Nursing without science A level. Help!

[WiseWitch]

Hi all, I’m looking for some advice for my 17yo DD. She’s in her second year of A levels which were chosen to suit her intended career in the performing arts (drama, dance and philosophy).

Over a year later, after a change of heart , a few lockdowns and working as a carer part time (alongside supervising adult) she now wants to be a nurse. However, she’s obviously doing the wrong subjects at A level!

She’s fairly academic- has 10 GCSEs grades 6-8. Sixes in sciences and maths. Higher grades in arts and English. I would have hoped that she’d be able to go to a ‘good university’ as she’s a bright girl but now it seems (for obvious reasons) that most of the nursing degrees from higher ranking universities require at least a social science A level ( philosophy doesn’t count, apparently).

So … what to do next? Apply to ‘less good’ universities only? Take a year out and do some sort of additional learning / courses to boost her science a bit (if so , what sort of course- an Open uni module perhaps? Would that be possible?).

Or does it matter less where you train for a vocational course with professional standards that everywhere will have to meet?

Finally, any particular ex Polytechnics that you’d recommend for nursing? (Would need to be in a vibrant city, I think).

TIA for any advice.

www.sunderland.ac.uk/study/nursing/undergraduate-adult-nursing-practice/#fees-and-reqs

Sunderland uni has an excellent nursing programme

Nursing is a professional qualification and so any course has to meet the professional standards. That makes the university itself much less important. Most universities that deliver it excel at workplace-focussed vocational training - those practical elements are MUCH more important than the overall university ranking/academic criteria in such a vocational subject.

I'd look for universities that offer access/foundation courses and have good student support and varied placement options. Not those with specific academic criteria

If she's thinking about nursing might she consider other similar professions? Social work, occupational therapist, art therapist, psychologist, speech and language therapist etc. There can be an overlap between some of these professions.
Sounds like she has discovered that she enjoys working with people might she want to explore this further and even potentially combine with her artistic interests?

Such great advice so far- thanks. Sunderland just feels a bit too far… we’re on south coast

She’s predicted AAA btw, forgot to say that it my Op. probably not relevant given her subject choices!

I tried to suggest occupational therapy but she wants to be an A&E nurse. I’m surprised in a way that she has chosen paramedic science as she’s always been obsessed with Inside the Ambulance and similar TV shows!

Which uni have you looked at? I don’t know of any local ones that insist on a science a level they’re usually more about ucas points and having gcse or equivalent maths and English?

Canterbury Christ Church university does nursing.

I would just have a good look around. Lots of nursing courses have flexible entry requirements as the course attracts mature applicants and second - career applicants often too. I really wouldn't be too sure that a lack of a science subject is a huge problem particularly if she's predicted such good grades.

Nursing is a professional qualification as well as a degree.
You absolutely want her to have a good and challenging student experience.

However once she is qualified and goes for her 1st job the quality of experience on her clinical placements and the grades she achieved on them are what nursing (or any healthcare) recruitment are interested in rather than the institution she attended.
If she wants to go into academia then that may be different.

And as PP said look at some other healthcare professions, may not require science

Have a look at Sheffield Hallam. She would meet the A Level and GCSE entry requirements - they do say on the website that experience of working in health and social care is an important part of a successful application. It's also a great city to be a student with a number of big hospitals locally.

Choose based on where the placements will be too - the vast majority of learning happens on placement and you have more opportunities at bigger trusts. If she's interested in emergency nursing a trust with a major trauma centre would be great, so maybe look at City (Royal London), Kingston (St George's), Anglia Ruskin (Addenbrooke's). Once she has her undergrad there will be lots of opportunity for funded postgrad study if she wants to further herself academically.

Wow, such useful advice. Really interesting abs much appreciated.

@Kittyswhiskers, she was looking at Bristol UWE and Leeds- both of which looked unlikely based on her subject choices. I had a look at Leeds Beckett as an alternative but was a bit worried about the ranking (perhaps unnecessarily so).

I’ve passed this information on to DD- I think she’s feeling quite despondent after quite a negative conversation with UWE admissions so it’s really helpful to have this advice.

And a relief that no one is saying take a year off and study a bit more science!

