Student nurse

[Sezza1980]

Hi i wondered if anyone is a student nurse at the moment and could help. I am wanting to do a childrens nursing degree but worried if i would be able to do the shifts etc ive got 3 children all school age but also wanted to know if its every week you get shifts or like 3 months placement and then 3 months uni etc? thanks

Hi.
It tends to be placements of up to 12 weeks at a time.
Shifts are 12.5 hours, 7.30am starts, 8pm finishes.
Night shifts 7.30pm-8am.
Bank holidays, Christmas, new year are all normal working days you will be expected to work them.
I missed school events, parents evenings, plays etc.
Academic work is also expected to be completed during placements.
It’s very tough.
Do you have good support with your children for overnight care, school tuns etc?

Hi thank you yes ive got good family support but its really like nights shifts as my husband works nights so could be really tricky.

Hi thank you yes ive got good family support but its really like nights shifts as my husband works nights so could be really tricky. I'd have a serious think about it as nights will just be normal on most placements.

The nights won't just be on some placements either, once you've qualified it will be a normal part of your working life.

I'd have a think about how you would manage this before you apply

Some placements will be more flexible than others when it comes to nights. Our frat year students aren't allowed to do night, even if they want too. Which is daft. Once qualified, there are areas that don't do nights. Day case, outpatients, community etc. Many of my colleagues are singe parents and they manage. I've been qualified 17 years and it's the best job ever.

Thank you 😊

Try contacting the university you’re thinking about applying to, see if they would give you a draft timetable - it’ll vary quite a bit institution to institution. Also ask where your placements will be, if you have a lot of travel time it would be quite different.

I’ve recently qualified, it’s the same as above. Some places are more flexible than others and some mentors are more flexible than others. You’ll be on placement 21ish weeks a year working full time hours. 1 in 4 weekends and 3 nights a year you have to work, don’t let anyone force you to do more if you can’t.

I don’t have children but balanced placements with another job and not having a car. My advice would just be to explain your situation to your mentors, be nice and don’t take the piss. All of your mentors will have been through training before and know how hard it is. Fortunately on almost every placement I had I chose the days I worked.

I’m currently a student nurse through the open university, I already work as a HCSW so am doing it as part of my job, all my theory work is done at home in my own time and I go on placement for blocks of 9-12 weeks due to having to only do my contracted 26 hours per week on placement. This works well for me as I don’t have much help with my children so there is no way I could have done full time uni and full time placements at the minute.