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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

...to not do a dissertation?

76 replies

FantasticRik · 04/04/2015 18:03

I'm in my final year of a nursing degree with 8 months until I qualify and have had a major wobble over the past few weeks.

Training to be a nurse has been my dream for years and i know I'm v fortunate to be in this position however the combination of placements, academic work, 2 lovely DCs, running a home etc has got to me. I have a supportive DH who does his fair share of housework and yet I feel like I'm drowning - over the past year or so I have felt increasingly low and a few weeks ago, during my last placement I had a bit of a meltdown (thankfully I was at home when it happened) and truly felt as though I couldn't carry on with the course (not life).

I am about to start researching my dissertation topic and I just feel so anxious about it - I can't concentrate at all and feel panicky about the whole thing. On top of this we also have 2 other assignments, a presentation and another 12 week placement before we qualify and it just feels too much.

An option would be to not do the dissertation meaning, as I understand it) I would still get a degree and be able to qualify as a nurse however I wouldn't get the 'honours'.

WIBU to not even attempt the dissertation? Or will I regret it in the long run?

So as not to drip I have sought support from the university's support service, and my GP (around my low mood) and am awaiting a reply from my tutor for advice. Thanks in advance for any advice!

OP posts:
NakedBaby · 05/04/2015 07:13

In passthewine 's defence - if the tutor suggested it - I presume the upshot is not plagiarism - but English/writing support for people who find it hard to express themselves on paper (eg ESOL/ dyslexia). Presumably the student dictates.

Chillyegg · 05/04/2015 07:23

Aww my lovely you have my sympathy dissertations can break the best of us! But i think you should do it!
Does the 8000 words include referencing? If so that frees up at least 500 words!
Also about literature research my tutor said don't get bogged down trying to read every book on your chosen subject thats been ever written! Be really choosy, photo copy the most relevant sections and keep all articles and notes/quotes/studies in a file , with dates accessed/author/publishers etc written on the article. It makes referencing easier!

Also turn key books into your bedtime reading/commuting book, you get through them do much quicker!
The best tip i had was to record my self dictating points/sections of my essay, its uncomfortable to hear your self but it really helps you get pen to paper.
Good luck!

frikadela01 · 05/04/2015 07:24

If you want to progress further than a band 5 staff nurse then the dissertation will be essential Imo.
However in terms of getting your first nursing post I will be suprised if it makes a blind bit of difference. I have the diploma and have had multiple jobs and been for countless interviews and have never once been asked to produce certificates etc. They just checked my current registration and we're fine with that.

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 05/04/2015 07:54

It's manageable although it seems huge right now. But when it's done it's done.
I've got friends doing their masters dissertation now at 20k words.
Fuck. That

Flissypix · 05/04/2015 09:57

Hi OP
I am in a similar position, final month of my degree, with 2 dds and a job. Its bloody hard work, and have had more melt downs than I can count, including one last week where I was so overwhelmed I cried for an hour andI refused to get out of bed which is very unlike me! My DH is a saint (though its only payback for when he did his)
I don't have much advice but just wanting you to know you are not alone. Take a few days off, sleep,rest relax then gather yourself and get a plan together. YOU CAN DO IT! Once you get over the panic and clear the way it will all fall into place.

lavendersun · 05/04/2015 10:47

See OP - we are all struggling together. Study as a mature student with a family is so much harder than when I did it at 18.

I have lost the will this morning - need another 1500 words today.

If I can do it OP anyone can, seriously, anyone.

CumberCookie · 05/04/2015 11:23

I felt the same when I did my degree. I didn't have a family or anything and it wasn't as much as you have to do. (I'm just trying to give you all the info here) It felt like my world was crushing me and I was suffocating in work.

I felt like I wanted to give up too but I'm so glad I came through it because my degree has helped me get the job I have now.

I'd think carefully, I know it looks black but I know I'd have personally regretted not doing my dissertation and completing it.

Is there any way you could get an extension? In any case talk to your tutor/course leader and explain the situation. They will be able to at least give you advice.

pressone · 05/04/2015 11:36

I too did a degree whilst holding down a full time job and raising two children (teens). It is overwhelming but the feeling of pride, gratification and relief when it is done is fantastic. The pride stays with you - it is probably the best thing I have ever done for my feelings of self-esteem ( and I still feel that over 10 years later). Of course you feel great about raising your children to be happy and successful in whatever they choose to do but that is pride in them with a little pride in yourself, this is an accomplishment purely in and for yourself.

I would go and see your GP, you know you would if you had a broken leg so why not for anxiety - there is lots of help out there.

