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AIBU?

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Original poster

Help! Primary School Teacher or Nurse?

259 replies

Happygolucky1994 · 02/06/2017 18:06

Sorry wasn't sure where to post.

But which career should I choose?

I am 23 yr old with a 2 year old daughter. I'm on benefits in a council home (nothing wrong with that) but I desperately want to give my little one a better life i.e. more holidays, opportunities, owning our own home etc..

In September I have the option of either begininng a Primary Education PGCE course which will take one year... or an Adult Nursing course which will take 3 years..

I have listed the pros and cons of each career but it's still not really helped.
I know if you want to be either of those career choices you must be passionate for that one thing but I really am passionate about both! I want a job that's rewarding. I love the idea of caring for others in there time of need but I also adore helping children learn new concepts etc.

I understand that teachers have to work evenings and weekends at home and nurses have to work all kinds of shifts. My biggest worry is not being able to spend much time with my daughter. Childcare is not an issue but i'm with her everyday at the moment so the thought of barely being with her is tough.

I just want to hear what others think of each career. Or if you work in these fields please can you offer some insight to the reality of the jobs. I can't sleep wondering which path to take :/.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
Bettyspants · 03/06/2017 20:26

And yes teachers do get more money ....

rollonthesummer · 03/06/2017 20:35

And yes teachers do get more money

I don't actually think it can be terribly different. A poster upthread said she'd been nursing ten years and earns £36K. I have been teaching 20 years and am at the very top of the upper pay scale and earn £38k.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 03/06/2017 20:37

And yes teachers do get more money ....

Hmmm not sure. Although it's probably irrelevant to the OP personally many younger, single nurses do 3 bank shifts per month so they work 4 days every week. And unlike teaching they get paid for this overtime

HoneyWheeler · 03/06/2017 20:41

I'm a teacher and it's not a family friendly job at all. I work 60 hours per week plus, and please don't take the holidays into consideration at all - because you'll be working them!

I know nursing is an incredibly demanding job, but you wouldn't have to take work home with you the way you do with teaching. Having said that, I appreciate that child care for shift work would be very difficult too.

Congratulations on being accepted on to both courses though! You're obviously a very caring and dedicated person to be considering these professions - good luck making your choice!

Missingthepoint · 03/06/2017 20:44

Nursing. The initial training years will be tough but there are so many different paths you can go down afterwards. Also more likely to be able to do part time at some point if you want to and be able to pick up career again if you needed/wanted to take a break .

Original poster
Happygolucky1994 · 03/06/2017 20:55

Lots more interesting comments. So much to consider. Based on choosing what i'd enjoy the most is also a tough one. I like the idea of nursing for the keeping busy, rewarding aspect and being able to chat with adults/work as part of a team. But I also love working with children and supporting their learning & development. So still very undecided but at least I have a more realistic idea now, thank you all.

OP posts:
tofudeepfried · 03/06/2017 21:00

Nurse definitely. I am a primary school teacher and you will find planning and marking eat into your home life. It is also very draining. I wish I had trained as a nurse instead. My friend has three kids and loves her job as a theatre nurse. Only downside the long shifts but plenty of nurses are parents. Follow your passion in the end not just what you think will be best for kids

Spottytop1 · 03/06/2017 21:01

I am a teacher - I've been teaching for 11 years and I'm lead teacher of a core subject in primary school. I'm currently on 32k.

I arrive at work at 7:50 and I leave 5pm- 5:15 ( I can't arrive/leave earlier/later due to childcare). I work through lunch and break every day.
I then put my daughter to bed and start work again about 7:30pm and usually finish 10:30/11pm. I do this mon- thurs. I won't work fri eve or Saturday but I usually work about 8-10 hours on a Sunday.

This week has been half term. I worked 2 1/2 days of it - totalling about 25 hours possibly a bit more. I should have done more but wanted to spend time with my daughter. This is normal for my holidays and has been for many years.
So it's not easy and don't be fooled by the 'school hours' or school holidays. It is not a family friendly job.
You never switch off and you do not have the luxury of leaving it behind when you walk out of school - it is immensely stressful and the pressure is ridiculous, you do get senior leadership who are bullies & you are a failure if you can't get human children to perform like robots... BUT there is lots of positives and it is very rewarding---- I love it & wouldn't do anything else.

rugratowner · 03/06/2017 21:12

I have been a primary school teacher (left after completing my PGCE as an 'outstanding' teacher and my first term as a qualified 'outstanding' teacher. So not because I wasn't a good teacher, but because I could see my future and it didn't look good.)

My sister is a nurse.

I think both compare with the amount of training and stress levels. However. When my sister finishes work for the day, she is finished....

As a teacher I constantly thought about all the jobs I was unable to complete that day. I would wake up at 2am thinking about one pupil or another and how I could alter lessons.

If you are the kind of person who can switch off and do the absolute minimum paper work to get by, then consider teaching.

As a nurse, my sister does have a huge responsibility for people lives.

