Access to Nursing, Midwifery and Heathcare

[YummyMummy21]

Hi All, I am new to mumsnet.

I am due to start the Access course on 11th September, and wondered if anyone had done this course, or if anyone else on here is going to start it in Sept.
If you have already started this course then do you have any advice on how best to prepare myself. I have only been doing night classes since my daughter was born in Jan 05. This course will be running 3days a week from 9:00-5:30.

Any advice or chat with fellow Access students will be great :0)

Thankyou and Take care
Hannah xx

Hi Hannah, welcome to MN

There are LOADS of MNers who have done the Access course. I'm due to start it p/t (1 day a week 9.15 - 5.30 over 2 yrs) in September, with a view to following it up with a degree in adult nursing. I was going to do f/t, but fitting it in with my 3 kids and a DH who works away regularly would've made it difficult. Not to mention the fact that I need to factor in clinical hours too, for my UCAS application .

Have you got experience of working in the NHS ? What area do you want to go into ?

Hi
I would love to go into Midwifery, but I have been speaking to a few people who have suggested going through the nursing route, and then doing the 18 months midwifery.

I havent had experience as such but do volunteer at a Breast feeding clinic, and am goiing to apply to do some work at my local hospital(fingers crossed).

My DD dad has her two days a week as we are seperated so I am lucky enough to be able to do it in one year, and then hopefully apply for sept 07/08.

xxxx

Thanks for your comments they are much appreciated.

Also thanks for the warning about the assignments SS.

Take Care xxx

Hi

I have ( just this week!!) finished my two year access course and will be going to Birmingham University this Oct to do a Degree in Nursing. The access course is the best thing that I have ever done, it has totally prepared me for uni, and i have really enjoyed studying again and learning new things.

My only advice would echo SS's advice- keep on top of assignments, even if you dont write them up as soon as the assignment is launched, do try to do a bit a research about whatever subject the assignment is on and make a note of it, its really helpful once you attempt the assignment and you dont feel bogged down then.

Like yourself, when i started my access course I initially had the intention of applying to do midwifery, but through time i discovered that although midwifery did interest me, i found that the diversity of a career in nursing attracted me more. It was only through the access course that discovered all of the different options in nursing and decided to take this route.

I think if you really want to be a midwife, then apply to do midwifery, 3 years of nursing is a long time to study if you really want to be something else, and a getting a place on an 18mth conversion course is not always possible, and not all unis offer them.

this site is fab www.studentmidwives.co.uk

which college are you going to for your access?

HI Thank for that. I totally agree with whhat you said about not wanting to waste time doing a nuring degree, when its midwifery that I reaally want to do.

I am doing the Access at Thames Valley Uni, which is in Ealing.

Are you getting a bursery (sp) for you degree? I read somewhere that you can only get them on Diploma, but was told something different at a careers meeting. I am a single parent so cant really afford to get a loan and pay it back. Its startng to worry me abit.

I would say that as a low income single parent, you are probably entitled to the whatever the full financial aid package is for the degree. Do look into it properly.

Sorry for the double letters its the keyboard!

Congratulations on the completion of your Access course too :0)

xxxx

hi, my bursary is means tested on my partners wage, i am eligible for loan etc. To be honest, i know that the next few years are going to be a bit tough but ill just have to grin and bear it.

my friend on the course is also a single parent, she gets maximum financial support while on the degree, but she is over 26 and you get extra money for being over 26.

have a look at this leaflet from the DOH, should tell you what you are entitled to.

www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/49/09/04084909.pdf

Hi, yes I start the 1 yr access to nursing and midwifery sept 18th at a college in somerset. I will be applying for UWE before xmas for 2007 and have everything crossed that I will get in. Im quite scared as I found out there were 49 places this yr and over 500 apply, so over 10 people fighting for 1 space!Also I know 7 people so far who have been given 2007 places, so that means even less spaces to fight for!

I am thinking about what I will do if I dont get in, but so far havent got many ideas. Reluctant to go for the 2 yrs nursing and 18month post reg as I know alot of PCT are phasing it out, UWE being among the first to not offer it anymore. I dont really want to get 2 yrs down the line and find out Ive got to start 3 yrs from scratch because no-where is doing the 18 month post reg anymore...

Where are you aplying to for the degree/dip?

Hiya

Im due to start the Access to Health course sept 11th and im really looking foward to it I hope to apply for University of Greewich before xmas.

Im a lone parent and i get full fiancial support I will be doing 3 1/2 days a week and my daughter has a funded nursery placement.

Good luck with the course

Jodie xxx

Hi, Nice to see that there are others doing the Access course this Sept. I will have a place to come and moan now.

Im so excited at the moment I cant believe that I will be starting it in 18 days. YaY

busyalexsmummy> I know the feeling I nearly died when I found out how many applicants there are for such little places. I have already written my PS, and am just waiting to apply when the forms come out,I have been told by lots of people to wait for the access tutors to help as they offer the best advice.

Good Luck to everyone who is doing the Access this year
Look forward to chatting some more

xXx

Hi Yummymummy21!!

I am on an access course at the mo. Its a January start, year long course that will lead to me going to uni in February 2007 to begin my degree in midwifery (havemy place and can't wait to start!) I will be returning to college on 11th Sept and have 3 more months to go.

I am really really enjoying it. It has given me confidence overall as we ll as in my abilites and it has made me realise I am MORE than capable of going onto uni.

The work is tricky sometimes, but you will surprise yourself - I did. I had been out of education for 13 years and had 3 kids so my brain was pretty much mush!! But it is back to full stregth now

I wish you all the luck in the world with your access an future studies.

What subjects are you studying as part of the access? And what do you want to go on to do after?

Sorry!! Derrrr!! So much for my improved brain hehe!! Just read your earlier posts and now know you wan tto do midwifery.

I would say the 3 year degree/diploma is the more direct route if your heart is set on being a midwife. I thought about the nursing route, to open up my options a littel, but when I really thought about it, I didn't think I could do the long placements in certain specialties. My heart is with midwifery - antenatal, postnatal, nea-nates, community...whatever...I love all aspects of pregnancy, labour and post natal care Its a passion, so it made sense to go staight into that field.

Hiya
I start the course in the 12th sept, cant wait really!
Im doing it through evening school, so its going to be 2nights a week for two years!

I started my Access course on 11th and am loving it already! Good luck to everyone studying this year!

hi, I want to apply to study midwifery, but is it possible being a single parent with a child under 2? I thought as a student midwife you have to do clincical placements which can be 12 hours shifts so if you dont have family or friends that can help with childcare whart can youdo?

bump, anyone with any advice?

Have you done any work experience?
My advice to you would be to use the next 1-2 yrs getting some good work experience eg volunteering with NCT/your local maternity unit/hospital, HCA job on maternity.
By the time you have done that, your LO will probably be at school and it would be a little easier to arrange childcare+ before/after school clubs.
UCAS/NMAS really do look at what experience youve had-they want to know youve experienced the job and wont drop out the course after a week!
The course is highly competitive too, One uni I am applying to, had a 11:1 applicants-place ratio last year! and if your in london kings used to be(not sure now) 45:1 ratio for places! so you really need to show them what you've got to offer. Hope that helps

Take a look at thiswebsite for student midwives and hopefuls