If it helps, I studies all arts subjects at A level and even at undergrad. I did nursing training as a masters. There is a lot of science but if she's fairly academic anyway I'm sure she will catch up. They tend to teach from the basics and build up to more complex concepts. There are some great YouTube channels that explain things really well too which can help break down the nitty gritty of the science (I love Ninja Nerd Medicine and Osmosis).

Does she definitely want to do traditional uni or would she do an apprenticeship to earn while you learn? The nurse degree is available on an apprenticeship, it's 80% of the time in work 20% at uni. At her age and without a science A level it might be better to do the Nursing Associate on an apprentice and then top up to the full nurse on a follow up apprenticeship. NA programme is 2 yes, the top up is usually 18 months to 2 years, but no fees and a wage while you study haso.skillsforhealth.org.uk/r-n-degree-apprenticeship/#on-programme

Nursing lecturer here... very very few universities require a science A level and many don't even specify a science GCSE

There is such a need for nurses that the bar for entry is quite low in academic terms but much more focussed on ensuring applicants have the right values and are oriented towards caring roles and have a real understanding of what a registered nurse does.

All nursing programmes are similar in content - they have to be to ensure standardisation of graduate nursing skills. Important to look at the hospitals that each university links with for the practice placements - does she want the big teaching hospital or the local district general? That can help guide choice

DN studied nursing at Anglia Ruskin with a levels in Eng Lit, Music and Psychology (A star, B,B). She is now a district nurse.

Definitely look for a place offering Reg Nurse Degree Apprenticeship, still get a degree, more clinical time, no fees and get paid a salary. You have to apply to the hospital trusts though and most seem to be focusing on offering to existing care assistants. She could call Practice Development departments at big trusts in cities she'd like to live in and see if they can guide her?

@PondLifestyle I think she’d much rather have the full university experience so doesn’t want to do an apprenticeship but thanks anyway your advice.

So much great advice on here- sorry or to acknowledge everyone individually whilst scrolling through on my phone.

@damekindness and @oldowl I’m sorry that this wasn’t especially clear in my OP but the main issue is that many of her preferences (Leeds, Manchester, UWE) ask for a SOCIAL science or science. And philosophy doesn’t count ( but DT, geography or food tech would be fine apparently! The mind boggles tbh).

Another vote for Sheffield Hallam. You only need ucas points not science alevels.

Birmingham City asks by UCAS points, and would hit the city criteria.

I’m a nurse, I did my training at a Russell Group uni (Uni of Nottingham). Standards were consistently high, teaching was usually of excellent quality and I was never at any point, uncertain about what they wanted from me academically or in terms of professional standards.

I’ve since done post grad qualifications at non Russell Group uni’s (Nottingham Trent and Uni of Derby) and there really does seem to be a difference in the quality of teaching and setting of assignments, the IT Platforms used, feedback on assignments, etc. I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall a lot of the time. E.g. getting a 80% grade back on an assignment but the feedback on the marking sheet only being negative and lacking in specifics, when queried just being told to refer to the generic marking rubric.

Bristol UWE offer a Health Foundation Year which guarantees progression to a range of health degree courses, including nursing, on completion. You would apply through UCAS in the usual way.

Northumbria university and Sunderland university have good programmes.
Also if she wants the full uni experience nursing degrees are very full on, working full time in placements and not getting the normal university holidays.

Take a year out and do an online A level in either Biology or Psychology or both. They cost about £400 and you get a 1-1 tutor who sets you assignments and you can chat to if you are unsure. A year at her age is nothing. She could probably get a part time job as well. Better to do this than go to a not so nice Uni.

But also, tell her not to be despondent. I found that applying to university to do nurse training and actually doing the course was reminiscent of the “hazing” they do to get into American fraternities.
Basically make life as hard as possible for you, so that by the end, only the strongest and most tenacious remain.

On the first ever open day I went to, one of the lecturers told me I didn’t have the right qualifications to get on the course and to basically give up. I knew he wasn’t right because I wouldn’t have gone to the open day without having checked that out first. But I was still really upset and exasperated so I took myself to the toilet for a cry and nearly gave up there and then.

I started my first day of training with 100 student nurses in my cohort across four branches of nursing, I think at the end of year 3 only about 50 of us actually stuck it out and qualified.