Considering starting a nursing degree while TTC?

[Sparkle2020]

Hi all. Cycle 16 ttc and have been working in hospitality for the last 6 years. It’s been very up and down and recently lost my job as “it’s January so we don’t need you” (great). I’ve been doing some thinking since then and have always been interested in doing nursing. I studied a year of adult nursing a few years ago but had to leave due to medical reasons (nothing that will happen again), anyway, I’m thinking maybe id like to go back? But would that be a stupid move when ttc?

I LOVE my job, nursing is one of the most flexible jobs in the world, whatever branch you're in you can find where you will be happy. You can do further training and do all sorts

Is it hard work? Absolutely. I'm 34 weeks pregnant and this is my 8th working day in a row and I'll probably do another 4 before I get a day off. I'm on call overnight tonight as well

Sadly though emergencies happen and my point was to illustrate that you can't just walk away and carry on with life in this line of work and the OP has to accept that or stay in a job where she can

You’ve totally contradicted yourself by saying nursing is flexible. It’s not, especially when you have children or are pregnant. Working 12 days in a row regardless of emergencies happening is certainly not safe for you, your baby and the patients that you care for and need assessing with your employer.

Please dont this OP.

I am a senior nurse of 20 years ... it has taken away my physical & mental well-being.

It's exhausting, demoralising & soul destroying.

I genuinely mean that .

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou Not at all. However, it is advisable to wait until you can complete the course without interruption.
The OP probably has the idea that it involves very little work and can just dip in and out to suit her lifestyle, whereas the opposite is true.
If she can't give 100% time and concentration then she will fail.
I've seen student nurses who have given their all fail right at the last minute for less.
However, if wanting the OP to wait until she can give it her all, so that she has the best chance of passing makes me a cunt, then so be it 🤷

@Blahblahblahbanana Because she is taking a place from someone who could give it their all.
It's not a Mickey mouse course where you can just come and go as you please.
You have to give it your all. The written work on its own is time consuming, then there's the placements, which go towards your final grade, as well as attending lectures.
I've seen pregnant student nurses come and go. I've listened to staff complaining that the pregnant student nurse can't carry out certain tasks, along with the pregnant student nurse in tears because I've had to mark them down in reports to their lecturers.
But you know, let's pretend it's all going to be rosy in the garden 🤷

I would say it depends how much you want it, and also what support you have with childcare. How old are you? Are you anticipating problems when ttc? How long have you been trying?
As a single parent, I timed the start of my midwifery degree with my youngest starting school. I know that nursing degrees have a similar structure and expectation of students. It is very, very full on. The childcare funding is not great, and is minimal for students with partners who work in anything but very low paid jobs.

That said, it will be worth it. There are such a broad range of jobs within nursing. The pay isn't bad and many people find the hours suit them. Oh, and you should be entitled to a second loan, nursing is exempt from the limit placed on most other courses.

@Chuffit I do know what to expect. As I said I’ve done a year of it before and was pulling firsts with my essays etc, always had excellent feedback and never missed placements. As I said I left for medical reasons (that I won’t disclose) and I had been juggling them alongside uni for about 6 months before occupational health suggested I withdraw. Those medical reasons were a lot more serious than a pregnancy. I’m not walking into something blind

I would have childcare yes, I have family members who would happily take over when needed and my partner can work from home if necessary at times

Also don’t think it’s fair to say it would be selfish. I’ve worked for my a levels etc, I’ve wrote my personal statement and will be the one doing interview etc so surely I’ll be earning my place like everyone else?

There's never a good time. I was a Ward Sister with a newborn. Far more stressful than being a student nurse. Just crack on and as long as your childcare arrangements work then it will work.

@Sparkle2020 I'm not sure the rules re funding. Its actually not that bad now if you were entitled! Probably worth speaking to someone at open day or call SAAS? I had done 1 year of another degree which didnt count but if you had done part of a nursing degree before you didnt get the bursary for that period. However I think there was a clause for health issues so make sure they know you were advised to leave. Can you skip a year or anything?
If there is no funding don't give up, you can be employed as a HCSW with NHS and then apply to do it through them, you get paid your wage throughout the course and work on your ward throughout. Theres only 2 times in my life I've felt like this is what I'm supposed to do with my life...the first day I worked on the ward as a student nurse and the first day I held my baby boy in my arms.
I had help from my MIL, actually stayed with them for 9 months as my husband was moved abroad, they did drop offs and pick ups when I was on a day shift. They work full time though so it was drop offs plus rare emergency childcare. Feel free to pm if you have any other questions.

@Chuffit I've been pregnant twice during the course, bf til 17 months so up 4 times a night and had to do it all on my own for 9 months while my husbands job was moved abroad. I never failed an assignment and got an A on every placement, even the 2 where I finished 20 weeks pregnant, even the 1 where I had to feed my 9m old at 5am then do a 12h shift then come home to do bedtime and feed 5 times until my alarm went off at 5 again. I worked my ass off and I certainly don't feel like I was taking a place from a more deserving student (especially as most nursing courses in my area are under subscribed and going to clearing). As I said, as soon as i am able to i will give at least 30 years to nursing in the NHS and the majority of the girls I studied with will take some time out over the next 10 years to have children. I just did things in a different order. I've seen some young student nurses get marked down because they come into placement hungover or call in sick 15 minutes before a shift because they want to go out. But they dont seem to get judged as much!

