Access to Health studies - Nursing & Midwifery course

[Jasmum]

I'm due to start an Access course in September in Health Studies - Nursing & Midwifery. Is anyone else doing this course? I would like to find more about the actual course content & wondered if anyone knew where I could find info on the subjects covered/curriculum?
I've searched the internet but can't find what I'm looking for......

my interview was really informal, the lecturer explained all about the course and its contents etc, there was four of us sat with her and to be honest, it was'nt really an interview, didnt seem like one anyway, she told us there and then that we were welcome to join the course but we must be prepared to work hard.
im doing the part time one aswell, suits me better with the kids.

You know emma the more i think about it the more i think i've got the wrong emma. I'll probably see you at college and either not recognise you at all or you'll be someone else.

What house were you in ata school again ??

Are you two going to the same college then? Do you know each other from school too?

Glad the interview doesn't sound too bad - so they didn't ask any questions about why you want to do the course,etc?

Do you do any placements?

Yep Wallace we went to the same school, and i think we were in a few classes together.
I haven't signed up for the course yet, but am going on friday, and if i get in i will be in the same class as Tiredemma.

Most of college is usually pretty informal when you are an adult learner.
We are luck in that the college we will be at has lots of facilities that are for the adult learners only, so we don't have to use the same canteen as the school leavers for example.

Oh sorry, missed a question.
No you don't do any placements.
They may ask you why you want to do the course, but they will noly be expecting a short answer, you don't have to go into detail.

OK - just in case I do get asked any awkward questions I would like you guys to tell me:

1.Why do you want to do the course?
2.Do you plan to go on to do nursing or midwifery?
3.What attracts you to nursing/midwifery?

I am not just asking for the interview...I really am interested.

Wow lots of people want to be nurses

I am hoping to do an adult nursing diploma in the next few years, seriously considering applying for September 2005 intake.

I never did an acess course but if anyone is interested you can get NVQs through working as a carer which also is the right qualification for the diploma.

Hi Guys, I have finally been to the college and there are still some places on the part time day for september so i have the forms to fill in, and send back this week.
There is a prob though. The college nursery is full on tuesdays (day of course), and although the college would pay for alternative childcare, they would only do that until a place became available in their nursery, which would mean Ds getting setled and then having to move again.
I can't think how to get around this at the mo.

Tiredemma - Are your kids going to the nursery ??

Wallace -

1. I want to do the course as i feel that it would prepare me well for uni.

2. I plan to go on to do either Childrens nursing or speech and language therapy.

3. Actually not sure, just haven't been able to get it out of my head since i thought of it 6 years ago.

Jenn - Yeah you are right about the NVQ but is is very very hard to get into Midwifery with just NVQ. I know a few people who have been turned down. Mind you a few who have the access course have been too.

wallace-
1.want to do the course to gain the relevant skills to get into uni, im also really keen to learn again.
2.i really want to do a degree in midwifery, i know its difficult to get into but if i work hard and get relevant experience then i stand just as much chance as the next person to get on the course. if i dont get into midwifery straight away then im prepared to do a degree in nursing and then do 18mths shortened degree in midwifery after.
3.its difficult to put into a sentence why i want to be a midwife, its just something that i feel really passionate about and im determined to do it!

nutty- my two are already in a nursery because of me already being at work, i understand your concerns about the nursery though, although kids do adapt and can make friends anywhere, i bet because you are with your ds everyday, your underlying worry is leaving him full stop!he'll have lots of fun at both nurseries, my harry often asks to go to nursery on a saturday! he says we are not as much fun as the aunties at nursery!

just found this thread and found it a little staggering quite how many people are planning to go nursing! The access is fab, all colleges are slightly different. I took,
Muscuo skeletal systems
Psych foundation and psych health
Socio foundation and socio health
Biology of health and illness
health promotion
professional practice
maths aaahhhhhhh
study skills
personal development ( which is UCAS NMAS stuff)
I loved it, lots of hard work, be really well organised and its possible. I found being a single mum was a real advantage as when DD is in bed (only 1 when i started) i had a long night to study. Do all assignments when they arrive, and plan any that are disscussed.
Your college will help you with applications, if you want to to midwifery apply through UCAS only for that, is the reccomendation? if you apply for both nursing degree and midwifery its more likely they will offer you nursing as there are more places.
Places are increasingly competeive for all nursing midwifery stuff. I applied for midwifery degree and was shortlisted but didnt get an offer from my local uni and the one that did offer me a slot was too far away. So i had also applied for nursing diploma. Im really glad that i did, i gt the place and will have a full bursary, that i dont have to pay back. So financially much better. My uni gives us the option of taking extra credits to top up for degree. So 1 year post grad at the expense of my employer ill be a degree qualified nurse in whatever field i choose to specialise. hoorah!
to buy....
andrew northedge's good study guide... often appears in op shops? yellow and blue cover an OU publication, is often used.

