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!

They have helped me in Chat, so will write a few down.

Im SO nervous, I haven't been this nervous since..... I dunno when! Its been years since Ive done anything like this!

Ive certainly never been under pressure to get into an interview based on my maths score.

Apparently, if you get less than 50% they send you home there and then.

That's really scary! I can't work out if the maths is an online test

No idea, hasn't considered that. I assumed it was written! Either way, I definitely need paper to do the working out.

Im sitting here feeling like Ive reached my limit of what I can do, but don't want to stop - yet not sure what else I can doooooo!

Ive got the maths under my belt, Ive researched a load if questions they may ask me. Ive written down 6 questions I can ask them.

Ive revised the nursing code if conduct, the Francis report within an inch of its life, arguments that support and dispute the expectation of compassion or rather, they way they seem to be measuring it. The nurses role in the mid staffs hospital, the fact that it was a multiple agency screw up, with staff under huge pressure in a financially driven hospital.

Ive researched dignity, communication, the 6 C's.

Ive got names, years and quotes in my head.

Ive got rough plans of several different potential essays.

If I don't get it, I literally have no idea what else I can do.

Lumpen you sound like youre doing everything you can, well done. When is your interview? I hope it goes well. I researched some of that, not nearly enough and thought I had some really good answers except I let nerves get the better of me. I don't know what youre like under preassure but I think now youve done all you research the best thing is to concentrate on going over that in your head and remembering to relax and take deep breaths during the interview.

Good luck you sound like youre going to be amazing.

(sorry for lack of apostraphes! (lazy emoticon))

Thanks chuck Im taking rescue remedy with me.

Did you find out if you got on to the midwifery course? I just had to scroll above to see where your interview was, I managed to completely miss your post about it!

Did you find they asked questions that you couldn't answer?

I've just skimmed the thread because DS2 is applying to do adult nursing atm.

When we went to Nottingham one of the students recommended we buy this book. He said it would be helpful during the application and interview process as well as the course.

I know DS2 used it when he did his application. Hope it helps some of you, and good luck everyone.

It was really laid back and they just asked me why I wanted to be a midwife, how I'd cope with the course, things like that. Really obvious questions but I think they threw me a bit because I was expecting them to ask me about the 6 c's and current news stories regarding midwifery. I just got really nervous and had to stop and take a breather, I got marginally better with my answers and should have really incorporated the 6 c's within my answers (I did slightly) but I stupidly thought they'd ask me directly about them. It was so quick as well, but we had 3 other mini interviews too which were a lot better, probably because there wasn't as much pressure with them as they were just scenario situations. It was a really nice day actually but I won't be surprised if I don't get in; I find out in 3 weeks maybe.

Good luck again, you sound like you're well read and knowledgeable about he job.

Thanks Chuck I suppose any Tom dick or Harry can read and retain the words that they know they want to hear, I have to also show them that I really will make a good paediatric nurse.

I don't think it sounded like you did too badly at all in your interview. Come back and let us know the answer!

The Fairy that looks like a good book, I will get that if I get in. Although my interview is at 8.30am tomorrow morning so I won't be able to get it in time.

Good luck today lump- sending positive vibes xx

Good luck today lump- sending positive vibes xx

Good luck chuck too!

Thank you for the book recommendation fairy; I'm delighted as I had already ordered it

Thank you!! Im out! The interview takes UP to 7 hours, theres potentially a lot of waiting around.

Off to drink a glass of wine with my friend, ive been so nervous I was shaking most of it and during the 1:1's my voice was shaking.

I passed the maths test, cant say I know about the english though.

I'm sure you did fantastic!!!!

What were the maths tests and English tests like x

Well done! Do you know when you'll find out?

The made a decision today!

But they have to submit it to The System which can take up to two weeks to generate and get back to me.

All the other students (bar one) was 18. I was quite suprised, thought there would be a few mature students. They were all really lovely. Most had applied to 5 unis and all that I had spoken to said this wouldn't be their go-to uni if they had an offer at all of them, which works well for me :-D

I honestly don't know what I could have done better if I could turn back time. I asked them if a could have feedback if I failed to get in.

Mike the maths testers fine actually, really fine. If you get all those answers on the practice test under your belt you will be more than fine. They did ask me about temperatures and I was clueless so I didnt ever bother trying, I answered all the rest with time to spare to go over them all and after all that I still had spare time, put the test down and looked around to people still working, so I had the typical "On fuck" exam moment thinking at cant have done enough, and picking it back up and stared at it for a who,e longer, pointlessly!

I found the English test much harder, but purely because of my nerves, nothing else, it was an easy question, fine to answer but I was shaking and fretting, I still dont know if this has gone against me.

If I fail at will be beyond gutted, purely because I really pushed it to my limit today, I dont know what else I could possibly do to persuade them Im good for this.

It sounds to me as though you did fantastic and they would be a fool to turn you down!
Was the interviews the hardest part?
It's for child nursing isn't it

Yes I personally found the interview the hardest part but I think it was my nerves that made it hard for me, not the actual content.

Its clear that the interview was tailored to both adult and child nursing and you will get the same (just with different lecturers in front of you) however, theres no way I could give you tips on what to say or do because of the way they set it out (and its clear this is deliberate). Each person has a load of laminated cards, big ones, you choose one and discuss it. But since there is a few its highly unlikely you will pick up the same as I did on each one.

Id believe this is because we can't go back and discuss it with the others and give them a heads up because even if we did, they would probably choose a different card (they are upside down so you can't see what they are).

Plus, they drill it into you that you mustn't tell the others!! In the words of Joey "Even if I wanted to!"

Thank you so much Lump.
Have you applied only there and for both feb and sept? Will they give you a choice?
It would be amazing if we both get on and work out who each other are

Ive applied for February. I wouldn't be able to start in September theres just no possible way I could do it with school term times.

If you started in February we would have all our first year lectures at the same time. But sept and feb intakes don't coincide at all, apparently the NHS wants to take on graduate nurses twice a year not loads once a year, so they split it into two.

Oh I see! Thank you

ARGGGHHHHHHH!!

Every time I get an email my stomach drops through my arse, its never them of course its far to early but I figured I better make sure I know where I am with my UCAS long in details, so I track down my number but can't figure out my password. Fuck!

So I pressed 'reset password' and Ive got diddly squat in email.

I hope I get the password reset before I get the email to say its been updated with the verdict because that will be utterly torturous!

That is torture!
If not they are so helpful on the phone

Any news?

Nothing. Im getting really cross with anyone who emails me though, especially bloody Pinterest!

I have sorted out my UCAS log in though, so I will be able to access it as soon as I get the word now, so thats one thing.

I hope I find out this week.