To ask you to please help me choose

[choicestobemade]

I'm trying to decide which university place to take up, and need to make the decision this week. The choice is between Children's Nursing and Speech and Language Therapy.

I can see myself enjoying both careers, and really can't decide. I've done a lot of research into both and speaking to SALT and nurses, but still finding it hard to decide. I've got a list of pros and cons below and would really appreciate any advice or opinions please! I have bored all my family and friends discussing this with them lol. Thank you

• Children's Nursing: More broad in scope, aligns with my interest in biology and I think I'd enjoy working on busy wards and working as a team with other healthcare professionals. The cons are that I am a little squeamish with vomit, but feel like my care for the patient would override that in the moment and I'd soon get used to it.
• Speech and Language: I like that I can have placements with adults and children, but think after I qualify I would want to work with children, I have a niece with ASD and the idea of helping children like her sounds so rewarding. I like that I can work out in the community and visit schools etc. However, I worry I'd miss the Biology side of things e.g. the variety of patients you would see as a nurse

Take a year out get work experience wherever you can. You sound very hesitant.

honestly a year working/volunteering/ studying could work wonders for you.

good luck

Think about the hours and shifts you want to work.

I'd be thinking about long term work v home life. When you're married and/or have kids would you be happy working shift patterns as a nurse?

Salt would be better working hours

What is career progression like in each?

Why not consider working with adults and/or children with neurological disorders as a SLT? That way you have more of a biological element in your career.

It depends what you want in life. If you're indecisive then I would say that being an SLT offers more variable options in terms of working environments. It's easier to go freelance down the line as well if that is something that appeals. No one can decide this for you though!

SALT -huge variety of care opportunities. For example you could work with children in a community setting or you could work with head and neck cancer patients in hospital. And currently no shift/unsocial hours or on call commitments.

Maybe quicker/easier progression through AFC banding too.

There are aspects of SALT that deal with feeding and swallowing.
You could still work in hospitals helping people who are in rehab to speak following a stroke or people / children with feeding difficulties.

Only you can decide but lots of different opportunities in SALT community, Special schools, early years, hospitals.
You can also qualify as a Sensory Integration therapist as a SALT and would work with lots of Neurodivergent children especially those with ASD.

Thank you all. I have done work experience in different settings but I feel like I like both options, and can see myself doing either!

It's a good point about shifts though. Whilst I'm happy doing them now, I'm not sure if I'll feel the same 30+ years down the line... I've also read that progression happens more quickly in SLT vs nursing where you can be stuck at band 5 for years?

In your situation I would probably choose SaLT.
The work life balance is much better from what I have seen.
Also the variety is good as its such a broad speciality, from the more biological parts like swallow assessments and dysphagia to more technological and creative parts like eyegaze tech and accessible communication.
Plus the places you can work are just as spread as nursing, there are SaLTs in the hospitals, and schools, community teams and in learning disability services. But it seems more secure as a job for life as the physical demands are significantly less and there are more higher band positions that are still patient focussed rather than shifting into managerial work

If you want progression don't do the nursing. I've been a nurse 20 years and I'm still a band 5 due to lack of progression.

children's nurse u will be exposed to all sorts of interesting things, every day is different x

I've now received an offer to study SALT this year so I think I'm going to go with it! I didn't expect to be made an offer, just thought I'd try for this year and see what happened!

Congratulations that’s great news. I’m sure you will enjoy the course and placements.

Modern nurse training is an ordeal, with a high attrition rate. You’d be working long shifts and unsociable hours for free, it wouldn’t appeal to me at all these days. Great news about the acceptance on the SALT training course! Good luck, hope you enjoy it.

Great news OP! Congratulations.