I also bought Tortora and grabowski principles of anatomy and physiology.
Gross psychology
Haralambos and holborn sociology
Potters and perrys foundations in nursing theory and practice
nursing law and ethics Tingle and cribb
Health promotion Naidoo and wills
The maths for uni is very easy so dont stress when you get that far. Sample question from mine was what is the 4th month? and it was multiple choice!
The interview for access was a real breeze. like a friendly caht
I felt the college just really wanted us to pass. Its good for them to get people into uni doing what they want. Out of our course 10 applied for midwifery and 2 got in. 3 applied for nursing diploma and 2 of us got in, 3 applied for nusring degree and all got in, 2 radiographers and 2 got in, 1 physio and 2 OT.
Paediatics is the hardest nursing stream to get into, least places generally and alot of people want it. I think a good why you why paeds gets it?
i also bought a file for each subject and have again for this year.... scarey now!
buy lots of tescos value wallets, the a4 ones as they are cheap good and are removed when everyone wants them! so buy early (if they reappear?)web sites i used that may not occur straight away are www.ivillage.co.uk
www.guardiansociety.co.uk
these both ahve some good stuff on that can be refernced... the bane of your life from now on! but i just know that wont do!
NVQ's are fab too, i have a friend with NVQ 3 and is doing mental health on secondment however she did the access too and really found it very hard. she didnt complete but has a place without completeing.
The best bit is now watching casulaty and holby city and really knowing what they are talking about!
it takes on a whole new light.
Go for it!

Just to answer the questions-

1.Why do you want to do the course?
Because its what I know, I love being a HCA and I feel that this is the logical step in my career.
2.Do you plan to go on to do nursing or midwifery?
Nursing, adult branch
3.What attracts you to nursing/midwifery?
Looking after people, making a real difference. Also the medical side interests me, I am good at the more practical basic side already and I look forward to learning the technical stuff

Nutty NVQs are not guarentees, but the fact that mine comes with nearly 10 yrs experience helps a lot

Thanks everyone for their answers, and thanks chloe for all the info.

My answers are:
1.Why do you want to do the course?
To see if this is really what I want to do - to see if I do enjoy as much as i think I will IYKWIM

2.Do you plan to go on to do nursing or midwifery?
I am swithering between paediatric nursing or midwifery. Only problems being they do neither at our local uni (only do a post nursing midwifery course)

3.What attracts you to nursing/midwifery?
The medical side really intertests me - my dd was born with a heart defect and needed open heart surgery (I know what chloe means about knowing what they are talking about on Holby etc)
The couple of times dd has been in hospital were when my interest started. I was amazed by the job the nurses do...I think it would be a wonderful thing to be doing.

Hi again guys, I have now sent off my forms, and my mom has said that she will request tuesdays off to have Ds for me, unitl a nursery place becomes available.
I have been told that i will get the nursery place paid for and will be given a grant for books, travel, and other expenses

Just need to make sure i am organised this time. I don't want to drop out again.

Hey nut cracker thats great! i got help with books and travel for my access course. and im sure a place will come up for nursery! Its well worth doing, just thought i havent answered the why etc questions.
1/ want to be a nusrs for two very different reasons,
a/ i have allways considered it, allways wanted to hepl people and it will also give me a rewarding career and will renew my aussie residency! is the other advantage!

