To do a second degree in nursing or one of the allied health professions?

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I've always wanted to work in healthcare, but been put off it for various reasons. I have good qualifications which will help the transition (a degree and MSc in molecular biology). I've recently quit my job with nothing lined up due to needing a complete break and a chance to reflect on what I want to do next.

I'm considering applying for a second degree in nursing or one of the allied health professions, I think I can squeeze in an application for the September 2023 intake.

Has anyone else done this? How did you know it was the right decision for them? Are you happy with the decision?

I'm considering children's nursing, radiography or SLT. I have no idea how to choose between them.

Don’t train to be a nurse.
And I say this as someone whose been a nurse for coming up to 16 years.

It’s a really shitty profession to be in.

Salt is a three year degree now, not four. I did the second degree thing and graduated last year and I do love my job (SLT working in adult community LD). In hindsight I’m glad I didn’t do the masters 2 year route as the sheer content to get through would have been tough in that shorter timescale.

Worth looking carefully at any courses you consider though in terms of their placement timings - I went to De Montfort and we got very lucky with COVID in that our placements were largely out of the way and done when lockdown happened, compared to Sheffield where their placements are all happening in full swing now, going into the summer so they had much more disruption - also to be a factor in terms of if you have your own kids in terms of school holidays etc.

I do genuinely love my job but I chose the area of SLT I targeted for job hunting carefully - did a couple of days shadowing acute SLT last month and I don’t think that area of it would have been good for me (important to show you’re aware if you apply that SLT also covers swallowing assessments even though it’s not in the job title) but I think it’s one huge positive of the profession that there are so many different areas you can think about working in and I know that Learning Disabilities is an area some people would really not enjoy either! Also we are by far the chattiest bunch going at work events compared to all the other AHPs!

Occupational therapy is a good option

Have you considered training as a Physican Associate?

In terms of work-life - I’m very much left to plan my own diary in my role, but with general working hours and a “don’t take the piss” understanding in terms of if I need to make up time or leave early for something. Ward based peers have much more rigid hours and some of our “crisis” type teams do have cover rotas going into the evening and on weekends - more so in some of our neighbouring trusts than ours.

I do get constant recruitment messages on LinkedIn from the private sector as well - mainly for paediatric work but some for adults.

DD1 is currently really keen on the idea of radiography- or YouTube stardom as career plans (perhaps she just thinks they both involve taking photos)!

Most AHP professions have virtual work experience events online which might help you to choose what would suit you.

I think that radiography can be a very varied and brilliant career but be aware it often requires an element of shift work. And areas such as mammography and ultrasound will need to extend service hours to 7 day working until 10pm in the future. Also don’t dismiss /main xray- there are now lots of chances to specialise within planar imaging- such as image interpretation and radiographer led triage and discharge in ED as well as theatre or fluoroscopy advanced practice such as joint injections, pic line placement etc etc

DD is a therapeutic radiographer treating patients with cancer. She loves it. You get to know your patients, work is mainly weekdays, regular hours, good career progression.Of course it can be emotionally draining of course but there is also a sense of team work built up.
There is physics involved but it is specific to the needs of the training and the job - DD got a U in AS Physics and it didn't hold her back. The NHS is desperate for both types of radiographer, diagnostic and therapeutic.

What about pharmacy? I've worked as a hospital pharmacist for about 20 years and really love it.

Look in to occupational therapy..im a nurse and if I was to retrain it would be in this.

I'm an SLT considering leaving the profession.

You will probably come across a lot of people in AHPs and nursing currently who feel the same!

SLT is a brilliant job, really and truly - but working for the health service is utterly draining at times.

My advice is definitely think about what area you'd like to go into (in each profession) as the role can massively vary from one specialism to the next.

Orthoptics and dietetics are also worth looking at !

As you know the STP clinical scientist route is extremely competitive. However if you look at the different specialities within the STP you'll find that some of them have alternative ways to qualify. If there are any you are interested in, Google the profession to see what other routes might be open to you.

Some SaLTs are employed directly by schools

For anyone wanting to get an idea of the range of NHS professions available, in addition to those frequently mentioned - the STP lists approx 30 different specialist roles a clinical scientist can work in

Just completed a degree in Radiography as a mature student (40) and absolutely loved it. I have 3 job offers but have chosen one of the hospitals in which I worked as a student.

The physics really isn't too bad.

I would also recommend work experience days so you can get a feel for the different roles, it will help for your uni application by giving you something to talk about and to show that you know what you are signing up for.

As someone else has mentioned, diagnostic radiography, while great, can be a nightmare when you’re on at night. I’m my case (and many other hospitals) you’re on your own covering the whole hospital in the evening and through the night. You have to cover all wards (NNU which can take you away from your department for half an hour), a&e, theatre, ct and arranging any ward patients to come to you. You are pulled in every direction and and everyone’s patient is more urgent than the others! We are also very short staffed (I’m contracted for 30 hours but have often worked 60+ just to cover vacant shifts). Would I train in it again? No, def not but then I wouldn’t want to do anything in the NHS now.

@Dotcheck yes I know. I work in a school but in the area I work SALT is employed by the health service not the school/education board. I wish!

One of the reasons why I'd encourage OP to look into the logistics before she makes any decisions about a degree!

If you can’t pick, you don’t know enough about any of the courses or professions; none of them are courses you can just choose and hope you like it, it has to be something you genuinely want to do.

My advice (as a nurse) is to spend a little longer researching each profession thoroughly before making your decision, not just picking one quickly so you can get in for September intake.

Public Health. Do a masters in public health and you could walk into a health protection or practitioner role.

My top choice is children's nursing, but I have so many people saying negative things about it to me and saying that I should do one of the allied health professions instead... At the moment, I would like to work in the community or in a GP surgery after qualifying, but I'm conscious that I won't really know what area of specialism I would want to go into until I've experienced them during the course.

I don't have children, I'm single and in my 20s so feel like it's a bit of a 'now or never' situation where I have the freedom and flexibility to pursue this without worrying too much about the logistics of placements.

I have considered being a PA, but the course isn't funded and I can't afford £20,000+ of uni fees plus no living costs for 2 years.

I'm an SLT and have been for over 20 years. Love my job.

I've moved to being employed directly by a charity rather than the NHS. There's so many organisations employing SLTs now, not just NHS/Local Authorities.

Also thank you so much everyone for the helpful replies, each comment has been so helpful to me :)

There are PA apprenticeships which might be worth a look at.

Thanks so much for all the information.

SLT would give you the option of self employment.