But whatever you do. If you are a perfectionist, or someone who cares about the finer details , do otbe a teacher or you will burn out

Bettyspants · 03/06/2017 21:15

Rollout and increasingly , I'm a nurse consultant and DH is a headteacher, we've known each other since being newly qualified. It's only since I've become a constant that my pay equals his, as a band 6 nurse and band 6 sister he always earned more than me including my unsocial hours.

Misspilly88 · 03/06/2017 21:17

I trained as a primary school teacher and wouldn't wish that job on my worst enemy.

rugratowner · 03/06/2017 21:20

Also average working hours of a teacher are fast longer than a 37.5hour standard work week as a nurse.

If a nurse had to work over time, they get paid it. As a teacher you only get paid your annual salary, no matter how many hours you work... Which is at least 50+ per week

As a primary teacher, I worked 7:30-5:30 monday- Friday (that's doing a couple of hours work at weekends) That was me doing the bare minimum. I would feel guilty doing this little work. And felt I should have stayed at school much later like the other teachers I worked with. I felt that I should have worked more hours on the weekend and taken on extra responsibilities to be fair with my colleagues.

But I knew that I needed a life and did not want to live for work as I have children of my own...

Something needs to be done. As I love teaching and I love children. But I also love my life and teaching sucked my life away

rollonthesummer · 03/06/2017 21:25

Poo-I can't see that nurse scale link on my phone, Betty.

Teacher pay scale ranges from £22k-£38k.

Yes, you can get more for a TLR but there are NO TLRs offered in my school which shows how easy they can be to get!

What's the lowest/highest salary point on the main nursing pay scale?

Bettyspants · 03/06/2017 21:33

Roll on, just google ' agenda for change ' you'll get the scale pop up. Bog standard newly qualified nurse band 5, go up and increment yearly. Majority of nurses stay at band 5. Band 6 is usually a sister or charge nurse, sometimes nurse specialist or ENP (emergency nurse practitioner) band 7 is ward manager , some nurse specialists , ANP (advanced nurse practitioner) band 8a ANP, manager, nurse consultant, matron

Twillow · 03/06/2017 21:35

With a child, at least teachers get the school holidays. That's worth a lot, although I was one and it's relentless work during the week and evenings. Though you can also only go on holiday during school holidays when it's way more expensive! I suspect teaching is also more lucrative (but I'm not sure) relevant to nursing.

Bettyspants · 03/06/2017 21:37

Rollon nurses start on a band 5 which is £21:909 to start and capped at £28:462

PurpleRose1989 · 03/06/2017 21:41

rollonthesummer

Supplied all last academic year. Supply agency paid me £100 per day and I never had any issues. I suppose it depends on the agency/area but I wasn't put out at all.

rollonthesummer · 03/06/2017 21:47

Bog standard newly qualified nurse band 5, go up and increment yearly. Majority of nurses stay at band 5. Band 6 is usually a sister or charge nurse, sometimes nurse specialist or ENP (emergency nurse practitioner) band 7 is ward manager , some nurse specialists , ANP (advanced nurse practitioner) band 8a ANP, manager, nurse consultant, matron

That's interesting. I suspect it's more complicated to compare to be honest.

In my school, 3/4 are on the main pay scale, a handful on the upper pay scale, then one deputy and one head.

Would a deputy head pay be similar to a matron maybe?!

Purple Rose-that's really reassuring, thank you for replying :)

PersianCatLady · 03/06/2017 21:53

OP - Slightly off-topic but how come you didn't decide what to study before you applied??

I mean this sincerely, I am just interested.

Bettyspants · 03/06/2017 21:54

Rollon , I'm not sure to be honest, I'm not at home at the mo to ask DH . But I do know that headteacher pay ranges a huge amount .... I think it's difficult to compare the scales directly, plus they are both incredibly different career pathways which is difficult to compare alongside each other. I love my job and DH loves his , I know both teachers and nurses who hate their jobs and they same the same negative things about both( lack of support , long hours, not family friendly)!!

Original poster
Happygolucky1994 · 03/06/2017 21:55

I think with regards to pay i'm not aiming to be super wealthy or anything. I just want to be able to afford a small mortgage, car and maybe a nice holiday once a year. Before researching a few months ago I always assumed nurses & teachers earnt much more- especially for the job they do!

OP posts:
Bettyspants · 03/06/2017 21:56

Re supply DH did it for 3 months , got over £100 per session with the benefit of the lesson being pre planned, didn't have the stress of his own class and had the choice to never go back to that school again if he didn't like it!

dontbesillyhenry · 03/06/2017 22:06

Matron would be equivalent to head. A matron may also be in charge of several wards/units

Original poster
Happygolucky1994 · 03/06/2017 22:10

I don't know PersianCatLady- Since the start of my childhood and youth studies degree it was always my plan to go down the primary pgce route. I have always loved working with children in the classroom. It's only recently that I started imagining myself as a nurse. I had a stint in hospital and was in awe at the work they do. And then I worked as a carer and found it to be very rewarding. I applied for both courses and didn't think i'd be accepted for either - I'm still in shock now! But as I do have a choice I want to know as much as I can about the day to day life of each role and how it will affect my family life.

OP posts:
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