Anyone started their access course to become a nurse/midwife?

[MishMashMosher]

I hope this is the right place to post.

I have started my access to Higher education course and will hopefully be applying to do a nursing degree starting 2019. Anyone else in the same boat wanting to chat?

Thank you that was so helpful! I will definitely be referring back to your post if I'm lucky enough to get an interview! Was the maths test hard? I'd say I'm better at maths than the average person but I'm no maths genius!

Sorry about your DS, I hope he is well now? I'm hoping to do some work experience in either an elderly care home or a home for adults with special needs. I've sort of finished my first draft for my peeroanal statement and I'm quite pleased with it!

When you completed your ucas application did you get a reference from your college or did you just apply as an individual? Obviously as I'm doing an online course I haven't even spoken to my tutor so I'm wondering if I should just apply as an individual and get my boss to give me a reference.

Honestly thanks so much, you've been amazing helpful!

No problem at all 😊 it's lovely to see people are driven to nursing, given all the changes in just the last 2 years.

I'm also better than average but not necessarily great at maths. The tests were mostly arithmetic, so not too difficult. There was 1 part calculator, and another non calculator.

There should be a maths unit as part of your course as a refresher, but if not try and get some practice tests to give you an idea.
Northumbria and Teesside had maths papers on the website that you could print a few years ago.

DS is completely well now, thank you! He has check ups for life (emergency open heart surgery to correct 2 defects that we didn't know he had until an A&E visit - he's still a drama queen) but he's physically and mentally fighting fit!

One of the tutors wrote my statement, I'd only met her twice beforehand as there was such a faff with our main tutor. I've no idea what she wrote (you don't get to see it) but I still got 3 interviews. I would suggest emailing your college to find out what they would normally do before asking your boss.

Your work experience sounds good 😊 many of the students on my course found roles as volunteers in hospices, which uni liked to see.
If you have any personal experience of caring, do use it to your advantage. Looking after a stranger, a friend, your children/husband following an injury/food poisoning/chicken pox, it all counts for something.

You could speak about how you or a members of your family have been cared for by a nurse and how it affected you. Any experience you might consider insignificant at first could go a long way in an interview.

Do you have an idea of what you'd like to do when you're qualified?

Oh dear, open heart surgery! poor thing! I'm glad all is well now!

Apart from looking after the kids whilst ill, I haven't done any caring. I did work in a Childminders which I've spoken about and proves I'm not bothered by other people's bodily fluids with cleaning up sick and changing 20 nappies everyday

I did some work experience in a day centre for the blind while I was a teenager which was what inspired me in the first place. Which I've also written about.

I have a pediatric first aid certificate too. Absolutely love going to the first aid courses!

I'm not sure what I want to do exactly yet. I kind of want to go in open minded and see what placements I enjoy. What about you?

Its such a shame about all the changes but nothing would put me off. Its my absolute dream. I love all things medical too.

sorry only just checked back. I found that getting distinctions was more about using the correct scientific language and knowing what you were talking about.
If I struggled to learn from a book id look things up on YouTube or khan academy and watch the videos then cross reference all the info to make sure it was accurate. I managed to get 30 distinctions, 12 merits and a pass. I could have gone for higher than the pass but it was the last exam, I was tired and I just wanted to scrape though because I knew I had the grades for my chosen university already. A few people in my friendship group didn't get the grades they wanted but they maintained quite an active social life during the course and didn't always put the work in. I spent every weekend in May and June during the lovely weather in the house studying while my mum/husband took the kids out. iIt was bloody hard but worth it and everyone i have spoken to says the access course is harder than the first year of uni so I'm looking forward to still learning but maybe with slightly less intensity this year.
To the other poster who asked about interviews, yes I interviewed at Nottingham Derby and Lincoln. I was down to interview at Sheffield and Leicester too but whithdrew because of distance. I have 3 young kids so really even Lincoln was too far for me but I felt like I should use up all the spaces on the choice list.
Derby based questions on your experience. I have background as
a HCA so they asked about caring for people and what I felt was important. They asked why I didn't apply when I was younger and recent things in nursing news. There was a group interview where they talked about the ethics of an alcoholic on the transplant list and asked us to discuss.
Lincoln was similar, asking how I'd resolve a conflict with a college or if we had different ideas on what treatment plan to take what would I do.
nottingham had like mini interviews where you get a few mins in each booth then move to the next one and they ask about what skills you have, what you think a nurse should be above all, what you would do if you felt a patient was being abused, what you'd expect on your first placement etc.

Thanks nofuxks that was so helpful. Love hearing about, everyone's experiences.

Well done on getting so many distinctions. That is one thing I'm really worried about. I will be starting my first graded unit soon. I've had a quick peek at it and I'm already worrying about it as it seems very difficult!

Interesting to hear about the interviews too. It will be helpful to read back when I (hopefully!) have an interview myself.

Did you do any work experience?

no but I worked as a carer for 7 years. I did sign up to volunteer but they were so slow I still hadn't started by the time interviews rolled around. luckily none of the uni' s even asked. what's your first graded unit? is it nutrition and digestion?

