How to do nursing without GCSEs?

[BetterFutureHope]

Hi all,

After many years of battling mental health and looking after a family member, I feel like I’ve finally made the decision that I wish to pursue adult nursing. The big problem is that I was a horror at school (a lot of truanting due to multiple things) and the entry requirement for uni is 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, I got 2 at grade C or above (English and triple science) but that was nearly 18 years ago so I have none of the results anyway, I also did functional skills in maths at college but again don’t have the proof any more. I just wondered if anyone has been in the same situation and managed to get on to nursing and how they did this? I’ve tried asking nurses I know but they’ve had no idea as they have the grades already. I’ve researched for hours and I mean HOURS online and it all seems impossible. I know that access to nursing is a college course some people do but again when I’ve looked you need AT LEAST the functional skills or GCSEs in maths and English and I have no proof of either and that also doesn’t solve the other missing GCSEs (5 at C and above required for uni). Sorry for the long post, I’m just extremely passionate about it and thanks for reading 😊

It is possible to get in the back door. Get a Band 2 health care assistant job at your local hospital and work your way up. You will probably have to start on an apprenticeship, so one day a fortnight in a classroom, but on full Band 2 pay. I know both Band 4 (Nursing Associates) and Band 5 (staff nurses) who started this way. Hospitals are crying out for Band 2s, and will be practically begging you to carry on to Band 3. Good luck.

Sorry for the lack of response. I decided first thing to do would be to try and get my gcse results and see where I’m at with that before anything else. I’ve sent an application off to AQA which cost £43 and there’s no guarantee they will find your records but I put in as much info as I possibly could. In response to whether i think I’m academically capable, yes - 100%. I think because I didn’t do well in my GCSEs it’s assumed that I’m a bit thick lol that is not true, what is true is that I had a hectic home life and I spent so much time away from school and also when in lessons I wasn’t exactly concentrating, I didn’t revise a single thing, nor did I ever do a single piece of homework. I thought I knew better and the world was against me but I’m not stupid. That was stupid yes but I myself don’t believe I am academically incapable. Whether I feel that I would be more suited to a HCA role, I would absolutely be willing to do that BUT my passion is to become a nurse. We mentioned previously I did complex care for someone for 3 years and I studied all about the many and various medications they had - not because I had to but because I was genuinely interested in learning. I had a lot of very serious responsibilities with that job. Again, with my dad who has stage 4 COPD and is under palliative care, I have dealt with so much and done so much research in to mediations and illness that his nurse, paramedics etc have asked me if I’m in the medical field, that’s not me being a big headed dick and trying to brag (believe me) but I know that’s what I really want to do because I’m already so passionate about stuff within that area. Thanks so much everyone for the replies, if I’ve missed responding to anyone I apologise 😊

The other thing to investigate is nursing apprenticeships as you won’t incur student debt. Some hospitals will want you working as a hcsw first and others will take applications from non hcsw. Check that out as an option on university websites.

@BetterFutureHope not doing well in GCSEs certainly doesn’t make anyone “a bit thick” but there are alternative routes into nursing that may be more appropriate for someone who’s missed out on formal education that doesn’t involve the traditional full time degree. Many tasks previously reserved for nurses have been passed to HCA’s so someone who enjoys caring for people may well enjoy other roles in the nhs just as much if not more .As I said before do contact your local trusts to discuss options, the gov is currently very keen on broadening access to nursing roles including nurse associate posts which are a bit of a halfway house between HCA’s and degree staff . As the poster above said, becoming employed by a trust at a particular level means they can fund and support you through courses including degree apprenticeship. A family member has done this and there is a lot to be said for gaining a degree without having to pay for it!

Good luck with your nursing OP. I have taught anatomy and physiology on an Access course (as well as other level 3 courses). Can I make a suggestion?

This is the book I used to teach from (well the previous version) it will get you through an access course and through at least your first year or two of your degree.

Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology: For Nursing and Healthcare Students, 3rd Edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fundamentals-Anatomy-Physiology-Healthcare-Students-dp-1119576482/dp/1119576482/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

I did my GCSEs aged 37 so I could get into nursing.

My DD is about to qualify as a Nurse Associate as she didn't have A levels, she's done two years and will then do 18 months top up to get the full degree. If you do manage to get the minimum qualifications this might be a good route than going straight in to do the full degree because you can then decide two years whether the full qualification is for you. She says nurse associates do most of the stuff that nurses do, it's possibly just things like IVs that she can't do. She's banking as an HCA whilst studying so able to earn quite a lot as well, particularly for weekend shifts.

Could you do the gcses now?