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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

I have a disability- will nursing degree be made accessible for me?

31 replies

Theyneverknow · 15/02/2026 12:07

I’m interested in undertaking a nursing degree. (I’m early 30s with 2 children in school)

I have an autoimmune disease and am under consultant care. This is fairly stable but I do get flare ups every few years.

I find that over exertion and stress as well as viral illness can trigger my condition.

I think that I would make an excellent nurse. I already work in healthcare and have a BSc as an Allied Health professional. However currently I work at the hospital part time and this works well for me.

I am worried that the student placement hours (12 hour shifts 3-4 days per week) 40 hour work weeks etc could trigger my auto immune disease flare.

Has anyone else dealt with similar? Has your university been able to make a reasonable adjustment? For example part time placement hours would work well. I would cope fine full time theory/ university. But being on my feel 40 hours per week for weeks on end concerns me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theyneverknow · 15/02/2026 13:28

As I’m a qualified HCP, I’m able to do the accelerated degree (which has less clinical hours and less theory 1800clinical and 1800 hours theory). So it seems a shame to not take that opportunity.

(As the part time courses are 4 years long with 4600 clinical+ theory total. Same as the 3 year full time course)

OP posts:
Gnomer · 15/02/2026 12:45

Lots of unis seem to offer a part time nursing degree, maybe that would be an option? I doubt that you'd be able to do a full time course with part time clinical hours because how would you fit them in around the uni work? I'd assume the placements would only be set up to be done full time.

Original poster
Theyneverknow · 15/02/2026 12:24

EvangelineTheNightStar · 15/02/2026 12:22

Agree with @BeGentleMentor have you asked any of your colleagues in nursing if this would be feasible?

It would be the university that decides. So I was wondering if any other nursing students have been in the same position as myself.

Nursing itself- very varied and part time roles are available. So the career itself would suit me, just not 40 hour weeks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theyneverknow · 15/02/2026 12:22

That would work well for me and is what I am hoping for.

I know that I will need to undertake the clinical hours (1800 clinical hours) and I am curious if other students have been in the same boat as me, and have been able to do the placements part time, over a longer time.

OP posts:
EvangelineTheNightStar · 15/02/2026 12:22

Agree with @BeGentleMentor have you asked any of your colleagues in nursing if this would be feasible?

BeGentleMentor · 15/02/2026 12:19

You could try but it would likely mean doing part-time hours but a longer course because you'll have to do the same number of clinical hours as everyone else to qualify.