To ask for advice on which degree to take?

[GeorgieBubbleBoo]

I'm a mature student, for current (but temporary, fingers crossed) health reasons and a small child I care for alone until DH returns from overseas, I cannot currently work so I was therefore thinking it would be worth restarting my education with a home based learning program such as the OU.

Ideally I would like a career in MH nursing. But I don't think there is a route to nursing which is home based and part time? I know I'd need placements and in a year or 2 hopefully be in a position to do this, but not yet.

The OU nursing degree is employer funded so that rules it out.

A local college does Access to nursing and midwifery part time with the closing date for the course just gone, but there are distance learning access courses - but would any London universities likely offer a nursing degree on completion of this as a part time study? (cant move to be nearer other uni's)

IF it's not possible due to circumstances for me to enter nursing.(I'll only have 20ish years left of working until retirement so can't really afford to hang about)....

Are the Open degrees worth anything towards a career in a healthcare setting? Has anyone found an Open degree with the OU useful? They're very popular so I assume so, but don't know anyone in RL who has done one... Can you then go on to do postgrad studies that would qualify you in a career within mental health?

There are 2 other degrees that would keep my interest with the OU so would be interested to know if anyone has them and found them useful for employment. They are either the Health Sciences degree or the Psychology and Criminology degree...

Can you become a registered nurse as a postgrad option these days?

I thought that had finished now, and you have to do the nursing degree specifically to allow you to register with the NMC?

Good to know, SadoldGit (great username btw!)

this is one post grad option (in London)

Not sure if you already have degree or are planning post grad after OU

www.city.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/mental-health-nursing-postgraduate-diploma

Yes I just looked part time you have to be in employment to get on the courses in the first place, it's just so you can continue working (not so you can do it around young kids)

I guess id have to figure out childcare for a full time course...

So full time

Yes you can train as a nurse in shorter time,I think it's 2yrs .loads places do it
So if you already have degree no need to do access course.but would need to demonstrate interest/experience

No I don't have any degree yet... Was wondering earlier if could become registered nurse having degree in psychology and doing postgrad study but think the answer is that I need the specific nursing degree to become an RMN

I don't know about funding for access courses but as Mrsstarlord says the fees for nursing degrees are paid for you. Of course you still have to think about how you are going to support yourself while studying. That's the part that is worrying me a little as I don't have a partner who can support me.

The courses I have been looking at you spend about half the time on placement and have to be prepared to do shifts and you don't get the long university holidays. At the open days I went on they emphasised how it was important that you were committed to nursing and could convince the admissions tutors of that on your application and at interview.

I think if its something you want to do then go for it. But do check with the universities you want to apply to because it may be you have enough qualifications already and if you don't they will be able to advise on the sort of courses you could take.

You really need to nail your childcare,and factor in shift working,and travel
And of course resolve any health issues as you'll need health clearance for course

Ah that's interesting scottishmummy I will have to look into that as it sounds ideal if possible, at least would be my first choice for how to do things

Fees for OU have stunned me (can't remember being that much, but bad memory) that wondering if it's worth the expense and loan (if I can do nursing without acquiring such debt)

There are additional funds available to help with child care costs on full time courses as well.
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/816.aspx

Have you shadowed or worked in a mental health card setting,get realistic overview

The way the OU is funded has changed. I think its related to the introduction of student fees for traditional universities. I did my degree through the OU but if I started it again now it would cost me at least twice as much.

Sorry yes, I don't think access course is funded... But that's more manageable than OU module fees.

Childcare will be a nightmare for me for a little while so couldn't so a full time course for prob a few years...

Health clearance worries me... I have a crap track record... And also have had MH issues myself due to my health problems but had assumed (perhaps mistakenly?) that this would be to my advantage for a career in this field? Empathy and all that?

Thanks for that Spartak!

Ah, that explains it Poppy

Yes scottishmummy I worked as a support worker for clients with MH issues attending hospital appts etc, plus personal experience with local MH team myself when I had depression relating to my own health issues, and also on ongoing basis with close family member of psychiatric hospitals...

Health clearance is your ability to undertake course.You need to be physically and mentally fit
Of course empathy goes long way,in a caring profession.As does academic aptitude,and health clearance
Good luck with your ambitions, start to plan how you'll accommodate childcare

Your best bet tbh for information is to ring admissions at the universities you are considering as admissions will vary slightly from uni to uni. Some places do a 2 year masters but each will have their own requirements as to what degrees qualify you for that course. Depending on your previous study, A-levels etc you might not have to do access (I'm a student MW and didn't do access) but requirements for recent study will again be different from uni to uni.

Lots of universities run taster days which might be good to go to to talk to current students and also have a chat with lecturers. If you contact the universities you should be able to get good guidance regarding your own concerns about your previous mental health problems, it certainly shouyld not rule you out but it might be helpful for you to know what support is available.

You won't have fees and can get an NHS bursary as well as basic student loan.

It is childcare costs that are the killer for me.

Yes I think I will have lots of phone calls to make come Tuesday! Trust me to choose a Sunday of a bank holiday to try to figure this out!

It's exciting though,making plans and checking stuff out

Certainly is!!!

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but I know someone doing an adult/mental health nursing MSc at University of West of Scotland. They didn't do the last year of their undergrad (social policy) degree, so its not an honours degree, but got accepted onto the Masters course without it. A bursary is paid too.

DISCLAIMER: I've no idea if it's considered a "good quality" course or not, or if it matters?

But could that be an option? Do two years of a social science degree at an English uni (or OU) then transfer onto a Mental Health Nursing MSc in 2 years where your circumstances may allow you to do placements?

Feel free to ignore me.

Honestly -if you haven't got a degree already I would really recommended the access route. You can do it part time over 2 years - that said my daughter did the "full time" course - but was only in college for 2 days a week - so was able to juggle working full time shifts as well - however the course can be demanding - academic deadlines etc so might be easier (with all your commitments) over the 2 year route.

Whilst you can do the 2 year postgrad/accelerated route - in my experience the 2 year course are the full time ones crammed into 2 years ie just as much academic and placement as 3 year course so in reality even less time off, so I would recommend the 3 year route which might be less demanding time wise - for example when I was in uni I never had to be in for more than 3 days a week - with self directed study at a time to suit me for other days - placements tended to be 30/37.5 hours a week - but again sometimes the flexibility of long days (which are tiring but also give more days off).

scottishmummy has said the crux of it - you need robust childcare that can accommodate your shift patterns - depending on where you are and your mentors - some may let you self roster but a vast majority don't, on the whole you are expected to work your mentor's shifts - and if their off duty is not done until the last minute (I still don't have mine after the 15th of September) then yours might be done afterwards to fit students with mentors - so very last minute.

Regarding Occ Health - yes you have to be up to the physical and mental demands of the job - having previously had MH issues is not in itself a problem so long as Occ Health think it won't compromise your ability to do the job.

good luck

Haha yes off duty. Mine are starting with a new childminder in Sept and I've not been able to give her my hours yet as I don't have them for the 1st sept.

good luck with it all!

Thanks, that's actually a v helpful summary!

Thanks, I know a childminder who would be fine (family friend) but she's a distance for buses (though right near the uni I would aim for) so think driving lessons and access course will be my first step probably