to hope that 48 isn't too old to retrain into a different career?

[cattypussclaw]

That's it, really. Been a SAHM for nine years and want to return to work (don't need to, want to) but not into the same job before. I really want to get into nursing. Any training will be self-funded, no state help expected. Is 48 too late? Any thoughts?

Hope not. I'm 45 and applying to do a social work degree - will be 48 when I qualify. Think there's more erm mature people needed in health/social care professions. Go for it. x

Here you go OP

nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/mentalhealthnurse.aspx

Lots of places offer MH Nursing degree

www.whatuni.com/degrees/courses/degree-courses/mental-health-nursing-degree-courses-united-kingdom/m/united+kingdom/r/8914/page.html

Suggest you find out the ones in your local area and contact them - many will be flexible re entry requirements for mature students since yiu hve vluable life skills to offer.

Good luck!

You're all bloody brilliant, thank you. For the links and for the positive stories. Quite excited now! Really looking forward to getting back out there again.

Thank you all so much xx

PS. To think I've been dithering about posting about this in case I got shot down!

Not it's not too old at all. Plenty of nursing students are in their forties and some in their fifties. You've got to work until you're 67 these days.

I'm mid-late forties and worked as an HCA for 5 years. I would say try and get some experience in the field you're interested in. See if they'll let you come in as a carer part-time or for bank shifts.

One of the reasons I didn't end up training was that I started getting slipped discs in my back. It can be a very physical job so I'd bear that in mind but there again it's possibly more physical for the HCAs than the nurses.

There are other health related jobs that aren't quite so strenuous. I was looking at occupational therapy for a while. You can work part-time as an assistant and study part-time.

Another one I was interested in was ODP (Operating Dept Practitioner). It's only a two year course and I don't know if it's still the case but it required no A levels and had an NHS bursary covering fees when I was looking.

You can see the availability of jobs in your area by looking at the NHS jobs website. There are a few you may never have heard of that might appeal to you - well that's what I found anyway.

But you're definitely not too old. Lots of people are doing it.

A colleague of mine qualified as a Staff Nurse when she was 50; & I now know of several people doing their training in their late 40s / early 50s.

I started my 3 year training in 2001 & did the Advanced Diploma in Adult Nursing for which I got a Bursary.

Most of the student nurses I meet now are on the degree course but I think you can still do the Advanced Diploma with a Bursary.

But think about it really deeply - nursing is not always the best job if you have or have had MH problems; it's so stressful that you really need to be in a good place mentally to cope with it & not be too vulnerable.
I'm speaking from experience - I developed Depressive disorder with Psychosis & am now working as an HCA. I'm hoping to go back to be a Staff Nurse soon but only part time.
However I'm aware that PND is very different from most MH problems.

You can do MH Nursing straight away instead of Adult Nursing as a poster above has said.

And despite what I've said about the stress of the job - yes it's frustrating, tiring, stressful with bullying & politics like most jobs etc etc but nursing is also enjoyable, never boring, with lots of opportunities, lots of new people to meet, fast paced & actually can be fun. That's why despite everything, I'm going back to it!

Catty, thanks, you've inspired me to think about doing the same thing! I've ordered a prospectus from the local college with a MH course. Yes, check with them about whether your BTEC qualifications will meet their requirements and if not, whether you can find short courses to do before September and apply this year, or do similar for next year. Only the people running the course will be able to answer that for each course. As others have aaid, tgey will want you to do the course (and stick at it) so will want you to get the vest preparation. I have A levels, from a different era, and not in related subjects so will also need to check if I'd be considered. Good luck!

I qualified as a nurse 8 years ago and when I was at university there were plenty of mature students on my course, male and female. The oldest lady on our course was 52 when she started and she had previously been a head teacher at a secondary school but had fancied a career change.

Go for it and the best of luck to you

I looked into retraining as a nurse but then they stopped the nursing diplomas and introduced compulsory nursing degrees. I changed tack.

Anyway I digress, you are certainly not too old so I say go for it.

I think it switched in 2013 to nursing being a graduate only profession now. I believe the only difference though was that with a degree you have to do a dissertation and with a diploma you didn't.

You're definitely not too old but you will have to have had evidence of recent study in the last 5 years. Some unis even request within the last 3 years so if you don't have that then I'd look into ways of meeting the requirements. An access course sounds like the best bet. Also, I would brush up on your literacy and numeracy now. You will be expected to do tests on these for the uni interview, throughout the course (where you're normally expected to get 100 per cent to pass) and for job interviews (again, they normally want 100 per cent). So if you know you struggle in this area, and I know lots of people do and I'm one of them, it's worth brushing up on now. There are lots of drugs calculations for nursing students books out there you can have a look at. This is for the future, but start reading now about anything to do with mental health nursing in the news, the role of the mental health nurse, the current state and future of the profession. These are the sort of things they will ask you at interview.

I'd look at getting some experience as well, you can never start too early. Especially as you've been at home for 9 years I think it would be a good idea so you have lots to write about in your personal statement and so you have someone who can provide you with a recent reference. Volunteering for the samaritans is a popular one, I'm sure there are loads of mental health charities you could contact too. It doesn't have to be directly related, I did volunteering for the Red Cross to visit people at home when they get home from hospital and make sure they're alright and help them out with shopping or even just a bit of company. You can pick up lots of transferable skills in communication and meeting new people who have to trust you. There are lots of things out there you could get involved in. Good luck. :)

How exciting Catty! You're not too old at all, so have a look at what unis offer the courses you want and check their entry criteria. They are taking applications now, so get cracking

Awesome! This is very common in the US, where the retirement age has already been raised, and no one bats an eyelid.

Good luck OP!!!
I have just started an OU degree aged 48. I'm a retail worker but trying to progress and really struggling. I just don't get taken seriously. I'm good at my job and I know they value my experience and knowledge but they would rather develop youngsters.
I couldn't do nursing, I just don't have the personality or patience but I want to do something with my life. I was a SAHM then carer for 15 years so there are a whole raft of younger applicants for jobs.