nurses…

[neroforte]

hi! i’m a 16 year old, currently trying to figure out what to do with my life lol. i am interested in becoming a nurse, specifically a children’s nurse! i was wondering if A) my plan (below) sounds viable, and B) if people could give me their experiences and journeys into this job.

my plan:
step 1 • do 2, level 2 and level 3, qualifications at open uni (i can’t go to college due to not getting enough gcse’s), in child development and biology courses
step 2 • get a job in healthcare, just so i can show that i have some sort of experience in a hospital
step 3 (part A) • do an honours at open uni, in children and young adult nursing, which says i must be working in a relevant environment, and have the support of my employer.
step 4 (part B) • OR, do a nursing apprenticeship, but i don’t know much about this route.
please and thank you!

Do you have grade c or above in English an Maths and science?

yes for english and maths, i didn’t get a science gcse (part of why i can’t go to college) due to the secondary i went to for my gcse year (it’s complicated), which is why i’m doing level 2’s and 3’s at open uni, instead of alevels at college.

What about a HCA apprenticeship and then a nursing degree after?

If they offer the nursing apprenticeships for children's nurses then absolutely that route. You earn while you learn.

As far as I'm aware you'll need to resist your English and maths (possibly science as well) before you'll be able to do a nursing degree. Do this asap, don't lose momentum, I got good GCSE's but a D in maths and although I did a degree and I'm halfway through a PhD without it being an issue, I'm going to have to get my maths GCSE to be able to do a teaching qualification.

You can go to college and get into level 1 or 2 without the GCSEs, my partner is a college lecturer and teaches level 1 and 2 specifically. Do these in relevant subjects. Progress as much as you can in college, alongside the GCSEs you need and then apply for uni.

Talk to an advisor at college, a lot of the time if you're enthusiastic and willing to learn etc, they'll find where you need to be and put you there. They want you in as much as you want to be there.

@Spinxsta

What about a HCA apprenticeship and then a nursing degree after?

just looked at that, closest one is london, i live more south!

@JaneTheVirgin

If they offer the nursing apprenticeships for children's nurses then absolutely that route. You earn while you learn.

assuming i’d do this after completing my level 3’s, one of these say ‘Be employed in healthcare and supported to undertake the course by your employer.’ does anyone have any good ideas of how to get a job while i’m taking my level 2’s and 3’s??

You can do the nursing as a mature student. Get a job. Any job. Be good at it. Sort out the required gcse situation, when you're ready. Apply as a more confident nature student.

@PickAChew

You can do the nursing as a mature student. Get a job. Any job. Be good at it. Sort out the required gcse situation, when you're ready. Apply as a more confident nature student.

i’ve been trying to get a job for months but sadly due to my age, educational history, a baby and lack of work experience it’s been unsuccessful, so i’m now looking at remaining in education full time, and my dream job would be to work with kids, so a bit of research and i discovered a children’s nurse, and have been looking into possible avenues into it all night.

Have you looked into getting a job in the nhs as maybe a hca signing paediatrics and resitting your gcse’s alongside in order to obtain the required grades and then looking into a secondment from your job to train. That way you are earning a wage and then can meet your goals via a salaried route?

Start with resitting your GCSEs and ask at some care homes if they have part time work, this will give you some practical experience in the care field whilst getting the GCSE grades you need. Then do level 1 and 2, or an aprentiship if you can get it.

@HalzTangz

Start with resitting your GCSEs and ask at some care homes if they have part time work, this will give you some practical experience in the care field whilst getting the GCSE grades you need. Then do level 1 and 2, or an aprentiship if you can get it.

thank you. do you have any advice on what to write on my CV when applying to these jobs (the part time ones, to build experience)?

Whereabouts do you live?

I live East London/Essex and honestly, employers are screaming out for workers now.

My 18yr old DS needed a job before he goes off to Uni in October. He's applied for 7 jobs ranging from coffee shops to supermarkets, to the local cinema and he's been interviewed and accepted for every single one of them!

These places are VERY short staffed due to Covid because they would typically be filled with foreign workers who have gone home.

No help here but best of luck OP!

No practical advice to give, but I just wanted to say that you sound very mature and focussed. Good luck

I noticed you said you have a baby, do you have a very good support system around you because if it will be very difficult to do a nursing degree if you don’t ( I know that’s not what you asked but it is something you need to consider)

step 1 • do 2, level 2 and level 3, qualifications at open uni (i can’t go to college due to not getting enough gcse’s), in child development and biology courses

Have you spoken to the colleges about their entry requirements? Sometimes there can be some flexibility e.g. doing a L3 BTEC in health and social care alongside resitting your science GCSE (congratulations on getting grade 4 or above in your English and Maths!)

step 3 (part A) • do an honours at open uni, in children and young adult nursing, which says i must be working in a relevant environment, and have the support of my employer.

The Open Uni is fab, but you've got 5 choices on your UCAS form that you'll need to fill out, and children's nursing is competitive so you need to think about options other than the OU.

