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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to put nursing and midwifery on the same UCAS app?

74 replies

LaviniaTheLemur · 27/03/2019 07:48

I think I would be... BUT...

I am applying late and my lovely referee is doing me an enormous favour by agreeing to do it for me, so I do not want to have to ask her again later.

My heart says midwifery, but I also would love to do nursing.

I have work shadowed nursing and absolutely loved it and I am trying to arrange to shadow midwifery, but no joy yet and time is of the essence now.

My personal statement at the moment is for midwifery, but would it be so terrible to hedge my bets and put down nursing too? I can only realistically commute to two universities - three at a real push, so I have two more choices to put down...

Or should I change it all and just put nursing and then specialise in midwifery if I want to later?

Thoughts? Would really appreciate some advice!

OP posts:
Prequelle · 27/03/2019 10:47

If youre not being specific*

ClockworkNightingale · 27/03/2019 10:48

Law and Bio-Med are not similar to nursing/midwifery, or to any other normal academic course. Midwifery in particular is so oversubscribed that they will jump at the barest hint of any justification to bin you. Adult nursing is actually under-recruiting in some regions, so the wrong personal statement might not actually be an automatic rejection if you were an otherwise amazing candidate (and some unis actually invite rejected midwifery candidates to interview for adult nursing), but it absolutely would be for midwifery.

Good luck OP, midwifery was my first secret love, but I went for adult nursing because I knew I could be happy as a nurse and there would be more jobs and more career routes available to me. It's the more flexible option, if you think you could enjoy it. It's a bloody long three years if not, though!

There are occasional jobs for nurses to work in maternity settings; I've seen a few that cover maternity theatres and postnatal wards. And in my trust, recovery nurses care for women after surgical deliveries. But the maternity jobs are few and far between, and the top-up courses are being decommissioned year on year. If you're 100% set on midwifery, I would stay the course, because there's no guarantee you'll be able to make the jump to midwifery. But if you loved nursing, it has a lot of advantages, and it's always interesting and challenging.

SudoWouldnt · 27/03/2019 10:49

I've done nursing and would echo Prequelle's advice. They want you to be passionate and care about the specifics of what are very different roles.

All of the advice I was given at the time of applying - both by the uni and nursing lecturers who had been involved in the interview process said only to apply for one field.

It's very different to science and law - don't take coffee's advice.

If you are torn, I would go with nursing as you have the option to specialise in midwifery for post grad.

Prequelle · 27/03/2019 10:50

Oh as well OP, neonates accepts adult nurses, it's not directly caring for post natal women but you do support them a lot as they're going through a difficult time in their life.

BigButtonsOnMyPhone · 27/03/2019 10:52

The universities do not know what you have applied for or to which other universities.

university.which.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/can-universities-see-where-else-i-apply-to-and-could-this-affect-my-chances

Wallsbangers · 27/03/2019 10:54

Your PS needs to be specific to your course choice for these subjects. They are looking for strong candidates with good experience in these fields.

Unless you apply for multiple courses at the same uni, they don't know who else you've applied for and what courses so if your PS isn't relevant to that course it's likely to be automatically rejected.

Prequelle · 27/03/2019 10:56

big they won't but the PS needs to be tailored so a midwifery one won't suit applying for nursing courses. The unis will know what's up if the PS is purposely vague or mentions both.

Original poster
LaviniaTheLemur · 27/03/2019 10:58

Argh I’m going round in circles a bit here 😂.

I think my first love IS midwifery and I think that’s what I should apply for. If don’t get a place, then I will have to reassess / reapply after doing some more work shadowing.

This is very difficult. Thanks so much.

I spoke to the university btw and they said not to apply to both.

If I could wave a magic wand and magically pick a place it would be midwifery. So I think that’s what I should do.

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 27/03/2019 11:03

If Midwifery is what you want, then go for it, just be aware that it is super competetive. Good luck.

ClockworkNightingale · 27/03/2019 11:05

Sounds like you have your answer, OP--best of luck!

Prequelle · 27/03/2019 11:06

Good luck OP!

I had the same quandary. I did so many courses and stuff on midwifery, but then I had a serious wobble and ended up applying for nursing. I'm SOOO glad I did but you've got to follow your heart. Yes there's positions in nursing in which you can support pregnant women, but if it's a more focused approach and you want to baby catch then you need to follow your dream.

