Can’t decide whether to do nursing, social work or OT

[K37529]

I’m planning on applying to do a degree in September and I’m torn between nursing, social work and occupational therapy. Anyone in these jobs could you give me the pros and cons of the roles? How heavy’s the coursework? I have 3 young children my youngest will be 2 when I would start and one thing im worried about is having time to getting my uni work done, could I realistically do it? Any advice much appreciated!

Its a humanitees degree but you are also pulling a lot of things together and learning to think about clients in the round. You need to be able to do the practical bit on placement, if you can do that likely the academic bit will come together.

I’m an OT, I love it too although struggling with working in the NHS and strongly considering going private. I would agree it’s less stressful than SW or nursing and typically 8 - 4 (but increasingly contracts are 7 day working) don’t make the mistake or thinking it’s stress free or easy though! All three degrees are probably quite similar in terms of time but I’m sure nurses spend a lot more time on placement than therapists and often do shifts as students whilst mine were all Monday - Friday.

Working in the wards is dire...but you can go straight to the community ... ..the band 5 nurses in my team are 9 to 5 Monday to Friday

None all poorly paid female dominated roles.

Community is dire too. 9-5 roles are vanishingly rare - it’s all going 7day 8-8 service now.

OP if you have to do a caring degree go for OT . It gives you the best option of getting out when you’ve had enough.

I’ve been a nurse for 23 years. It’s fucking dreadful. Wouldn’t touch social work in a million years, it’s impossible in this climate to make any meaningful change to people’s lives. OT is your best option by far.
the degree will be fine. Academia has been so dumbed down since fees were implemented, you’ll walk it.

You need to put a lot in but I wouldn't call it difficult no. Particularly as you have studied at degree level before. I certainly noticed a difference between 1st and second year, but I just utilised any support available (extra tutorials, tutors checking a portion of work prior to submission, using the study sessions to study etc etc). The placements were the best part obviously as that's what we were all there for ultimately. I didn't actually want to go to uni, but the apprenticeship route wasn't an option then. I'm glad I did ultimately! Remember the uni don't want their students to fail so should support you if you did find yourself struggling for any reason. Good luck, it's a great choice and there are so many areas it can take you. It's not perfect, nothing is. But as I said, I love it 😀

I'm 0to 19service...no plans to go 7 days ...lots of Saturday overtime but all contracts are Monday to Friday 9 to 5 ( 5 4 or 3 days) ....working from home encouraged outside of home/school visiting..... lots of training opportunities

Not worked I'm either area but can say after searching and failing to find an OT for my DD with SEN therapist a real shortage of Occupational Therapists!
Also with OT you won't be working Bank holidays or nights and potentially can be self employed.

OT!!! Nursing gets the crap parts of the care process, don't know about social work.

I'm a second year OT student. I have a previous degree and 20 years experience of working in the NHS. OT all the way, much admiration for nurses and social workers but OT has so many more options and is easier to move up the pay bands. Happy to answer any questions.

how are you defining poorly paid?

I actually prefer shift work doing 3 long days and I'm done. Not an option with OT. Depends how you like working. There's definitely more nursing jobs out there than OT positions 43,000 Vs 5,000 for OT. placement hours are much shorter in OT you need 2300 hours to qualify as a nurse. It's only 1000 for OT I wouldn't say it's easier to go up the bandings Vs nursing it depends what kind of nursing you do , the more specialist nursing goes up there's also a lot of options in the private sector.

I’m a SW, working in a Learning Disability team. My hours are 9-5, but at least 2 days a week it’s more like 8-7. I choose to do those hours though to keep up with the paperwork.

Also, teams now are not purely for elderly clients. You often get a mixed client group of physical disability, Preparation for Adulthood and older people. So the age range is 16-100.

I love what I do, but it is hard, mentally you need to be resilient. Don’t think that older people is the easy option as that comes with it’s own set of issues.

I’m currently a student nurse …. The placements are extremely gruelling. I have a 5 year old and due to have a baby in a few months. Had to take early leave as the health and safety isn’t in place for a preg nursing student and also physically can not commit to 4 , 12 hour shifts a week for the nursing placement.
I am doing mental health nursing to lead to hopefully schools but student nurses are treated horribly and nurses are treated like shit . What I have come to discover
im sure OT and SW degrees now have placements as well so you would need to check this out

Thank you everyone! I’m definitely swaying towards OT after reading all your comments.

I'm currently studying to be an OT after working as an OT assistant for a decade and knew early on in the job that it was what I wanted to do. I spent several years as a ward nurse and ended up hating it, stress was unreal. My neighbour has been a social worker for 30 years, he retires in January and can't wait as he has grown to detest it.

I love my nursing job, but I'm very lucky that I went straight into General Practice in a really lovely small team and am not over worked or under pressure (not the same in all practices, but generally much better than wards). I wouldn't be a ward nurse, it isn't my thing. I like working mostly 1 to 1 with patients and in clearly defined, task based clinics. I have time to build relationships and trust with patients. Also, I work 8:30-5:30 and no bank Holidays! Though sometimes would rather 3 long days instead.
Nursing does have a huge range of roles though, I believe there's something for everyone.

The degree isn't hard, but that does depend on your academic competence. I'm one of those annoying people who don't really need to put much effort in and will still pass (just not with high grades, but all you need is a pass!). The hard part is placements as you have no control over where they are and what the shifts are and some are 12 weeks long now. Placements vary a lot and some places are more supportive than others. I've had friends/colleagues/students who have had awful experiences, I was very lucky with mine.

Social Work, I only ever hear bad things but that will only get worse if fewer people go into it! You'd have to really, really want to though.

OT I'm not very familiar with as never worked with any really, but from PP it sounds good.

OT!

My husband is on a nursing degree. Coursework part and lectures are fine. 12 hour hospital shifts are tough because he's no control over when or what days they are when he's on placement and he has no break over school holidays at all.
It will all be worth it!

I think pay is similar for all those roles when you first start. I'm not on AfC as most general practice staff are employed outside the NHS (though still get the pension) so I had to negotiate my salary. I started on £27k as had no skills (GP nurses have to do a lot of extra training) and now on £36k after 3 years.
Band 5 AfC starts at £27.5k now and £29k after 2 years. So not amazing salaries for the work needed (as PP said, it's traditional low paid female domain!) but better than care work which is also hard and stressful.

I’m an OT student and work as an OT Technician. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done - love it. Mostly family friendly. Pm me if you like.

Difficult! My MIL is a nurse and whilst she loves it, shifts are hard work, NHS is in dire straits and the stress is making her sick. Although I believe she makes a real difference to those around her.

I've been a Social Worker (cla/Cp) it's bloody hard work. Tiring. Often doesn't end on time. Although fairly decent flexibility atm (when you actually get the time to do it!) as they struggle to recruit. Okay pay, can be good pay depending on level and which teams. Know a few adult MH social workers and they love it. Finish on time and it's good pay and training.

I know OTs also and they seem chilled, fairly neutral role in public eye, can be quite good pay and a variety of roles

Do you need a degree. My council is doing sw apprenticeships. Prosthetics might be worth a look if you are interested in ot but only a couple of unis do it.

OT here. When I graduated there was fierce competition for jobs. I ended up in a social work focused job in the third sector. I now work for the NHS in mental health and wish I had done this sooner. My team are fab. I am really well supported. The case load is manageable compared to my previous role and I work an 8 til 4 9 til 5 role. OT is so varied too. I would say OT definitely