2/ adult branch because i would like to go on and do the 18 month midwifery programme. Im not sure at thhe mo tho as ive just loved an A and E placement!!!! ahhhhhhh so i may do another rotational D grade post before i make my mind up!
I would have considered doing paeds but its really tough to get into and i didnt enjoy my paeds work placement. Found it boring and didnt feel it was challenging enough. A more HD unit may have been more up my street?

good luck

I'm starting an access course to health studies in September too!! Hopefully, to go on to do OT. Haven't decided whether to do it over 1 or 2 years yet. Really looking forward to it, though.

hey nutty hows the sorting out collage going xxxxxxx

I got in!

I will be doing it part-time over about two years. I have to be in for three days next week for an induction - this will be tricky trying to sort out childcare! Then I will start the week after.

Comgratulations Wallace

I have now applied formally but am having big probs with the childcare and funding.
I cannot fill my funding form out properly yet as dp has just started a new job so i don't have the figures i need. Without the funding I would have to pay for the course (which i cannot afford to do) and pay for childcare.
At the mo there is also no places at the college nursery. I am happy to send Ds elsewhere but not happy about moving him back to the college when a place becomes available.

I am going to the college on tuesday to try and sort it all out and enrol.

I am not to worried about it as the course doesn't beginn until the 14th and when i did it before people joined up to two weeks after anyway.

Did you get sorted out?

I had my enrolment and induction last the week before last, and had my first day last week!
I am doing every thursday morning to start with. The modules I am doing are "Practical Caring Skills" and "Teamwork"

Glad to hear it's going well Wallace

I am still having ,mega probs.
I tried to enroll but couldn't cos my form still hasn't been processed.
They have said that there is definatly still places on the course but they are way behind with interviews. The course is supposed to start a week tuesday.
I still don't have any childcare for Ds either as they wrote to me saying there wasn't a place for him and that they would contact me on the 3rd, and they didn't. I will have to ring them monday.
I have managed to get the after school club places sorted for Dd's and the staff there think i may get funding from the college for the fees too, which would be good.

If i haven't heard from the college by the end of the week then i'll have to go up and demand (nicely) to speak to someone who can sort it all out.

Nik, when do you start ???

i start on the 20th and my induction is next monday

i hope you get it all sorted nutty xxxxxx they dont make it very easy for people with children do they i really shouted at the student support man and e pulled his finger out of his bum at last ,

how the new house ???

God this is turning into a nightmare.

I had a call yesterday from someone at the college who told me the course was full. He waffled on for 5 minutes until I relised he still thought i wanted full time (have only told them part time a thousand times).
When he finally understood me he then said "oh well that is full aswell.

My friend then called them and she was not told it was full.
I rang back again and spoke to someone else who asked no less than 5 people, all of whom didn't know if it was full or not.
My friend then rang the other site and spoke to a woman who said that she thought the bloke i spoke to was getting mixed up and that she had given him our forms that day. FFS we sent them in 4 weeks ago and they have only just been sent to the right person.

I rang back again and the woman i spoke to said that the man i spoke to was only supposed to tell new applicatnts that it is full, but obviously if he only got given our form yesterday he does think we are new appliacants.

She said that they may be putting on another class but they aren't sure yet. She is going to ring me at 4 today to let me know whats going on.
Depending on what she says me and my friend may go up to the college tonight and demand to speak to someone who knows what they are doing.

So now i have all my childcare sorted out and no college place

Nikcola- So pleased college is sorted for you and dd. Good luck, it will be fine and i know you will enjoy it.
Student support are crap aren't they, since i gave them my form for funding i haven't heard a thing.
The house is great thanks. Haven't done as much as we would like to of yet as dp is lazy and we are broke, but it's getting there slowly.

Nutty - keep at it, you really will enjoy it when you finally get there. I've studied at three different colleges and student support has been rubbish at all of them. Ds1 started at college today - I'm hoping it'll be different for him.

Have just done a seperate thread on this but anyway.

I am NOT going back to college. They have said that because my friend completed her first term AND did her exams, that she can start straight in to yr2 and finnish in a year.

Because i did all the first terms work but didn't do the exams i have to start all over again and repeat all the identical work, tests, presentations that i already did in the first term.

It will just be too much of a rush for me to drop the kids off at school and try and get to college on time and i would have to come back on the bus in rush hour too, so i'm not going back at all now.
Friend will be doing a different day so i won't get a lift anymore.

I am sooo upset, more than i though and have struggled to stop crying since i found out.

It's my own fault though.

Hope you all get on well on your courses, good luck