I agree with the others - it is fear of starting, of making the wrong decision that is making you anxious - when I feel like that I literally stick a pin in the options and if the one you gave selected makes you cry "Noooo" then you know that is the wrong option and you can choose one of the others. Then break down the actual dissertation into small chunks so it is not so scary.

Take this weekend/the Easter Hols off and spend them just enjoying your family - there is plenty of time between now and Sept to give yourself a real breather which you probably need after the placement.

Good luck - it is absolutely worth sticking it out.

DaveMinion · 05/04/2015 12:00

Do the easier option. You can topup to honours later with mentorship etc.

I had a nightmare final year. All because of one awful 5 week placement. Luckily didn't have a dissertation as was last of the diploma cohort. Anyway I ended up failing one assignment and haven't got my nmc registration. I have my full diploma of higher education in adult nursing but need to redo the course in order to be registered which sucks.

If there had been end easier option I would have taken it. You need to be in the best frame oif mind for management.

theobstacleistheway · 05/04/2015 13:11

you've had some good advice here.
it can feel like such a horrible place to be in but if you get help for anxiety and get a really structured timetable together I am sure you can do it well. You do have a lot of time left even if it doesn't seem like it. I am so grateful to my friends that made me continue to the end of both my degree and masters when i was so, so close both times to giving up and felt like a complete wreck. I left both dissertations to the horrendously last minute but somehow managed to do extremely well and I put that down to breaking everything down into the smallest smallest of steps timetables and goals for absolutely everything and cup of tea and mars bar reward charts. good luck op you can do this.

ColdCottage · 05/04/2015 13:23

Do you have someone who could support you through it. I felt physically sick about doing mine. Without my friend I wouldn't have managed mine.

FantasticRik · 05/04/2015 13:31

Thanks for the support here. I do feel better after a sleep and reading your words of encouragement. Also knowing I'm not the only crazy person trying to juggle work/family and a degree has helped.

Cold I have some lovely friends who are supportive, one of whom did her midwifery degree a few years back and therefore understands the pressures.

Good luck to you Flissy and to Dave needing to redo the entire course is truly rubbish.

OP posts:
Movingonmymind · 05/04/2015 13:32

I think much harder to top up later on. Took me £££s and years to get round to topping up my postgrad dip to masters. Do it now unless absolutely impossible. Grit your teeth for the next few horrible weeks and then it's done!

Booboostoo · 05/04/2015 14:38

Paying someone to write your dissertation is cheating and gross misconduct which has implications not just for one's degree but possibly also for one's professional career. I strongly doubt a tutor recommended this. Getting your work typed up, proof read or getting help with Grammar/spelling is perfectly acceptable, that's what student services are for.

passthewineplz · 05/04/2015 14:57

Sorry I should have been a bit more clear re getting someone else to write a dissertation.

I don't advocate getting someone to write a dissertation at all, and neither did my tutor. She mentioned that she knew someone who did it, and agrees it's the wrong thing to do. It's just not worth the risk.

Glad you're feeling better OP, I've been feeling the same too. I've got a place at uni in September and since I've been offered it I've had a wobble too. I've 2 assignments and a presentation to write, which are due in after the half term. So tomorrow I've decided to break my assignments into chunks and try and do a bit each day to see if that helps. I'm also going to see my GP as I'm struggling with anxiety too.

Movingonmymind · 05/04/2015 15:04

Am also Shock that sny decent tutor wd recomnend this! Almost all unis now have automatic checking system for all assignments /dissertations which will pick up any plagiarism Or unusual looking sections. Not only highly unethical -and deeply offensive to the majority of us who DID sweat away doing it ourselves- but highly likely now to get caught!

passthewineplz · 05/04/2015 15:07

Just to be clear - my tutor didn't recommend getting a dissertation or any other assignments written by someone else.

She said she knew someone who did, this would have been years ago before the online plagiarism checking systems

funnyface31 · 05/04/2015 15:29

Is there a group for nurses newbie and experienced on FB?

I'm on the teaching one and it amazing for sharing ideas and asking for support. There are lots of requested from students in final years asking for research surveys/questions to be completed.

I'm not sure if this has already been suggested, so apologies if it has

good luck OP

ColdCottage · 05/04/2015 19:41

Glad you have RL support from someone who understands. Take all the help you are offered and can find.
But in the end you have done this course because you wanted to. If you can still go on to work in a full capacity not having done a dissertation or just putting something in (just to tick a box) then do it. Life is too short.

