Please help, if not nursing then what?

[rideordie]

I'm due to start an access course in a few weeks. Then it's onto uni next September.

My original plan was midwifery but it doesn't have as many areas to specialise in and I wanted to do it to support women, which I can do as a nurse. Plus I'm not keen on babies (although yes it's mostly 'with women')

I'm really baffled now. I know Nursing is hard work but every single person I know in nursing or midwifery feels miserable and fed up. 2 close friends have jumped ship and do something completely different. One has told me she feels like cheap labour and inferior to Doctors.

I'm panicking because this was the start of a 'career' for me, one that I considered stable. However, it's extremely costly to do and so consuming, I wonder if it'll be right.

I have a young child who I also want to spend time with for the next 3 years that I'd be studying like mad, consumed also with placements and exams, essays.

If not nursing/midwifery, then what? I want something I can have as a profession out of.

I'm tired of dead end admin jobs I wanted to make something more of myself.

Look at occupational therapy.

You can specialise in many different areas. It's just one degree so you can decide what specialism later, and you can easily change specialism.

It has better opportunity for progression compared with nursing.

Regular hours and no nights.

OT support for women postnatally being recognised but it's not yet the 'norm' in the UK but who knows about in the future.

Social work? Psychotherapy? Occupational therapy?

Re: nursing - DD in her first post-qualification year as a child nurse and absolutely loving it. Of course it's not for everyone so you are right to question potential choices now.

I’ve been a nurse for 20 years. I would really think before starting university it’s a brutal course with long unsociable hours that don’t get much better after qualifying.
Pay is terrible and there is such a lack of respect and value for nurses it breaks my heart.
Why not try a Care assistant job to get a feel for working in the area and to understand what the shift work would be like first before committing to a degree course.
On the upside there does not look like there will be an oversupply of nurses anytime soon so would have high job security.
I do like being a nurse but the poor pay and conditions mean I wouldn’t recommend it to my children.

Would definitely recommend OT. Very rewarding and a job that brings hope to people.

Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapist
Speech and Language Therapy
Radiography and Sonography
Operating Department Assistant
Dental surgery assistant
Dental Hygienist
Physician Assistant

Have you looked at the NHS careers website?

No unis near me seem to offer occupational therapy.

I wouldn't want to do any dental related work so not keen on being a dental nurse etc.

Have you thought of any of the AHP roles?

Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietitian, Audiologist, Orthoptist in particular. Great jobs, sensible hours, using your skills v much both on your own and in a team.

Pharmacy?

I'm a midwife and I love it. But if you're not 100% committed then don't even think about it as you wont last the course, let alone start a career as it's incredibly hard work and really tests your commitment.

Maybe an allied health profession: OT, physio, ODP, podiatry.

But of you want to do nursing, then that's the way you should head.

I'm just about to have an interview to start training as an operating department practitioner. Currently am a HCA and don't want to be a nurse for similar reasons others have stated - but love working for the NHS. Have spent some time in theatres and the ODP's seem to love their jobs- I can definitely see myself doing it and can't wait for the course to start!

Radiotherapy? Pharmacy Technician?

Why not do nursing then do a Botox qualification?. You’re still helping women.

The nurses and midwives that I have known have all left the profession- but I know podiatrists and pharmacists that are happy in their roles. I think pharmacy is a longer uni qualification though.

I've been a qualified nurse for 21 years. I think I may buckle the trend as I find my job pretty good.I have always worked in the community (District nurse for 15 years now a specialist role). I do 8-6 over 4 days, one weekend a month but don't have to. My trust have allowed me to have reduced part time hours when my dc were young. I earn around 45k per year do not too bad.

The role can be stressful at times but show me a job that's not. Yes the training is hard but worth it. I really think it's the speciality where you end up which can make or break you.

If you look at pharmacy- which will be an access year, 4 year degree plus pre registration year, be very careful which school of pharmacy you apply to. Some have a better sucess rate than others with getting students who pass the pre-reg. You will need to be strong at Chemistry.
Next door neighbour did Operating Dept practitioner qualification and loves it.
Podiatory could be good as well. Physio could be good as well.
Good idea above about looking at NHS website.

You really dont have to like babies to be a midwife.

Loads of areas to specialize in - high risk labour ward, diabetes specialist, mental health, drug and alcohol, domestic abuse, safeguarding, community.

I absolutely love nursing. I've just returned to the wards after a 5 year career break.

If shifts are a problem then how about community nursing, practice nursing, aesthetics etc?

The 3 year pre-reg course is tough though and will completely take over your life.

slave You say course, do you not mean university course?

I've been looking online about ODP's and it really interests me. Have to say though, seems the only entry route is a 3 year uni course?

I chose speech and language therapy partially because of the preferable working patterns (although if you specialise in neuro, that is changing in some Trusts with some weekend working required). I quite like the autonomy and there is fair bit of scope for term time working if necessary.

I'm a nurse, qualified for 12 years now and I love it. Yes I'd like more money but my hours are flexible and there are so many roles with differing shift patterns. I have great job satisfaction. The training is hard and relentless so you'd need to be sure it's what you want and be 100% committed. Getting some experience as a HCA is good advice.

I don’t understand the “help women” bit. Surely you can help women in ANY career? Why does it have to be focussed on health or babies?

I really don't recommend nursing. I find my job bearable, but I am quite senior now. Junior nurses get a really tough ride at the moment.

I would consider:
Occupational therapy
Speech and language therapist
ODP
Radiography
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Advocacy
A therapy qualification like music therapy, drama therapy, play therapy etc.

I'm not really sure how being a nurse involves supporting women? It's more about helping people in general surely?

How old is your DC? Having seen friends and family go through nursing, midwifery and physio degrees, I don't think any are particularly practical with a young child who you want to spend a lot of time with. It is a lot of work, with placements etc. Then there it is hard work again to progress in your career.

I'm not really sure how being a nurse involves supporting women? It's more about helping people in general surely?

Well you can specialise in women’s health/gynae once qualified. That’s helping women.

Have you considered law? It’s a very easy degree to do with kids.