What do I need to become a nurse or midwife?

[Clumsymumsy22]

Hi, I would love to become a nurse or midwife. I have previously been accepted on an undergraduate nursing course, but I felt like I'd be putting starting a family on hold, and I'd just finished university and wanted to earn some money. This was 3 years ago and I would still love to do it.

I am a qualified social worker, and I got into university by doing an access course, but now my heart is not in it. I got DD for science GCSEs and don't have a levels.

What do I need to do if I were to apply for either an adult nursing or midwifery course?

Thanks

[Clumsymumsy22]

I mean, what do I need to do in order to get accepted to uni

[titchy]

Another Access course I'd have thought. Why don't you contact the universities direct and find out the definitive answer.

You'll be paying fees by the way - you wouldn't have if you'd done it three years ago...

[bojorojo]

Why don't you look up routes into nursing but most nurses are degree holders who qualify now. I would have thought your science GCSEs are not good enough as they are not passes as such. You should look at what science is needed and get the relevant qualifications because they have more applicants than places although this may change as bursaries have gone. Midwives are nurses with additional midwifery training I believe.

[NinaMarieP]

Some midwives may have done a conversation course from nursing but midwifery is also a separate degree as AFAIK many if not most midwives just go straight into midwifery.

When I applied for nursing (several years ago and in Scotland) the minimum was a few highers (GCSE) equivalent. But as with everything I think requirements are getting tighter. You might find your social work degree may be enough but every institution will have its own requirements for applicants.

[AlletrixLeStrange]

Every university has different entry requirements - I'm a midwifery applicant and I will tell you now I have 10 A/A* GCSE's A levels plus an Access to Health Diploma, plus have worked in healthcare for the past 3 years, including hospital Theatres and I'm on my 3rd application cycle for midwifery. It's just too competitive.

[AlletrixLeStrange]

For example, one of the unis I apply to wants 45 credits from the Access course, 15 credits must be in Biology at Distinction grade plus another 15 at Distinction grade but another uni just wants the 15 Biology at Merit grade plus another 15 at Merit grade.

[AlletrixLeStrange]

Sorry to post again
You need to apply for the postgraduate version of the course not the undergraduate and find the entry requirements for that one.

[LostMyDotBrain]

I'm a student nurse. I did it with an Access to Nursing course that I did by distance learning. I also had to prove my English, Maths and Science GCSE grades. I'm not sure most unis would accept a D grade so you might need to re-do that. I also did a year doing 2 relevant volunteering roles. Despite the introduction of fees, there aren't actually an abundance of nursing places as there aren't enough mentors to increase the size of the intakes. It's quite competitive.

[LostMyDotBrain]

Ah yes, and Access grades generally need to be really good. The minimum accepted at the unis I applied for was 60 credits, 45 of them graded. Of the graded credits, 30 had to be distinction and the rest had to be merits as a minimum. No passes. And I think for other Access courses there was a minimum requirement for how many of those credits were from relevant subjects.

[Clumsymumsy22]

I know id need to improve my science, but didn't know if I could just do a GCSE or if I need it at level 3?

[Clumsymumsy22]

And allergic that sounds like a nightmare! You seem dedicated to doing it though so I'm sure it will work eventually!

[Clumsymumsy22]

Alletrix** typo!

[RebornSlippy]

Can't advise on the qualifications required as I'm not in UK, but just pointing out (the perhaps obvious) that nursing and midwifery are very, very different roles. You should definitely spend some time considering why you're attracted to each career and which you can realistically see yourself doing and enjoying. Best of luck!

[LostMyDotBrain]

IME the GCSE was enough but 15 of my credits were in human biology so I'm not sure if that negated the need for anything higher. I don't think it would have.