To put myself first and do my degree.

[GettingBackToIt]

Dc's are 5 and 9 and I have been a SAHM since my eldest was born.
Currently looking into doing an access course in nursing and midwifery with the hopes of gaining enough ucas points to be able to gain access to a mental health nursing degree.
The access course would be no problem but the degree is 4 years long and would include a lot of placements to which I'd have no idea of hours until the placements were set.
Dh has lived away for most of this year due to work and could be away at any time really so it would be extremely difficult but I just feel I've put this on hold for so long.
Anyone on here managed to do a nursing/shift placement degree with young children?

I started my nursing degree when my youngest was 6mo. It was hard going but we all got into a rhythm and it's been worth it

I'm an nurse, I'd recommend looking into the nursing associate role, instead of doing a degree course tbh. The amount of debt student nurses get in now is ridiculous. Nursing associates at my trust spend 1-2 days a week at uni and the rest on different placements. They are employed by the trust and paid band 3 salary while training, which takes two years, course fees fully funded, and guaranteed a band 4 job at the end. They can "top up" to band 5 after, though no one seems to be sure how that'll actually work at my trust .

www.nmc.org.uk/standards/nursing-associates/what-is-a-nursing-associate/

Also, why is the degree course 4 years? Isn't it usually 3?

Your placements could be inpatient/outpatient/community and generally you find out just before you start what your shifts are plus Uni days/weeks.
Dont forget to factor in study time at weekends and days off.
Its tough but essentially it depends on your childcare and how flexible it is and if your OH will step up in terms of home stuff.

I think it's highly unfair to expect your family to step up and provide childcare so that you can return to study.

If you can manage the student debt and pay for childcare, then that's a very different scenario.

boxset, really?!!!

I think it's highly unfair to expect your family to step up and provide childcare so that you can return to study.

And I think it's quite rude to presume that you know the dynamic in the OP's family. Many families run on a basis of how they can help each other out rather than what they expect. Let's not start criticising the OP before she's even formed a firm idea and established how people would be willing to help.