had to do some extra modules to gain the credits to go to university to do adult nursing which did get me in and i completed 2 years of nursing. Unfortuntely I fell pregnant, took maternity leave then my marriage broke down and i had no support to finish.

Anyway fast fast forward from 2011 and that's where my heart lays really. I've tried to get on in other jobs but it's not what I want. Now i have a different life, plenty of support and a great husband but i've heard things have changed now about entering uni.

Anyway i submitted my ucas application, i've tried to mention everything basically, the fact i did two years nursing already,passed all exams, have had a total of three years working on wards plus the uni experience of learning and i have the nvq level 2 health and social care wih extra credits plus GCSE english and maths at B and gcse science and history at c.

What are my chances? Has anyone had any experience of going to uni a mature student with not the "typical" qualifications? I don't have a levels just my own experience and qualifications. I never struggled as a student nurse academically (all exams passed well above 60%) I really want to go back to it! How long do you think it would take to hear? Thanks for any advice!

[Mindgone]

I have no idea of the answers to your questions, but I'm full of admiration for you! You're obviously very focussed and determined, and know exactly what's required. I'm sure you'd make an excellent nurse, and I really hope the admissions panels see that, and grab you fast! Very best of luck

[DownstairsMixUp]

Thank you! Have googled all sorts but can't find anything, ucas just stuck on "University are considering my application" even if I just get an interview I'd be happy at this point!

[mudandmayhem01]

You sound like an excellent candidate, my dh is a nurse who has supervised lots of student nurses, I think he delighted if some one with your level of experience appeared on placement. I imagine your credits from your previous couse would make up for lack of A levels. I would try and speak to a careers adviser or some at the nursing course you last attended to make sure previous learning is corrected recognised.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

I don't know about Nursing but that sounds hopeful to me;

two years nursing already,passed all exams, have had a total of three years working on wards plus the uni experience of learning and i have the nvq level 2 health and social care wih extra credits plus GCSE english and maths at B and gcse science and history at c

They want people who will be good nurses, understand the profession they are getting into and can handle the academic requirements. I think you've demonstrated you meet all of that, judging by what you've said there. From what I've heard from friends in nursing, it's normally ward experience that is lacking, isn't it?

Good luck

[DownstairsMixUp]

Thank you all :) the university I've applied for has lots of open evenings coming home up so I think I might pop along and speak to a careers advisor. I've got two sons aged 1 and 6 so I know it will be hard but the long term I know it will be worth it. I'm wondering how long they take to reply as I've read they get a lot of applications this time of year! Resisting the urge to not sit refreshing ucas all day

[sharoncarol43]

You have very good chances. Many nursing candidates fail on the literacy and numeracy tests, or the interview.

How are you at those?

You should download all information you can about the tests and interview, and prepare thoroughly

[DownstairsMixUp]

Hi sharon yes fine with literacy, maths is one of them things I just pick up and get straight back into when I try. I remember the tests from when I got into London South Bank and passed, I've applied to Canterbury Christ church this time, do they have roughly the same sort of tests? I'll have a google of that, once I get into the swing of Maths I'm good and defintely no issues with literacy.

[hefzi]

I'm not in nursing, but we get a fair proportion of mature applicants with "non-traditional qualifications" (ie on paper, they don't have the various qualifications we expect from school leavers). For us, the important thing is that they have their Bs (at least) for GCSE Maths and English (if they are young enough to be going into the workplace on graduation, as not having these will limit their graduate job options) and have a good narrative about what they've been doing - essentially, a PS that explains everything. Passion and experience is key for us - and I would have thought more so in nursing (ours isn't a vocational or practical subject, but we need to know people understand what it is - and what it's not).

If there is not enough information to make up our minds from the application, we'll ask these applicants to do an additional task - perhaps set them an essay title - and possibly come in for an interview. Mature students tend to do really well at their studies, too.

Good Luck!

[DownstairsMixUp]

Thanks hefzi I'm trying to stay positive then! I have applied for something called an Acess course incase I don't get in so I have a back up plan but I so hope this goes through OK. UCAS still just saying "referred" though I've had an email from the actual University saying they now have received my application and to keep an eye on my tracker. If I get in to the April intake I think I might explode with happiness!

[Horsemad]

I have no experience of this, but want to say Good Luck!

[hefzi]

Have you had any news yet, Downstairs? Access is a good back up, but my fingers are crossed you'll get in straight away!

[EYDavis]

I presume this will rest on how imaginative the course selectors are. They could either see you dropping out of a previous nursing degree as a black mark or (combined with your reasons for re-applying) as putting you a step ahead of the other candidates. We need lots more good nurses and so I hope they make the right decision.

