To think the NHS should put an age limit on who they train?

[Babaj]

FIL decided when he was 45 that he was finished with his job (it wasn't a great job, the hours were quite long but the pay was average). So he decided that he wanted to become a nurse and retrained. He recently graduated (aged 51 and now has no job to go into!)
I feel he chose nursing as the NHS pays course fees and he was given grants and therefore basically didn't work for a few years (had to do some volunteering/low paid work in the hospital as he had zilch experience - hence why it took so long!).

AIBU to think that there comes a time when you've got to accept that you missed the point in your life where education was availabe and if you want to change your life for the better - working hard is the way to do it, not starting something new all together? Especially at the expense of the NHS or government supporting you, since it is much more economically viable for that training to go to a young student who will in return give a much longer service to the NHS?

I'm not drip feeding, people are asking me questions...

I'm not saying they should give us money, my mum and dad set up a savings accout for DS as a gift from them for when he's older because they can financially afford it and want to help their grandson. PIL wish they could to but cant afford it.

Nursing is probably one of those professions where it is an advantage to be older.
I've been qualified (podiatrist) for 23 years. I often wish I'd done it later, it's somehow 'easier' to be older IYSWIM ( but physically more difficult).

YABU. Nursing degrees may be funded, but they're fecking difficult compared to some non-funded courses, and - especially considering it's taken him 6 years - to presume he did it only because it was paid for is downright

Open your own bank account for your own kid and stop being such a horrible DIL

I have heard it all now. Someone being jealous and feeling someone is entitled because they have trained as a nurse!

He didnt give up work to have a go at the X Factor.

A nursing course isn't just a case of sitting on your bum for 3 years whilst getting grants and attending a few hours of lectures a week! It's basically full time shifts on a ward and in the community with lots of coursework and exams.

YABVVVVU and disrespectful to anyone who is a student nurse

Many nursing agencies are not recruiting at the moment. Most posts are advertised for internal candidates only. And I'd say you earn your bursary back during training, the ward work is full shift rotation and can be gruelling.

Good for him taking a porters job. He'll get to know staff and subsequently find out if/when there are suitable posts coming up.

Our mature students are consistently hard working, interested and driven.

Yabu.

You are drip feeding because the key info was about providing for your son - this seems to be the main reason that you don't like what your FIL has done.

@ X Factor.

And

Congratulations to you FIL for completing a physically, emotionally and academically demanding qualification. As pointed out upthread, there is little difference between the degree and diploma, aside from the dissertation and having to write at a slightly higher level for written work - the ward work would have been the same. And no one completes a nursing course to "get out of doing any work for a few years" - it's hard work for little pay! And the reason that he cannot find a nursing post will be because a lot of hospitals are in the middle of a recruitment freeze - believe me, those of us on the wards would love to have more staff!

And my parents and my PILs failed to give me a handout when dd was born, which they could have afforded, how unreasonable of them . Maybe I should come and criticise them on the internet, selfish swines!

I didn't know about this compulsory 'You've sprogged a Grandchild' handout. Need to have a word with my parents and PILs. Can I use the word 'entitled' for buzzword bingo?

wow Babaj you are a bit nuts aren't you. Surely it is PIL's issue if they have spent all the grandchildren fund on nonsense like education and training

See instead of moaning about your FIL, why don't you actually look on the web and help find vacancies for him!

There are still nursing agencies recruiting, which would help towards the hours required for his registration. There are care homes that still look for staff ,either bank or full time and would give him experience.

And I happily supported DH by taking a second job while he studied, while he did banking as a care assistant at weekends.

Seems to be you are just moaning cos your PIL's cannot contribute towards your child. Selfish-MUCH???????

Oh my goodness with each post you becoming more unreasonable.

The fact that so many people have disagreed with you should tell you something...

So your FIL has finished his course and is now working as a porter , good for him , porters are the eyes and ears of any hospital and he will be able to find out about jobs in all areas before they are even advertised .

What a vile and truly horrible post.

YABU -VERY.

I don't even know how you could come up with this?

I've read more of this thread now and OP you sound incredibly selfish and spoilt.

And as for the "younger students should get the training places" argument, I know of plenty of young people that did nursing training at aged 18 or so only to never pursue nursing as a career or to drop out halfway through the course. Every single person I know that has done nursing at an older age (one friend started her course aged 44, another aged 49, and I know several in their late twenties and early thirties) has completed their course, given it their all, throughly enjoyed it and then gone on to be a competent hard-working medical professional.

Bog off and grow up.

So he's 51 and will probably work for what, 16 years? Maybe 20 if he is healthy given what's happening with retirement ages.

I bet there's more than a few graduates in nursing and other courses who have kids after a few years and don't go back to work for a long time, maybe never return to their intended careers who get trained using public money and only pay it back with 15-20 years work. Do they all piss you off too?

Do you think a young school leaver who has never looked after anyone (prob not even themsleves) in their lives will be a better nurse?

Older candidates often have more patience, compassion, understanding, etc.

Hurrah for your fil. He's trained for a very rewarding career, his wife has been a tremendous support for him and he's a role model for your family and children because life and aspiration doesn't end at 40 or 50. I'm full of admiration and so should you be, op.

Your FIL has done an awesome thing. Your DCs will be lucky to have him.

YABVU.

As a nurse myself I always welcome the more mature students into the profession. I truly believe that if you decide to retrain later on in life that nursing must be something you really really want to do. It will not only be your MIL that has slogged her guts out the last 3 yrs, the nursing course is not exactly a walk in the park. You clearly hold a very low regard for nurses otherwise you would appreciate the value of anyone deciding to enter the profession. I really hope your FIL finds a job soon.

Oh and by the way the fact that he is doing a low paid job as a porter makes me respect him even more. A good porter is a godsend in our hospital...and it's not all pushing beds there are some more challenging and darker sides to the job too.

oh dear