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 suppose though if I take another year out (if I have to) to bump up my qualifications for acceptance that because DD will get her 15 hours at nursery it will allow me to gain even more experience to add to my application and prove how serious I am??

I did my access course 8 years ago and I always thought it was a simple case of pass or fail. And I simply passed my access course.

Perhaps Im wrong.

Although the degree I went on to do was Crim and Psych and a very easy degree to get on to (they didnt even interview me) so perhaps if Id applied for nursing they would have wanted individual results. Id have been screwed though, the only way Ive got this far is because of my degree and even that option runs out by next year because they want you to have been in education within the last 5 years. Next year it'll have been six so I'll have to knock out another criminology or psychology module to keep my foot in the door.

In fact, that cold be an option for you Mike Id ask them if doing a degree module would 'bump you up' if you can't get in this year.

Have you asked Brighton for their requirements? Or do both Surrey and Brighton want that much for access courses?

Mammicar thats so helpful thank you. Im revising my butt of at the moment so I will be adding those to my list. Ive done the 6 C's but only touched on dignity so far and haven't heard of the multidisciplinary team! I best get my butt to Google!

Mike when my son was in hospital recently I was asking his nurse about getting into paediatric nursing and telling her I was nervous about the interview.

She said if I didnt get in, I could go in through the back door and do it that way. Obviously she got a blank look from me. She meant that I could be a paediatric health care assistant and they get a great big umpf of experience and well received in trainee nursing. Plus you would be working and earning from the off, which helps. Not to mention experience. And she said they are always 'crying out for paediatric HCA's'

And one look on the NHS job site and she is right, its certainly the route I will be strongly considering if I don't get in this year.

And one bonus of having to take a year out, is that it really tests how serious you are about it. It will make you more determined to get in as I failed to get in last year which actually worked out well for me in many ways!

Oh gosh, they really are tough arent they

30 credits at distinction.

There aren't many universities I can realistically get to (single mum, can't drive)
I've just had a look and those i was going to apply for have seemingly upped their entry criteria :(
most want 30 distinctions. The one I found that didn't needed more of the merit or distinctions to be in science than I have (I have 6 merits in biology they needed 12 ir 15)
uwl say a meri/distinction profile. Whatever that means

Oh God. Don't think my dream will ever become a reality :(

Surrey want 30 distinctions.

15 merit's
and 15 if these need to be science related. That's that out then!

Ineed can't you train as a HCA and go in that way? You don't need qualifications to apply for that role, and you won't then need the distinctions to go on and train as a nurse, your foot will already be well and truly in the door.

Ok here we go

You don't necessarily need qualifications to get into the role. They will train you when in the role, you will en be qualified to apply for nursing. and you get paid while you get to the nursing bit! And imagine to work experience!

Maybe. I'm working as a rsw (recovery support worker) but not nhs so don't know if I can do it through work. Will have to investigate further.
I read somewhere that doing a psychology degree is another way in but my local uni want 30 distinctions for that too!

Thanks :)

And you would end up in 21k of debt.

Ive just looked at the degree I did and it wants 45 credits at level 3 so Im guessing I was wrong about the pass or fail.

This is so, so tough to get on to. And every year nursing is being made tougher.

I really like the HCA option though.

That's true! :) just bummed that I can't do it. I got the highest grades in my class at college yet am the only one not at uni! And some of the others were so nasty and petty I'd hate to have them as a nurse. Just seems unfair.

And now I sound nasty for saying that!

You don't sound nasty, you sound gutted and I felt exactly the same last year when I didnt get an interview. It sucks, I remember that feeling well.

But all is NOT lost, it really isn't.

Call the uni admissions, explain what you do have (they can alter it slightly to their discretion, for example they say 5 years since education max, but they might allow 6. If you are only 3 distinctions out, they may allow you.....) and ask them the best route for you to take.

Those of you worrying you don't quite have the grades.

I am in my first year of adult nursing at CCCU and I was accepted on the basis of my A-levels (17 years ago). I did not have enough points from my A levels to meet their requirements (240 not 260) so I was doing an NVQ3 as well, although I hadn't finished it when I applied, and they didn't take it into account.

IME they are looking for someone who has some experience of nursing/care work, someone with knowledge of what's going on in nursing atm (think Francis report, 6Cs, person-centred care, NMC Code, collaborative working), and someone who shows commitment to the profession and is compassionate and caring. If you are that person, and can show it in your personal statement, and then at interview, then the odds will be in your favour.

Best of luck, all, it's bloody hard work but the best decision I ever made, I love it.

Thanks :) I am gutted. Finally decided I know what I want to do with my life and now I can't get in.
But like you say all is not lost! And I want this enough that I WILL get there somehow!

I BRING NEWS!!!!!

You can either study with the open their modules to top up your access course

Or

Go the back door route in

Or

Speak to admissions like I've just done and ask them to consider your application. Brightob have agreed to do this for me as I've secured a 15 hour volunteer role in a hospital.

ALL is not lost.

Where there's a will there is a way.

now don't you dare admit defeat

Yup. Knew it!

Admissions are well aware how difficult it is to get in as well as the desperate need for good nurses. They have the ability to bend the rules a bit because of this.

Nice one Mike we may well end up in a lecture theatre together.

Yay Mike

How did you get voluntary work in a hospital? I desperately tried to do this for a year and they all basically said they can't just accept any Tom, Dick or Harry off the street to volunteer in hospitals these days, which is fine I understand that.

I volunteered elsehwere which I believe has helped but how did you get your 15 hours? What hospital is that in?

It's at St Richards in Chichester.
First thing she said 'please don't tell me you want a maternity placement'

I was told to call the main hospitals switchboard and ask for the volunteers team.

Brighton uni also told me they love care home workers or care home volunteers.

Hopefully we can all get on the right path and be in lectures together.

We've got a new thread in student parents too for all us hopeful applicants

Totally put the new thread thing on the wrong post! Dog

This is in student parents isnt it?

Doh' even

Ahhhh thought it might be of benefit to mention Surrey refused to bend on any admissions.
They won't accept a top up of access modules from the distance learning centre either. They will only accept a 60 credit top up which takes nine months from the open university.

At a cost of £2,500 with no student finance allowance

Ha! You daft apeth.

Mike if you got accepted into Surrey and Brighton which one would you choose?

And if you had a choice to start in sept 2015 or feb 2016 to fit round school term times which would you choose?