Providing you have a supportive partner or family I think you should go for it, yes it is hard but also rewarding.

@Chuffit op had already done a year of a nursing degree so knows what the course entails. I’m also a currently doing a health degree, so also know all about uni work, placements and unsupportive mentors. Sounds like you’re very judgemental and from what you’ve said on here, not a very compassionate mentor to your students.

Go for it OP.

If I had put my job, training and traveling on hold while TTC I would have stayed in a job I hated and not progressed in my career for 4 years. I have a clinical NHS role.

My sister is currently at uni whilst looking after her 2 year old. It's not easy but it will be worth it.

I personally think when TTC you should keep your life as stress free as possible and everything else fairly consistent. I know myself when I found out I was pregnant with DD, the first 12 weeks I was sick as a dog (and had to take a few weeks off work). From week 13 to 30 I was fine but gradually found work harder as my job is one where you're on your feet all the time. From week 30 to my mat leave starting my back was in pieces and every shift was a struggle.

I can't imagine how much harder it would be if I was at uni and training to be a nurse which is a notoriously stressful job.

Honestly, I'd either pause TTC, do the degree and have a year or two of working to get into it (don't under estimate how hard it is coming back to a job after mat leave, either). If this isn't possible, then I'd put it off until my child was in primary school.

I understand that it probably does seem like you're putting your life on hold for an indefinite amount of time, but I think the stress of TTC and a new job would have made me absolutely miserable and burnt out. I'd think about what you want most and prioritise that.

@Chuffit as a nurse I find your views on nurses having a family whilst still working shocking. You sound like the most unsupportive, unhelpful colleague out there

Because she is taking a place from someone who could give it their all.

What the fuck @Chuffit?

So people who start the degree who already have have children should just sack it off because they won't be as good?
What a load of bollocks.

I've seen pregnant student nurses come and go. I've listened to staff complaining that the pregnant student nurse can't carry out certain tasks

You talk as though qualified nurses don't get pregnant and can't always carry out tasks.
What is the difference exactly? Between a pregnant student a qualified nurse and difficult tasks?
I'll tell you - fuck all.

What a horrible thread

If some of the comments on here had been made by men there would be uproar

OP do what works for you and ignore some of the bitches on here

@Sparkle2020 I think if you’ve been ttc for 16 months then before starting a degree you should pay for a private fertility MOT for you and your husband. It could be that you have something wrong and may need fertility treatment in which case all the advice is to keep your life as stress free as possible and to not make any major life changes.

I do understand the putting life on hold thing as I am doing ivf and have put on hold holidays, promotions in work, work travel etc. It is crap. But I think figuring out whether you’re going to have a real problem or not is the most important information you’ll need before starting a degree.

I definitely think you could do a degree alongside having a pregnancy/baby but I would definitely have discussed and made a plan of:

• how you will cope financially
• how your household will run (ie cleaning/minding baby/ shopping) given you will be working and studying and presumably your DH working too (ie what are your expectations of what he will do/how much slack he will pick up when you’ve exams and how they match to what he thinks.)
• what realistic childcare do you have (ie family might help out but will they help out short notice/overnight etc)

Then you can make an informed decision about what to do.

You’ve totally contradicted yourself by saying nursing is flexible. It’s not, especially when you have children or are pregnant. Working 12 days in a row regardless of emergencies happening is certainly not safe for you, your baby and the patients that you care for and need assessing with your employer.

I feel I'm not articulating myself well.

I'm a clinical lead working at senior leadership level I'm not directly nursing people so don't worry clients are safe and well under the supervision of my team who have a nice work/life balance. Unfortunately an emergency at one of my sites has led to the current situation. I have a couple of very poorly clients and so I'm trying to balance their needs. I'm not working 12 x 12 hour days either or even 12 days at work, worked from home last weekend. Sadly I'm battling a system and that takes time.

Thankfully I and baby are very well. I have a very amazing consultant who understands the demands of my job, gives excellent advice, and cares very well for me.

Nursing IS FLEXIBLE though. You don't have to work at such a demanding level. Once you have that RN title you can work in a variety of environments with a variety of groups of people even a variety of countries. If you want regular hours work in community services 9-5 if you want shifts work hospitals. You can work term time only, you can work for emergency services, you can work for the NHS or private companies, you can be self employed and you're own limited company. If you don't suit one area of work there are a million others.

The nursing shortage means you have a lot of choice.

*I've seen pregnant student nurses come and go. I've listened to staff complaining that the pregnant student nurse can't carry out certain tasks
*
And the only problem here is that the qualified nurses are nasty bitches. Students are there to learn not do the work for them.