Studyingmummy · 05/04/2015 20:16

I too am in my final year of a health related degree. Dissertation is due Tuesday, completed mine about a week agoEaster Grin. Since Sept I have had loads of placement time, a 2000 word business plan, group presentation, an audit poster, 2000 word reflective essay, two practical assessments, one written exam and a few lectures to attend. I am currently completing a 3500 word essay on the history & future of my profession. When that's done I have to complete a poster summarising the results of my literature review. Both due in before end of April. I have 20 days placement to complete by May 1st then two exams early May! Also looking for jobs and refining my personal statement at the same time.8th of May I'm done & will collapse in a heap & not move off the cuch for at least a week!

I feel really overwhelmed with it all OP, so can totally relate to how you feel. In Sept my disssertation was terrifying. Seemed like a huge task I could never complete while doing placements, running a home and looking after 3 DC . But I stuck in, did it in chunks- Research question & Intro before Xmas (while doing business plan too). Literature search in Jan when we had a bit of study leave (so no placement). Got all my articles sorted then wrote up my methods section. Findings & discussion were the biggies and took up the whole of Feb & March.

Cut it down into chunks, use your supervisor as much as you can, mine was invaluable in setting me on the right path. A few months ago I was worrying about failing my dissertation now I'm confident of getting at least a B! There are a few good books out there to guide you through the process, too.

In my case not getting honours isnt an option. My profession requires BSc (Hons). Without it I would have a Health & Social Care Degree which I don't think qualifies me for anything really. No idea what the score is for other professions, though. Also, our dissertation counts a lot to our degree classification and is double weighted (as is our practice education module)

Think carefully before dropping your dissertation, but if it makes things easier for you & won't affect your degree or job prospects it might be better to ease the stress a bit. Good luck, OP Easter Grin

Sorry that was so long, you'd think Id be sick of writing essays by now!

sashh · 06/04/2015 06:44

Do the dissertation, without honours you can never do a masters or phd, and you might laugh at that now but you might want to in the future. Also ... and yes I am going to sound like a 1960s socialist... you owe it to your profession. Nursing was seen as something secondary to being a doctor. Nurses have fought to make themselves in to a profession in its own right with high standards for entry and promotion, you are about to become part of that profession.

Ask for an extension if you can, if not use the advice of the poster up above and hand something in. Defer if you can.

Break it down in to chapters so say 10 000 words

500 Intro
1000 Ch 1
1000 Ch 2
1000 Ch 3
1000 Ch 4
1000 Ch 5
1000 Ch 6
1000 Ch 7
1000 Ch 8
500 conclusion

That might seem like a lot, but you can make the intro and conclusion 750 words and the inbetween chapters 1500 words then it's only 7 chapters.

Do you know what your topic is? Can you do it entirely from secondary sources?

If you don't know what it is then may I suggest looking at something you know such as 'the impact of being a parent on studying nursing' or 'online and social media support for student parents' - ie mumsnet.

Ebola in the UK would also be quite good because there must be some journal articles by now, but there is not a lot because it is so rare.

OK back to actually doing the dissertation.

I do know someone who did their dissertation in 2 weeks and got a good grade, you just need to get a dissertation to a pass.

Have you done your literature search yet? How old are your children?

I got a pack of multicoloured post it notes and would pick a key word and give it a colour. Then get textbooks and look in the index for the key word and stick a post it on the actual page in the text.

On occasion I may have insisted someone else to do this, a child old enough to read the key words (they don't need to understand them) can do this.

You end up with text books with various coloured post its attached and you leave them there so you can come back to them another time.

You can also write on the post it to cross reference with another article.

Give your self treats, nothing big but say after your first chapter you have a long bath with lots of smellies, or a bar of your favorite chocolate, or an afternoon with your kids. No mumsnet until you have written 500 words.

Timetable as much as you can, including time with family, and worrying. Yep put aside 10 mins at the start of the day to worry, once that is over start the work.

BakerStreetSaxRift · 06/04/2015 09:11

without honours you can never do a masters or phd

I don't think that's always true. I have a friend doing a masters without an honours degree, and that first degree wasn't even nursing!

BakerStreetSaxRift · 06/04/2015 09:23

Doing a nursing Masters, I meant*

DaveMinion · 06/04/2015 11:05

It is shit I have to do the course again. Well I have found a uni that will use my previous credit and I can start in 2nd year so not as bad lol. I'm not giving up though. Will have to doba dissertation now though. That scares me!

lavendersun · 06/04/2015 13:25

OP - you have had some fantastic advice here, I wish I had asked myself!

I have done it OP - 6145 words plus appendices - I am not dressed, yet and have spent the morning writing in bed while DD plays in her room next door watching endless How to Train your Dragon clips on the iPad.

You can do it - choosing something that interest you would make it a lot nicer, I couldn't choose mine, it was a case study allocated to me and it was bloody torture.

Flowers. My advice would be to start as soon as you can, little by little rather than leaving it like I did.

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