You will also need to check with multiple universities that they will accept your OU L2/3 qualifications for entry. If you're not sure, drop the admissions team an email and ask - they're always super nice and these enquiries are a big part of their job. I'd hate to think of you in a situation where you study hard and then find that the qualifications you've done aren't sufficient for entry!

One route you don't appear to have considered is a foundation year, after doing your L3 qualifications, such as www.surrey.ac.uk/undergraduate/nursing-studies-registered-nurse-childrens-nursing#entry

As for getting a job right now - if you can fit a job around full time study and a baby then I seriously take my hat off to you (do you have a supportive family?). Care homes are a really good option - though your age (insurance?) and the current covid situation may make things trickier as you can't have been vaccinated yet. When applying for nursing degrees, admissions tutors really want to see work in a caring capacity - this doesn't need to be in a hospital!

step 4 (part B) • OR, do a nursing apprenticeship, but i don’t know much about this route.

It should be noted that degree apprenticeships are fab, but insanely competitive. Do apply if you feel it's the right option for you, but keep your options open and do a UCAS application too!

I'm in Scotland so slightly different but your age would affect things in that you wouldn't be able to work certain hours before you are 18 (nightshifts is definitely not allowed). Here you would work as a healthcare support worker (though they are unlikely to take you on before you are 18) then after a few years you can ask to be put through your training. You can work as a bank worker and choose which shifts suit your childcare or get a contracted job on a specific ward . The access to nursing route is great too. You do one year at college which is a really tough year, was way harder than my first year at uni. So then you catch up academically and join uni in second year.

You are very young and have significant caring concerns so I would recommend taking your time and get your GCSE'S first before applying to uni. A nursing degree is not impossible to do with baby (I had 2 during mine) but it is a really tough 3 years and you need to be super super organised and have great childcare and support.

I wouldn't discount more traditional nursing schools than OU if you don't have the grades right now, they have great facilities such as clinic skills centres and libraries and there is a lot of benefit to getting to know a cohort who will be nursing with you when you qualify. People I've known who have done OU tend to have been health care support workers who have worked for many years and have full support of their bosses and a good network of nurses.

I would really seriously consider whether you want to work shifts in the long run.
I am a nurse but I think I would have chosen something else if I had really thought about the reality of shift work and raising a family.

Hi OP, I'm just about to qualify as a children's nurse! There are so many options once you are qualified so you won't necessarily be working shifts for your whole career.
Others above have given more practical advice regarding GCSEs etc - I would reiterate what PPS have said about getting any employment - nursing degrees involve placement and having experience of any customer service or care will be helpful but you'll be taught from scratch so don't worry if you can't get a job in care. What I would recommend is also doing some volunteering with children or babies (school, children's centre, SEN respite etc) before you apply for the degree course.
The open uni course you need to be seconded by your employer which would likely mean already working in a paeds setting. Dont write off the traditional uni route - its a touch course and making friends who are in the same boat is really important, along with the support you can access through university. Its worth having a look at your local universities and discussing with them what they are looking for/entry requirements.
You mentioned that you have a baby - if you are currently completing level 2 and 3 then you should be entitled to some free childcare once you start training, and placements are generally flexible about rotas with students who have children.
It is a really tough course but so rewarding. Let me know if you have any questions about the training and I can try to help.
Best of luck to you!!

The other route would be an access course in healthcare and then go,on to nursing.

The issue with an OU course sponsored by the employer is that there is a lot of competition, you may need to be in the role a certain amount of time and some Trusts aren’t doing it anymore.

I’m in mental health and our Trust is no longer sponsoring OU, the route now is Nursing Associate course then foundation nursing degree.

Can you not do a BTEC now, I know our local college supports through repeat gcse while studying a BTEC. You are going to need to show you can perform in a degree so BTEC is coursework mostly which will be ideal with your baby

I would totally recommend the trainee nurse associate route in your circumstance - this is the "nurse apprentice" type thing. You would only need equivalent of c in maths and english gcse, and your care certificate, which most HCA employers would support you to get anyway. In the two Trusts I cover, you do need to be working in the Trust to be able to apply, and need to be 18.

www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/nursing-support-workers/become-a-nursing-associate

After completing this, you could then do the one year conversion to peadiatric nursing. But as it will give you a good, all round nursing experience, you might even find an area you prefer to childrens!

V quick look at the NHS jobs site, shows this Paediatric Trainee Nursing Associate post being advertised, so you can see what would be needed.

beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9249-21-9096

It says a-levels, so doing an alevel equivalent BTEC in health and social care would work perfectly.

I'd go for level 3 Btec. You have GCSE maths and english at C or above so there's no reason for you to start at the 2.
I'd ask about doing biology GCSE alongside.
As part of your Btec the college will also find you a placement where you will gain practical skills. ( I'd also be looking at nurseries - not just care homes).
Once I had my level 3 I'd start looking at nursing degrees.

Also remember most colleges and universities have nurseries on site so you don't have to feel you need to go with Open University.
There are lots of people in your position.