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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think alot of people dont see being a nursery nurse as a career?!

86 replies

stoppinchingthedummy · 30/01/2011 12:33

Hi all

I only ask as i am a nursery nurse- i love my job , i started when i was 17 unqualified and worked hard to become qualified,gained experience ,had my own children and still love the job!! However lots of people ask me if id like a career when my dc are older... I would love to become a midwife so yes i would BUT isnt being a nursery worker a career?? I would just like some views please :)

OP posts:
LadyTremaine · 30/01/2011 18:12

ahhhhhh Smile

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 30/01/2011 20:02

WOW lots of replies - im glad i havnt been home to answer them as some of them have made me a little ...um cross!! Hmm those of you who see it as a hobby for 17 year olds who live at home maybe one day you will have to see what its like to leave your children in a nursery - the little people who mean more than anything in the entire world to you and who your leaving with a fully qualified 27 year old with a lot of experience and still striving to learn everything about how to ensure the children she looks after are well balanced and feel loved a teenage school dropout who needs a hobby and anyone who treats nursery nurses as the underdog should maybe think that for all the money in the world i wouldnt leave my child with anyone who i felt it was a game too Hmm

The majority however who feel it is a career ,thank you perhaps i will just follow this and see where it takes me :)

OP posts:
gunter22 · 30/01/2011 20:15

stoppinchingthedummy, you seem to be confusing "having pride in your work" with "it's therefore a career".

my brother is a home help, he's worth his weight in gold, but that doesn't mean his choice of job is a career. he fell into it at 16 before anyone even realise he'd be well suited to it (he's always loved helping people, finds satisfaction in providing a very obvious benefit to people in need, etc).. but that doesn't mean to say it's a career Hmm

there are perfectly proud shop assistants who want to be store manager one day, you know. it doesn't mean that they have a career on the ShopFloor though Hmm

coldtits · 30/01/2011 20:30

It's not a career. It doesn't have to be a career to be a worthwile occupation. You asked the question, why are you being a dickhead about the answers?

reallytired · 30/01/2011 20:34

I suppose this thread shows the level of comtempt for childcare and prehaps the role of women in general.

Ofcourse being a nursery nurse is a career. There are loads of things a nursery nurse can do other than work in a day nursery or nannying or being a childminder.

For example some nursery nurses work with health visitors, surestart or with midwives.

There is nothing wrong with working in a day nursery, but its understandable if nursery nurses want a change after a few years. Life is what you make of it.

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 30/01/2011 20:39

No gunter im not confusing it at all , and cold tits i am not being a dickhead i am simply stating facts ...maybe next time instead of posting on here i should just google the definition if a career and see what it says Hmm may i ask what your career is coldtits? do u have precious children who attend nursery full time??

OP posts:
gibbberish · 30/01/2011 20:46

Dd1 is a level 2 nursery asst. It is what she has always wanted to do and spent a year at college completing a course in chldcare before getting her placement.

Once has completed a year at level 2 she will become a supervisor in the nursery. Her her employer is very keen for her to then be trained for a manager's position.

For dd1 it is without doubt a career.

gunter22 · 30/01/2011 20:47

right OP what is a career compared to a job?

LadyTremaine · 30/01/2011 20:48

I just re read this s as to be able to jump to your defense OP but I really don't think anyone meant to come across the way you feel they have. Some don't agree that it is technically a 'career' based on the literal definition of the word, that's all.

You sound like a very proud worker who is no doubt excellent at your job. Don't get hung up on the terminology, there are a lot of people who would give their right arm to feel happy and fulfilled in their role, just enjoy it.

coldtits · 30/01/2011 20:49

If you'd read my posts you'd know what I do for a living, it's of a similar level to your job, and my children are at school.

And you're still being a dick head.

coldtits · 30/01/2011 20:51

[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/career]]

There you go. NOw you don't have to care what anyone else thinks, you have a dictionary definition.

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 30/01/2011 20:58

coldtits i cant possible read everyones posts ...im finding it hard to remember peoples names on here it moves so fast . It isnt that some disagree about it being a career ,thats fine ,disagree away- the world would be very boring if we all agreed however some people on here and in rl seem to look down there nose at a nursery nurse - underdogs on low wages and im simply pointing out that if it was all 17 year olds who looked after our dc then perhaps there would be more people not wanting to put their dc in nursery all together - no need for personal insults Hmm

OP posts:
gunter22 · 30/01/2011 21:03

stoppinchingthedummy, but whether you're talking to someone who thinks little of a nursery nursery worker or thinks they'r angels, it's not partcilarly helpful or suble to insist that they have careers across the board though is it.