Original poster
LaviniaTheLemur · 27/03/2019 11:07

One other thing...

I sound like Columbo Grin.

So, if I did nursing, I could theoretically do it in two years as I already have a degree... It sounds as if I really should do nursing doesn’t it? And I would love it and it would be more flexible. Oh tricky, tricky, tricky.

OP posts:
Prequelle · 27/03/2019 11:10

Ah I'm not sure. Where I'm from all the universities only offered 3 year courses whether you had a previous degree or not.

ClockworkNightingale · 27/03/2019 11:14

My university offers a 2-year pre-reg nursing course--you have to work a certain number of hours in healthcare before you start, though. Is that a requirement for your course, and do you have the hours if so?

Original poster
LaviniaTheLemur · 27/03/2019 11:17

Ah that might be the case clockwork! I was not seriously considering it to begin with, as even if I am 100% sure I want to do nursing, I think that extra year would be beneficial for me, as no, I have never worked in healthcare and I have been out of education for a while. So in that case, it actually makes the decision for me about that 2 year option. Which I was never that sold on for me anyway.

It makes sense if they require evidence of work in healthcare beforehand.

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 27/03/2019 11:20

I am not sure your previous degree will allow you to miss the first year of the course.

I think if you have done the nursing associate course, you can top up to be a RN etc.

MakeMineALarge1 · 27/03/2019 11:23

Yes - from my dark and distant memory - the uni I trained at did at 2 year course - but at Clockwork orange says - you have to be in healthcare and have done so many hours and have had to have met some competencies.

Original poster
LaviniaTheLemur · 27/03/2019 11:25

Thanks make. I think that option is off the table then.

Now it’s just a straightforward (ha!) nursing vs midwifery quandary...

OP posts:
Original poster
LaviniaTheLemur · 27/03/2019 11:31

Nursing. Definitely nursing.

It’s potentially more varied, which I would like. I also wonder if my love for midwifery specifically is maybe slightly coloured by me having my babies fairly recently and I’m still in that baby having ‘zone’?

I think it’s nursing. I know I would love it.

I’m off to see if I can get some more work experience in case I need to apply again or 🤞 if I maybe am lucky enough to get an interview.

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 27/03/2019 11:52

When are you looking to start?

Original poster
LaviniaTheLemur · 27/03/2019 11:55

September! Hence time being rather short... If applications close before I can get mine submitted then hopefully I can amend my application to apply for the next intake.

OP posts:
Maiyakat · 27/03/2019 12:01

Adult nursing courses may have places through clearing - not sure how you could check if this is likely at your local Uni. That way you could apply for midwifery and then if you don't get an offer try for nursing through clearing. Some Unis do 3 intakes a year for adult nursing so that could be another option. Getting work experience in midwifery is difficult, lots of people applying won't have any.

JellyBaby666 · 27/03/2019 14:37

If you do decide to apply for midwifery, don't mention babies or how much you like them! It's a big no no. The job is about the women and families!

Blueberrybell · 27/03/2019 15:11

Hi OP, I’m currently in the second year of a BSc In adult nursing. As others have said, a definite no to applying for both - it’ll make you look indecisive and is highly likely to be rejected. On my application, I was advised to include my reasons for choosing the adult branch specifically- if you apply for both, I don’t see how you could do this.

I originally wanted to apply for midwifery but changed my mind mainly due to a friend of mine - she did the BSc Midwifery, loved it for 5 years then got completely sick of it. But because her degree was midwifery, it left her with very little room to change career direction. She looked into occupational health but was told midwifery was too specialised for it, and she’s not qualified to do general nursing. She was left wishing she had done nursing first, then midwifery If still as interested later on, that way she would have had so many other career paths to fall back on.

So that is what I did, and tbh, the more adult nursing I get to know, the less midwifery appeals to me. I wonder if it could become repetitive, and I like change and diversity. However, having trained via the route I have, this can still remain an option in the future if I wish.

Also to think about is that there is less competition in nursing than midwifery, so slightly less pressure. Good luck with what you do decide, feel free to PM if you have any questions Smile

Blueberrybell · 27/03/2019 15:13

Also OP, my Uni does a two year course for graduates too, and start dates in April and Jan as well as September.