[Notsobadpharma]

I applied to Aberdeen Uni at the beginning of the year. I had some 30 year old Highers, a couple of modules from the OU that were more recent and an HND in Psychological Studies that I squeezed for all it was worth about the Biological Psychology and Human Biology in my personal statement.
Basically I didn't think I had a hope in hell.

Just finished my first term, although I do think I made a bit of a train wreck of my chemistry exam.

Best of luck!

[breward]

My best friend's DD had A levels ABBB (6A and 3As at GCSE) and was rejected from every nursing course when applying. She did not have a science A level, only psychology. However, in the July just after her last A level Anglia Ruskin (who had rejected her) released more places and she was accepted onto a course.

She was the youngest on her course and said one of only a few with A levels. Most on her course were mature students with years of experience as care assistants, or other nursing experience. Their experience certainly shone through when on placement as they knew their stents from their stoma bags whereas it was a very steep learning curve for friend's DD.

Good Luck. Nursing courses are looking for all sorts.
(Friend's DD has just graduated and is working as a community nurse now)

[chocolatespiders]

Can you not pick up your course where you left off rather than starting from the beginning.
It may also be worth looking to see if you can get a secondment from your work. We recently got an email (NHS) promoting them at work.

[DownstairsMixUp]

Hi all,

I didn't even get invited to interview, I got rejected out right. Reason was I did not have an understanding of nursing.

Very let down and sad right now but not much I can do. Can't force them to take me.

[lougle]

Oh dear. That doesn't sound right, given your experience. Could you try to get some feedback on where your personal statement let you down?

There's been a huge shift towards values based education since the Francis Report. Do you think you covered that element and showed an understanding of the importance of integrity, dignity, advocacy, etc? Or did you focus on nursing skills?

[Headofthehive55]

I think it's just very hard to get into. Try again!
Try another uni?
You haven't just got a NVQ, you have two years higher education. I wonder if you could get that acredited? If you write to you old uni they will send you a transcript of your achievements. It will be a higher level than A level but like the first year of a degree. you can use that for the ou in case you want to complete a degree. you will perhaps be one of the most qualified academically not least!

[DownstairsMixUp]

Yes I mentioned dignity, code of conduct and the six c's (care, compassion, communication, commitment, courage and competence. My old uni lecturer who was a nurse to checked my statement and provided a lovely reference so no idea what I did wrong (I applied for midwifery to and got an interview for that) I've been a bit upset this evening. I didn't expect an out right acceptance but at least an interview. I have appealed though. I'm on a student nurse forum and there's lots of people who have been accepted fresh out of college so feel a bit like my skills are nout really :-(

[DownstairsMixUp]

I have my transcript it's worth 135 points which I put on my application :( it's the only uni near me that does nursing to. I want to cry! I loved nursing and feel like I'll never get to do it.

[bojorojo]

It is a course that gets oversubscribed. What you can do is work out exactly how your qualifications ( or credits) stack up against what the university actually wants. What is a time at university but a qualification not actually completed worth? It seemed like guesswork when you posted earlier. Did they think you were a bit risky?

If you don't have what they require, then how can you get it? Is there a relevant access course you can do? Could you fit in a necessary qualification. Also, talk to Admissions. You have nothing to lose. You can maybe then find out what the problem is. I didn't know there was an appeal via UCAS.

Also, be very clear about what they want to see on a Personal Statement. Look at lots of universities' Nursing courses to glean what they might advise. It is difficult to get it right so do a bit more research. You will get there!

[Headofthehive55]

Try again next year. Keep doing your HCA work. It will be invaluable. It's a while since you did the nvq? Perhaps do some recent study? They normally like recent study in the last five years. The ou do some health and social care courses you might be interested in.

[DownstairsMixUp]

It wasn't the qualifications that were a problem, I'm guessing personal statement as it said "doesn't understand the nursing profession" that was it! Though I did have my midwifery interview with the same university last week and hear about that end of march which confuses me more! I left due to domestic violence ugh hate putting it like I'm a sad victim but it is why I left and thank god I am in a stable secure marriage now so can do it. I mean I passed two years suffering so pretty sure I can do it now.

The appeal is through the university itself not ucas. I've been talking to an old work colleague who is my age who studies occupational therapy who appealed a free out right rejection and now studies it so there could be hope. By some miracle I could even of got through my midwifery interview!

[DownstairsMixUp]

By the way I did not mention dv on anything, I thought it was tmi so put difficult circumstances and thought I could elaborate on interview which I did with my midwifery interview and they were all very lovely.

[Headofthehive55]

If your personel statement was tuned to midwifery rather than nursing that might give you that result.

Normally I think people apply to one or the other and talior their statement to match. Unis like to think of them as very different professions. Even though lots are dual qualified.