Hmm
gunter22 · 30/01/2011 21:04

and i'm someone who has 2 in childcare, so i obviously recognise their value, btw!

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 30/01/2011 21:04

Gunter - a job -the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money; "

a career - the particular occupation for which you are trained

So i maybe wont post here again and will just do what i did before i found mumsnet so as to not be called a dickhead ....

OP posts:
Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 30/01/2011 21:06

gunter-i asked what the career was didnt insist it was anything and certainly didnt throw personal insults out for no good reason!

OP posts:
KatyMac · 30/01/2011 21:10

That's not fair Stoppin' she told you on this thread at 13:03 what she did for a living - you should at least read a thread you started

mamadiva · 30/01/2011 21:13

I've been hearing this a lot recently and it has been getting me down a bit.

I am 24 and have just applied to College to get onto a 2 year course to be a nursery nurse, Ive had a few comments saying should'nt I be getting into something that I really want to do and something that pays better!

Well the fact is that I have worked in childcare since leaving school 9 years ago, I love doing it and I find it rewarding and TBH I would rather be getting paid a half decent wage in a job I enjoyed rather than slaving away in a job I hated for a fortune every month.

A career to me is something that people do each day to earn a living and hopefully enjoy, not something you have to be a big shot in.

It really does annoy me that people look down their nose at me for wanting to do this for a living when some of them sit behind a desk all day staring at a screen or with a phone stuck to their ear yet they think their career path is better.

gunter22 · 30/01/2011 21:14

Stoppin, you asked "AIBU to think alot of people dont see being a nursery nurse as a career" - generally the answer is yes. You also asked "isnt being a nursery worker a career" - the answer is no.

Whether that ties in with your own world beliefs is up to you, but don't be surprised on here when People disagree with you Hmm

It's not like anyone has said it's a worthless role - in fact I think the concensus on this MN site has been that it's an exceptionally undervalued job choice, am I wrong?

AKMD · 30/01/2011 21:16

I chose DS's nursery because I was so impressed that all the nursery nurses were in it for the long run, doing NVQs, foundation degrees, BAeDs etc. and that their work patterns were based around their education. Here are some younger nursery nurses but they are mentored by more experienced nursery workers and they all know their stuff. That said, I did the theory classes for an NVQ3 in childcare years ago when I was going to be an au pair and I wouldn't have let the major of my classmates look after my hamster, let alone a child.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 30/01/2011 21:19

Why have you spat your dummy out? No ones looking down their nose at childcare workers, still doesnt make your job any more of a career though.

You asked for people views on something, and lots of people have bothered to give you their opinion, you then cant be arsed to read the posts properly and have a go at anyone with an apposing view...

you will be missed.

nannynick · 30/01/2011 21:22

there are a lot of people who would give their right arm to feel happy and fulfilled in their role, just enjoy it.

Absolutely Smile Do something you are happy doing. Who cares what other people think. I've long stopped caring. I get to spend time outdoors most days, whilst other people are stuck in air conditioned offices. I would far rather be outdoors walking in the countryside with a toddler, than working in an office.

stoppinchingthedummy I'm not sure why you started this message thread. What are you trying to achieve? Your OP says that you want views... you've had views. So you have achieved getting peoples views... some of which you will dislike, whilst others you will agree with.

KatyMac · 30/01/2011 21:29

I'm a childminder I employ childminders & childcare assistants.

When they leave me they have gone on to:
Deputy Nursery Manager
Teacher Training
Retirement Grin
Nursery Nurse
Photography Degree
Sports degree
Running a restaurant
Set up their own business

Of the 8 9 staff I currently have all are either level 3 qualified or studying for a level 3 (I don't count my mum who does holiday/sickness cover).

I think whether it is a career or not depends upon your attitude and that of your manager.

gibbberish · 30/01/2011 22:03

'I think whether it is a career or not depends upon your attitiude and that of your manaherm'

Agree katy.

gibbberish · 30/01/2011 22:04

Oops manager haha! Stoopid phone.