To ask you what goes into being a nurse?

[AriaTloak]

I apologise, I really wasn't sure where to post this so went with the option for more traffic!

It's something I've been thinking about for a long time, and something I really want to pursue before I'm too old (I'm 25).
I'd really like to hear from you guys where to even start, and how long it takes (my guess is 4/5 years?)

Also, is it a wise idea to try doing this with children? I have 1 DC with DH and we both work & both depend on our wages, we also rely on tax credits! I'm not quite sure how it works in Scotland with regards to adults being in education/getting help etc?!

I'm a nurse and find that shifts work really well with having DC as I can pack more hours into a day and have more days off. I do 12 hour shifts but only two a week as I'm part time.

You will have to do nights and weekends so be prepared for that. Plus you'll have to write lots of essays and spend time at uni.

Be a children nurse, we're the best.

I've been qualified 8 years now. I do enjoy it at times but it really is awful at other times. I'm fortunate in that my boss agrees to me working set shifts but when you're training you just have to work with your mentor so you'd need to be sure that you have childcare to cover early starts and nights.

If I had my time again, I'd train to be an OT. Still get the patient interaction but hours are generally 8-4 and better opportunity to progress.

I considered nursing but amongst other things the shifts put me off because my DH also works shifts so we would both be working Xmas day etc. I instead am studying as an allied professional.

Worth looking into AHPs eg speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, radiography, podiatry, prosthetics etc. Some have part time courses and many have 8 till 4 placements. Although 7 day working is becoming more common in many of these professions too so worth checking.

Many allied courses have the traditional holidays too which can be easier to manage childcare etc.

Last year lots of courses came up in clearing, even competitive ones. Worth trying whilst the bursary system still applies.

BTW I didn't choose purely for those reasons! But I looked into numerous health professions before one stood out to me. Good luck.

Allied health professionals can also work Christmas Day! In hospital anyway.

You may as well wait a bit and do the new training they're talking about bringing out. Basically an apprenticeship in nursing. Although the nurses I've worked with aren't happy about it but it looks like a better entry route for some.

Oh that sounds interesting Grays I haven't heard anything about that.

It's gone back to consultation phase but I can see them steaming ahead with it. There are some really valid concerns, including the fact no one has confirmed if it'll be registered and subject to the same things as nurses and by whom. And who the hell is going to have the time to train them. Looks like a good opportunity though for a lot of people

I have been a nurse for 30 years this year and think it is the most privileged job, to be trusted by people at their most vulnerable and share good and bad experiences. I really love my job, it's hard work emotionally and physically but the positive interactions do outweigh the difficult ones. Good luck.

OP do you mind if I ask a question on here?

My partner and I have two children and both work full time. I'm due to start my children's nursing degree in September (England) and I've spoken to student nurses at my work and they say when you have children, working ontop of being a student nurse is practically impossible.

My partner earns 17k after tax, and I'm worried it's not 'doable' financially. I know as a single parent it is, I applied 3 years ago when I was a single parent but now I finally got a place and my personal situation has changed.

I'm really worried we won't be able to afford to live. I went on the student website that adds up his earnings and said I'd be entitled to 9k a year in bursaries and loans. That's 4K less than I'm bringing in now and things are tight.

Is this doable?

I'm doing hnc course at College. Finishing in a few short weeks. I had to do the college course as I was out of education for a number of years.

I do 352 hours placement between end of October and finishing beginning of May. I have 2 days of lectures per week. Essays, exams, presentations etc.

I start uni in September. I'm told I will get 2 weeks at Christmas, Easter and summer. So 6 weeks in total... I have a one year old and I'm permanently exhausted. I love placement. My first was an amazing ward where I saw everything.

My second placement was a nursing home. I will be honest and say I hated it. I struggled with the care I saw and actually had to complain.

Jennifer the easiest way to earn money while training is to join the nurse bank as a healthcare and do shifts when you can. Good experience, gets your face known
and you can fit your shifts around your placement/uni.

I did look into entitiedto.com and it just said it couldn't tell me the answer for a uni student. Or to that effect.

I worked bank shifts as an HCA whilst training and it's definitely doable - on weeks when we were at uni it wasn't full time hours so there was plenty of free time to work. I loved my nurse training but did it pre dc so it was much easier to find time to do assignments and so on. Lots of people on my course did have children though and managed somehow.
Nursing isn't the most family friendly career though if you don't have any help with childcare. Most jobs expect you to be available to work any day of the week with minimal notice, even if you are part time. This makes it almost impossible to find a nursery or childminder unless you are wiling to pay for a full time place which you don't actually use. I don't regret training though and I enjoy being a nurse - I just wish the NHS could be a but more flexible.