I'm a newly qualified nurse at 52

[DeeDimer]

I thought I'd start this thread to help anyone who is thinking of a major career change slightly later than most.

@DeeDimer

I thought I'd start this thread to help anyone who is thinking of a major career change slightly later than most.

Congratulations! I am hoping to start retraining to be a teacher soon - will be 50 in January

Just wanted to say well done you it’s an intense course and ‘mature’ student nurses often make the best nurses. Good luck with your future! Where is your first job?

I've got a job in an assessment unit but my heart is in A&E. I just felt it wasn't appropriate as a newly qualified.

Oh wow. I think if I’d gone into nursing earlier in life I’d have loved A and E and probably had aspirations to become an ANP. But now in my forties (will be 44 when qualified 🤞🏻) I think my skills are more in depth than speed but I haven’t a clue what speciality to work in- I’d love to become a CNS eventually if I can find where I fit best. Love wards and hospital settings over community or clinics.

Oh ummm questions @DeeDimer what was your biggest challenge? And what topic do you think I should look at for my dissertation!?! I’m stuck.

Wow! That's so cool!

What made you want to become a nurse? I work with a lot of student nurses and I think they're lovely, lovely people, but they are generally under 30. What did you do before your training?

Can you talk a bit about finances and funding etc? I'm 46 and thinking about retraining to be an NHS dietician but no idea where to start apart from I need to go back to uni.

I'm 36 and considering it. I'm currently an HCA on a hospital ward. I've never struggled academically, but I don't think I could afford to take years out of work and accumulate so much debt so I'm looking at the nursing associate route.

Ohh questions!! Thank you!
Funding- I'm in Wales so we get a bursary (not much) and the basic maintenance loan (£3k a year), but Wales NHS pay the uni fees as long as we commit to working for 2 years for them.
Career- incredibly varied but lastly as a 3rd sector manager. I've also got a degree from many years ago.
Thesis- if I could do it all again I'd have simplified every assignment and my dissertation. So probably something like Sepsis. Not exciting but loads written about it.

Want to do this but would have to do it part-time. Am also in Wales, would that affect funding?

Also I have two degrees but no science a-levels, would I need to go and do an access course or take new a-levels?

Well done you! By the way, when you get into it, sepsis is very exciting. It's like a perfect storm.

The assessment unit is a great first job - you could go to A&E or ICU from there, easily.

In Wales (and England I believe) previous degrees are disregarded for nursing although you always get rejected at first and have to appeal.
I'm not sure if you can do nursing part time. I've had to work as a bank HCSW all the way through, often doing 60 hours plus. Too much but needs must.
I won't lie it hasn't been easy but I'm so glad I've done it.

I’d like to be a nurse,I can’t afford to give up my job sadly.

What a wonderful thing to do and well done OP!

Firstly well done! I personally find it encouraging as I contemplate a change in my 40s. Do you regret not training earlier? Also, do people presume you are more experienced/senior due to your age? Thanks for starting this.

What was your favourite placement during the course?

Congratulations OP. I sometimes think I'd like to retrain as a nurse. Are you able to manage on the new salary? That's what stops me... I like my job but ready for a change.

What characteristics do you need to have to be a nurse would you say?

And was the training difficult? I worry I wouldn't be clever enough...

Congratulations, my background is A and E and my heart is still there.
For those thinking of going into Nursing , I have done it for 30 years and I still love it. We need Nurses from all backgrounds, new Grads and those with life experience, to the HCA who is thinking of it - go for it!
I did the admissions test when I applied- no A levels and only 4 GCSEs- I now have a Masters Degree.
As a Senior Sister a junior nurse told me that those who got in by an admissions test were thick - I laughed. Good luck.

I don't regret not doing it earlier as I think my life experiences as a patient, a Carer and a patient's mother, wife and daughter has helped make me more empathetic and given me courage. I do wish I didn't ache as much though!!
My favourite placement was gastro. I loved the huge range of individuals and conditions and that many came in acutely sick but made a good recovery.
I honestly think (and this is as a naive newly qualified mind) the biggest skills are kindness and an enquiring mind. There are obviously others but I think those are mine.
The money isn't great but I can always pick up bank or agency shifts. I have a stupidly high work ethic (my parents!!) which drives me.

Thank you for posting.
Can I train to be a nurse with two children of primary school age? What are the hours? Would I have a work/life balance? Should I train to be a HCA
first?
How often does it become too emotionally over whelming?

Congratulations! I did my return to practice a couple of years ago... it has taken a long time to find my ideal job but I’m finally there and now so, so glad I did it. Good luck going forward

I'm considering doing an access course next year then off to uni to do nursing and I'm 54 !

Wow, congratulations OP! One of my friends retrained as a nurse in her late 30’s, she’s now mid-40’s and absolutely loves it, despite the stresses of the pandemic.

@MumofSpud. I’m also considering retraining as a teacher ( I’m 46). I’m on the US so totally different system but I’m curious to know what’s drawn you to teaching-how do you know that it’s the right move for you? Have you previously worked with children? Are you interested in primary or secondary? My work to date hasn’t involved children, although I’ve done some volunteering and I seem to be able to relate well to teenagers! Any advice welcome!

Well done! That's fantastic.
I qualified as a radiographer last year. Definitely more mature students on the course than 18 year olds.

Night shifts: I can't imagine how I would cope with working through the night without making myself ill, how did you cope with working nights when studying and family/home responsibilities?

So pleased for you!
I was a registered nurse all my working life, since I qualified at 21 till I retired in my early 60s.
I will not say I was sad to retire as I was totally worn out by then.The plus side were the many patients I had helped care for and the friends I made.We had some good laughs.
When I qualified it was the old SRN title.There were hardly any mature students, the oldest in my trading school group was 25 I thought that was really old.
Good luck for your future.