Open University - Nursing

[Dream246]

So I have been accepted on the OU adult nursing degree. For background I currently work for the NHS so would go the sponsorship route.

Although, my learning and development team are quite unsure as there hasn't been anyone from my trust completed it this way before.

Its' like getting blood from a stone with getting OU to answer my questions so I wondered if anyone here has done their nursing degree via the OU?

If so could you answer the below?...

• Did you have to do placements and if so how did it work? IE did you have to arrange them yourself and/or did it outside of your normal working hours?

• My employer is asking about insurance, are you covered by OU or do you have to have your own insurance?

• Would you recommend this route? Especially as full time university is unfortunately not an option for me with 2 small children.

Thank you!!

I’m in Scotland OP so it’s a bit different but I’ll try to help, I qualified last November after 4 years training.

• all placements were arranged, you need to do placements and they were the same as brick uni students, 3 per stage, you had to do 26 hours minimum for acceptance to the course which Is the hours I did as suited kids. I was effectively seconded so I was not at my workplace for each placement but was let go for 9 weeks etc then returned to work, I was paid my usual wage whilst there
• unsure on the insurance question this wasn’t a thing or asked of me but surely if you’re already NHS you’ll be covered?
• yes and no, it was a godsend as I have 3 kids so it suited me being able to do 2 days placement and not full time and being able to study in my own time, also getting paid my usual wages. No because the support isn’t always great you’re left to it alot, I found tutorials for assignments were always too close to submission dates so I’d have started mine before being given any guidance, tutors not always easy to get if your need help with something, and you need to be REALLY motivated to keep on top of all the work much more than the brick uni had in Scotland anyway. It also completely takes over your life for the time you’re doing it and I do have guilt about it with my kids but I don’t regret it

I hope this helps a little