To become a nurse at my age?

[Lillyrosey]

Hello all, so any advise welcome. I. Would really love some advice from nurses though.
I am 38, single parent and ive just gone back to college to do my gcses which was huge for me in itself.
Ive been a mobile beauty therapist for a few years to fit around my children and had various part time jobs over the years.
The thing is i want to be a nurse!! And its all i think about.
I actually starting training as a nurse when i was younger but life - pregnancy, getting married and putting ex husbands career first an becoming a stay at home mum happened.
I lost alot of confidence, however im finding my feet again and i really want to become a nurse.
I was in hospital alot as a child and ive always felt i want to give something back to society in the way in which i was so kindly cared for.

The question is am AIBU and unrealistic? To start again.
I understand there will be placements and alot of study. Will i be able to do this wity my kids?? My youngest has just started school btw.

Money is an issue for part time courses, but full time you can get the loans, and claim partial benefits in UC, and have up to 85% of your childcare paid for up to a certain amount. There are no bursaries, however there may be a couple of small low income and parent allowance grants available which all add up.
I know lots of mature students, inc single parent nurses, midwives, paramedics and OT. However a lot of them have amazing Childminders, friends and family help for the shifts. I chose my degree so I didn't need anything before 7 30 or after 6 as that is where childcare gets tricky. I had wanted to be a midwife but I had a frank discussion with the lecturers and decided i wouldn't manage.
Student debt isn't the same as other debt and it's now very affordable when you come to pay it back.

You will find that about half your cohort will be mature students. Many in 30s, 40s, even 50s. Many, many with children.

The main struggle as a single parents is do you have someone to look after your children when you are doing night shifts and wrap around care for when you are working 7am - 7.30pm or later depending on your trusts shift pattern? Also you may not get any school holidays off (apart from some of Christmas holidays). We got 7 weeks off but none coincided with school holidays except a week at Christmas and a week at the end of the summer holidays.

Unis vary as to the difficulty/amount of work. I had to attend Uni for 4 days per week (one set day a week) 9.30 - 4 but sometimes we had an afternoon or 2 off. But to give an idea I had to complete about 6 essays per 1st and 2nd year - usually one when at Uni and one during placement. In final year 3 essays plus a dissertation. One or two presentations. Then a couple of exams per year plus 1 or 2 practical exams(OSCE) or oral exams (VIVA).

It is extremely hard work but very rewarding.

I meant one set day OFF per week.

I would say absolutely go for it OP. I was 29 when I did my nursing degree and made a great friend on the course who was 50. There were many mature students like us on the course. It was hard work, some days travelling to placement and starting out at 5am on public transport and not getting home until gone 11pm. But you can do it, its not forever.

My SIL just qualified as a nurse this year. She's 48, has three children - 2 still in primary school.

If you can fit the studying and placements into your life and it's something you love, then go for it!

By the way with regard to jobs there are plenty of community jobs that work short shifts (8 hour shifts) and can be easier with childcare. But while training you will have to do some hospital placements that will involve long shifts (12hrs plus). I only did 3 hospital placements out of 10 as wanted to work in the community. I did work with the night service for a week, though while having a placement in the community.

Only you can answer this.

If your desire to be a nurse outweighs all, you can do it, and I believe in you. It's a lot of learning, and it's a difficult job, but I firmly believe that only those who feel CALLED to nursing should be nurses. I think you're wonderful if that's what you feel called to do.

Your children will understand and adapt. And what's more, you'll be setting an example that it's never to late to follow a dream, and that helping other people is an admirable goal.

God bless you, and I wish for you everything that you want and need to happen.

YANBU being unreasonable for wanting to do your training, when I did mine there women people in their 50’s on the course so you’re practically a spring chicken in that regard.

As a nurse though, I do hold back these days advising people to go for it, it’s just not that great being a nurse right now. Things might change though, who knows.

Go for it.. I’ve known older than you that have succeeded!

I'd say a big fat no. I couldn't do nursing any more after 40 it was too exhausting.
I retrained after nursing and did podiatry, you can still work in the NHS but it's 9-5 and weekends off and you go up the grades much much faster, so earn more money quicker.
Your social life doesn't suffer and you don't work Christmas or bank holidays.

Do it.

Those 3/4 years of training are HARD but it's worth it. It's a tough but wonderful job.

I'm 37 and pregnant and working full time ! It's ok 👌🏻

I work Monday - Friday 9-5 admittedly but work evenings and am taking a break from the last 4 hours of work today and I'm on call.

Jobs with social hours are possible to find but I worked shifts as a single mum and loved having full days off during the week for best of both worlds

How about nurse associate?

I have no advice at all and know nothing about nursing but I think it’s brilliant that you are looking to pursue a career change for something that you care about
Huge good luck to you

Also look at the new Apprenticeship courses being made available as then you can work and earn whilst getting qualified.

There is also nursing in prisons as the varying prisons can offer hours which may fit better with childcare. Some also offer the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship which can then lead on to full Nursing qualification.

I love your attitude. You're absolutely right, the time will pass anyway, so why not be working towards your goals. I have studied lots as an adult with kids and it's a massive challenge but totally worth it. Go for it.