Career change- become a nurse with 2 young children no help

[useranon12]

I'm just wondering if it's do able to train to become a nurse as a single mum with 2 young children 2 and 7. I'm just working around in my head and how would I be able to work the shifts during training and long shifts when I qualify .there must be single mother nurses/studying nurses out there but how do they it when no help with childcare? I would only have childcare in nursery opening times /school and after school club. I'm considering a career change after becoming single and want to lead a more fulfilling life and make my kids super proud

It's great that you are considering nursing (I am a nurse who enjoys the job most of the time) but I am sorry that I don't see how it will work with your lack of childcare.
The problem is that as a student on placement you will be required to work whatever shifts the ward gives you, which is likely to include 13hr days, night shifts, weekends, early starts and late finishes in hospitals that might not be your closest so you have to factor in travelling time too, and these shifts will be at just a couple of weeks notice. I don't know how it would be possible to do that without very good childcare in place that is available practically 24/7. I have met students who have an arrangement agreed with the university and therefore honoured by placements that they don't work, for example, late on a Thursday because of childcare, but you wouldn't be able to only work school/ nursery hours. Even when you aren't on placement, the uni hours might be 9-5, which might be a problem depending on travelling time to uni and how early/ late wraparound care is open. Once you qualify you might be able to find a flexible enough job, but you have to get through the degree first.

What do you do atm OP?

I would advise you to look at healthcare assistant jobs at your local hospital, and see what career progression there is. For example, at my hospital, HCAs can apply for nursing associate training once they have at least a years experience. You are employed by the trust as a band 3 while you study, and spend time on placements and in your workplace, with a day a week at uni. Once you qualify you are a band 4 nursing associate. But while you are training I'm sure that they would need to offer you family friendly hours as an employee. There is also a similar apprenticeship programme for operating department practioners.

You will need childcare though of course, but if you start looking into things now for when your youngest is at school it might be a bit easier. Do you have anyone who could have them after school, or could you get a childminder?

Unless you have night time child care or care until 8 or 9 in the evening you will be scuppered.
You have to complete some night time shifts as part of training.
Once you've qualified you may be able to get a 9-5 job only but what will you do in school hols ? Or uf kids are ill ?
I would say unis are sympathetic to single parents etc and they do try to support but once on the wards it can be tricky. I have always been told 'you have to be flexible' but it seems to go one way only and I wasn't even a single mum (but had no family support). I'd put your plans on hold til they are older tbh.
As a HCA they don't need to offer anyone family friendly hours although they can sometimes offer fixed ones but very much dependent on your manager.

With the best will in the world it’s kind of impossible.
Night shifts start at 7.30, meant to end at 8am but you never get off on time. You can do up to 4 of these in a row.
You sound like you have no one to have them overnight and to get them to school/ nursery in the morning.
What about school/ nursery pick ups? Shifts don’t finish til 8-9pm
These shifts could be Saturday and Sunday back to back.
Plus uni work, plus a job as you won’t get paid for any of this, plus travel time and cost.

There will be little or no concessions for you having young kids.

It’s lovely that you want your kids to be proud, but honestly the horrific state that the nhs is in, I would not encourage anyone to become a nurse.
We are leaving by the thousands.

What about social work or something with better hours?

I honestly wouldn't recommend it. A friend is partway through, and it has been a nightmare - juggling children and studying and placements. Really tough.

Please don't. You will struggle. It's the type of training that requires a huge amount of flexibility. Working shifts at unsociable hours.

You would honestly struggle to get childcare that is flexible to this extent.

Can you consider occupational therapy or other similar careers?

With your childcare situation it just won’t work unfortunately. You need nights/out of term time covered, and the same would likely be true when you qualified too

Impossible.

Can you look at possible AHP careers such as physio, podiatry, OT etc as they work more standard hours.