GCSE/ A-Level Biology

[vintageteacups]

Hi,

I'm thinking that over the next few years, I might extend my doula training and train to be a midwife. It's something I've longed to do but whilst the kids are young, it'll be tricky.

So my plan is to wait a few years until they're old enough to let themselves in after school etc.

I have spoken to my local uni this morning who do a fab midwifery degree (3 yrs) but I asked whether it'd be better to do an Access into Nursing/Midwifery course first. She saidthe access course are more for people who didn't have other quals (I have 8 GCSEs/3 A levels and a BSC geography degree). She said I'd be better doing an A level in biology.

Just to ask - is it worth me doing GCSE biology before the A-level (I only did striaght science gcse) or will it be okay, stress/study wise?

I cannot believe how expensive it is to get quals once you're an adult!!!! Oh well - better start saving now

I would think you would be better just going onto the A level but having a GCSE revision guide/textbook for your own use to fill in any gaps.

hmm - that's a good idea. I guess I could study at home myself for a while until I do the A-level.

bumping - any other thoughts?

No need to do the biology GCSE - its pretty basic, the plant and environmental stuff on your geog degree and your general knowledge probably covers a lot of it. I agree it is very expensive to get qualifications as an adult especially if you are changing career direction. Good luck!

A gcse revision guide would be useful to fill in gaps or explain things you may find tricky and you could look at some textbooks to see the levels needed - the local library usually has them in the teenagers area in the reference section.

Thank you too haggis

I did the same before starting my nirsey degree. Iwas going to do the access but the lecturer told me not to bother so i did the A level in a year. They said the A level proved to the Uni I could study at that level now.

Saying that - at the begi9nning the people who had done the access course (and had been taught 'study skills') were more clued up on how to write essays etc in university style than I was but after a few months it didn't make much difference.

So did you do A-level biology?

What was it like - hard or okay?

I'm fine with the studying bit - did a big essay for my doula course recently and have been writing articles and other bits here and there. It's only 12 yrs since I finished my degree and it only feels about 3 so I should be okay I guess.

My maths isn't fabulous but I guess at midwifery level, it's aimed more at nursing maths that pure 'maths maths' IYSWIM?

Yes A level Biology. Did 4 hours in class once a week I think. It was not too hard (I got a B!!) and was interesting.

My maths is utterly crap. Thankfully, because i somehow managed to get a GCSE (grade c) it was never reassessed for university entry (I think some universities do sometimes do assessments for entry.
I have to do annual assessments now for work but it's OK because you get the formulae and a calculator.

Argh! My worst nightmare - maths assessments!

Heehee - I'm sure I will be fine really.
I also got my maths gcse (b) but goodness knows how - it just doesn't stick in my head like everything else does.

I imagine that nursing maths is more involved that for midwifery?

So how did you go about enrolling for the A-level? Local college/evening class etc?

Can you remember roughly how much it was?

TIA.

think i phoned the local college. It was 9 years ago (blimey how did that happen?) and there was the course fee and an exam fee.

The maths is similar nurse / midwife (I'm now both) - like calculating weight related doses or if you have 500mg of something n 10ml how much do you need for 2.7 mg. Like i said there are formulae and i haven't killed anyone (yet) despite being barely able to add up.

slightly panicking now!!!

stop it immediately and get on the phone. go on. now!

I can't do the A-level just yet as we're moving counties in the summer. will probably apply next year.

Did you do the degree whilst your kids were little still? Mine are 5 and 9 but dh works away. I think when I do the degree, he'll have left the forces and be at home most nights but will still need child care I guess

Thanks nottired. It was the study enquiries section at the uni who told me biology. I think she said it didn't amtter what subject as long it was something within 3 yrs of doing the degree. I guess it'd make sense that it was biology though.

atyourcervix - can I ask, were you nervous about stitching up epis? That's my main worry - that'll I'll bodge up some poor woman's bits and she'll never forgive me!

i started my nursing degree when DD2 started school. DH works silly hours and someone to have the DDs over night occasionally and early (6am) was essential. Just finished my midwifing (DDs are now 12 and 14) and I have just taken to leaving them to get themselves off to school in the mornings.

Suturing - yes - scary pressure. only do the obvious 'easy' ones - leave more difficult ones to someone else.

were you squeamish at first? I mean, your first few times of sutering after tears/cuts?

need to concentrate too hard for squeemishness.

i'm not great in theatre though and much too clumsy to be any good at scrubbing (and handing over intruments, etc)

Was wondering though - do you think the Access to nursing and midwifery would be better related to the degree than biology?

I know that sounds weird but just wondered how it differed from the A-level biology.

atyourcervix BIL told me today that A-level biology was really hard! He did it for his A-levels though, whilst studying the others too so I hoped it would be easier as a mature graduate, only doing that one A-level?