Ah I see so you've had plenty of experience! I need to start pulling my finger out and arranging some work experience. Luckily I have Tuesdays off work so I can do a day a week.

My first unit is called approaches to health. The one after is nutrition and digestion.

is that in health promotion or biology? have they set you an assignment?

remember you can always upsell your other qualities it doesn't have to be adult care work specific. I'm assuming you have kids? so you can mention that having children has helped with your time management skills, your ability to adapt in certain situations etc

Good luck heading into Nursing!

I did an access course aimed at Healthcare professions and start my degree in Molecular Biology in 2 weeks. I am so nervous but can't wait to start.

I have quite a bit of experience of working with children and I have a pediatric first aid certificate which would be great for children's nursing but I want to do adult nursing. i have a few places to ask about work experience.

Its health promotion. I've got one more ungraded unit to finish before I start it. These ungraded units are mind numbing. Did you have to do a Swot analysis?

Congratulations belle! Let us know how your first day goes! How did you find your access course?

How did your first day in your access course go today lies?

Nofucks, I can't remember if I mentioned it before but I'm doing my course online.

Hi again. Thanks for remembering!
I'm doing the course in the course in the evening.

It was like an induction. Got our timetable, talked about term dates, rules etc. Tonight I'll have maths and study skills.

How are you getting on @mishmash?
I was surprised how far some people has come for it. Quite a few people from other counties. Few people who had an hour and a half drive home.

Are you happy with everything so far? We're the people nice?

You are lucky to find an evening class. Nowhere near me did an evening class which is why I'm doing mine online. I would have happily traveled an hour for an evening one so maybe that's why?

Keep me updated on how it's going! I'm doing okay. I'm still doing the horrible social media report at the moment but I'm finally getting to the end. I'm trying to work on my personal statement and find some work experience too.

Yes thanks. Yeah, everyone was friendly. Pheww!

Fair enough. I would of thought more places would of done evening courses. Access courses being for people older, so they'd be more likely to have commitments.

I will do! Woo! At least you've nearly finished! I was told last night our first assignment will be handed in, in 3 weeks. I already feel so nervous. Like yours. It will be ungraded.

Mish The access course was intense and incredibly rewarding. There were some really interesting topics and some not so, but everything I learned and did has become relevant to the subjects i'll study at uni and some of the mot boring stuff I learned has become much more interesting at a higher level.

Hope your Social Media report goes well and is out of the way quickly!

Lies My degree is evening study. I am commuting 2 hours there and back to do it, 2 evenings a week!

Sorry, I've only just checked back here!

PP is definitely right about upselling your other skills.
They would still find your childcare and paeds first aid qualification very valuable.

My background is in customer service and administration. I mentioned in both my statement and interviews that this work gave me insight into how to help difficult customers (angry/upset people are everywhere), time management, organisation etc.

They don't just want care experience, you're a mature student, so they're looking for transferable skills (key phrase there ).

WRT to your assignments, definitely look at academic YouTube videos. If you're a visual learner like I am, then these are so much easier to follow than a PowerPoint presentation!

Oh year, SWOT is everywhere . You'll probably do SWEC when you get to uni. Just as mind numbing!

Congratulations and good luck with your degree @Belletower. What do you want to do after your degree/as a job?

Wow, hats off to you for the 2 hours commute!

Another 2019 Adult Nursing applicant who has just started an Access course here.

I’m doing an access to life sciences (health pathway) course and have recently started a part time job in a care home for the all important experience. Three days a week at college, two of which I leave and go straight to work so they end up being long days. I will have two completely free days and three afternoon/evenings a week to really knuckle down and study though which I hope will be enough.

This week was induction and talks from the local universities so I’m looking forward to really getting going next week. Found out they throw us straight in the deep end, our first assignment being a 3 credit graded assignment on cell biology with apparently only a week from being introduced to the subject to the submission date. Currently feeling very glad that the highest entry requirements I need to meet allow for 9 pass credits!

Hi
That's what my first week was like.
I'm doing a Science Access course. I'm nervous but excited to get stuck into it!

How is it going so far? Is there a lot of people in your group/class?

@MishMashMosher are you at Ashington college ?
I'm doing the pre access for midwifery there :)

Burrito, I did look at Ashington college but it was too difficult to get to for me. I would have had to get a bus to Morpeth and then a bus to Ashington and you know the buses aren't great around here! The buses to my village only come every other hour. I'm starting driving lessons soon though!

How's your course going? Are you doing a 2 year one?

@mildshock I don't even want to know what swec is! Swot does not help me at all. Its such a waste of time.

Thanks for the transferable skill tips. That's basically the kind of thing I've written about already as I used to do a lot of waitressing so I've said about having lots of things that need doing at once and having to prioritise what to do first. Being on my feet all day ect.

I've just signed up to volunteer in a.hospital but the process takes about 2 months so I. Might be able to do any until after I've sent my ucas off. At least I've got something set up though I suppose.

@LtheWife wow sounds tough! I'm sure unis will be able to see how committed you are. Glad college is going well so far, keep us updated on how you're getting on. I can't believe you've only got a week for your first assignment! What unis are you applying to?

@Liesmyparenttoldme how's your first week been?