Nursing and midwifery student parent applicants here!

[LumpenproletariatAndProud]

So Ive finally found some others in the same boat!

My interview with Brighton uni is in December so Im revising my arse off, I haven't written an essay for 5 years!

Good luck to other applicants!

I'm here
I'll be sending off to UCAS Tuesday at the latest, for brighton and surrey

Yay! I grew up in Surrey.

Do you have help with your PS? Did you say you were doing an access course? They are great at helping. And will you apply for adult and child nursing do you think?

And if you get a Brighton interview I will be able to give you a heads up because Id have had mine already

I'm on a Social work course, but did access last year
But my current uni will help me with my PS I think

Hi! Thanks for the new thread

I'm just starting the application process now, hoping to get in for Sept 2015.

I had my heart set on adult nursing but am now considering mental health nursing.

My main worry is my personal statement, I have no experience in care or nursing work at all and I'm unsure what to write about.

Currently doing social care at college so hoping to have my work placement to speak about during interview but I haven't started yet.

Is anyone else applying in Scotland? I assume the process is a bit different for up here.

Ooh exciting. In Brighton, if you get in you can start in Sept 2015 or a few months later in feb 2016. The 2016 degree fits it much better with school term times, I will have two school age children by then, so for me this is a must.

You are also either set in Brighton Falmer or Eastbourne and Hastings campus for lectures and meetings.

I would have to request Falmer because theres no way Id be able to fit in Eastbourne and Hastings with school runs.

I hope this doesn't go against me!

redbuttonhole there are loads of tips and stuff online for personal statements. And even on mumsnet theres some excellent tips.

It must work, because I managed to get an interview

Thanks Lumpen I'm pretty confident I can write a good one if I just have an idea of what to put into it, my written communication skills are excellent (says my lecturer ).

I wrote one for college but if I'm honest, although I was happy with it, it didn't really scream "future nurse in the making", and it's a small college where there were loads of spacea left for the class I took, so I'm not sure of how effective it really was. The two universities near me (or rather one uni, two campuses) are very very busy with nursing applicants just now, and I'm worried my lack of experience and qualifications is really going to hold me back.

All very exiting for us

Voluntary work of any kind that has linked to care work or support work is a huge, huge, huge bonus with them. With the uni Im applying to anyway.

I applied last year but my PS didnt win them over (for strikingly obvious reason to me now!) so spent the last year sorting out voluntary work as it really makes your PS shine.

Brighton uni is really over subscribed for nursing as well, theres only about 40 places and there are hundred and hundred of applicants.

Its a seriously tough degree to get onto, but I do know that those who have done access are also at an advantage as well, they look positively on that.

Good luck all. Anything I can help with please shout! I was in your position this time last year and I'm 7 weeks into my degree. I'm doing child branch.

One tip though choose either adult or child or mental health. If you choose both they frown upon it. most unis do anyway. Good way to find out how competitive the corse is. Usually adult nursing had more spaces for example I'm in Cardiff and they took on 146 adult 60 mental health 34 child and 36 midwives. It is competitive so make your ps shine. Happy to read over some if it helps xx

Key words to mention in ps! Dignity (big on this now was the focus of all my interviews) multidisciplinary team (Google it if unsure) the six c's. Diversity is also another key word. Don't start it with I've always wanted to be a nurse.... They see that so often

Transferable skills are good to mention too

I'm about to start a work placement in a care home so that will give me plenty to talk about come interview time (if i get one!). I'm really keen to start as I can get some experience with doing personal care, will have an oppertunity to shadow the district nurse who visits the care home and hopefully will be able to work with some residents with dementia as well. It'll give me a bit of everything for whatever route I decide to take I think.

I wouldn't put that I've always wanted to be a nurse because it's something I have only considered more recently, trying to pinpoint why is difficult, I just feel drawn to it now.

I'm quite clued up on the dignity and six principles of care, and we've done lots of exercises on looking at our own values and how they relate to care. I'm just not sure what they'll be looking for. Will they lool for knowledge of the subject or will they look for me to show that my personality is suited to the career?

Sorry, I don't want to hog the thread with all my questions!

Personal experience I think is what got me into children's nursing so if you can bring any of that to it. For example ds2 has adhd and spd. Ds1 dyspraxia ds3 was completely deaf till recently so my communication skills where what made me shine out from the others (personal tutor has told me this lol)

Fundamentals of care is also a big thing and professional values ! Had all this drummed into me this week

I applied for midwifery 2 years ago and didn't get in. Which is ok as by the end of my access year I'd changed my plans and wanted to do mental health nursing.

So far I've registered with ucas but that's all.
Surrey is my 1st choice, but when I looked recently they don't have access courses listed as something they accept

I'm also scared of not getting in again because on paper I've got everything they need. I'm just shit in interview :(

Ineed- I spoke to Surrey yesterday and they accept access.
I have a friend doing MH at Surrey and she did access last year.
She loves it.

Huge thanks for the personal statement help guys!

just waving hello, another one from last years thread, I am 4 weeks into my adult nursing post grad. Best decision I have ever made. My advice would be look at NHS constitution, 6 c's, NMC code of conduct before any interviews. Try and link those to your ps plus lots about respect and dignity. Francis report worth a read.

Thanks Mike phoning them was on my to do list this week. :)
I've got the grades and the experience. Now I just need the confidence!

Ive just realised i dont think i have the access grades to apply :-( Ive got 21 Distinctions, 39 at merit. All at level 3, ive just sat down to do my personal statement, im absolutely gutted!!!

How many do they need? It was about 18 distinctions 2 years ago.
I've got a few passes as well :(

I appear to have 27 distinction. 18 merit and 15 pass.

Looks like I need to speak to them again.
Why oh why did I discover this on a Saturday

I'll have to bite the bullet and ring them too I think. Then knuckle down and write a ps. Then practise my interview technique!

Oh I managed my PS, I'm over so need to reduce it but what a doughnut I am eh!