in the middle of applying for childrens nursing (to start this sept) any advice would be welcome

[kerryk]

hello, not sure if there is already threads relating to this, i have had a quick look but cant see anything.

i have my aplication form all filled out but i have lost my exam results from school so am waiting on them being sent to me so i can send a copy in with my application.

are there any more student nurses with young children about? what i would really love to know is roughly in the first year how much time do you spend in the class room (not including placements).

the only thing i am fretting about (other than actually getting on the course) is sorting out decent childcare.

Are you doing a diploma or degree?

How much time you spend in the classroom wuill depend on this- where are you planning to study (which uni?)

Im a student nurse (2nd year)

diploma, napier university in edinburgh. if they will have me that is.

Im doing a degree and generally have longer days in uni than the diploma students but each uni is different.

have a look at this website- there will be napier students on there who can maybe give you an idea of how the diploma at napier is structured
www.studentnurse.org.uk/forum/
how old are your childrem?

thank you, thats great. dd1 is 6 (7 in nov) and dd2 is 4 next month, so they are not little babys anymore but the cost of childcare is still worrying me.

the diploma course at my uni is 'family friendly' hours so it starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm so the students are able to get children from school.

Although when on placement they are still expected to do the shifts.

I have to rely on before and afterschool club and holiday clubs in school holidays, which is why I have to work part time over the weekend also, as this pays for my childcare.

Do you not get a bursary in scotland?

the money side of it is confusing me a bit just now, think i get about £450 a month (which is the same as everyone else doing diploma) but worst case synario is that my childcare will cost about £650 a month. i have tried talking to someone at the uni but they are not being very helpful. your hours sound fantastic, dont suppose you are within driving distance of edinburgh

hi there

havent used this site before but an online friend told me about your post and asked me to pop over so here i am!

im a student nurse at napier in edinburgh. im a single mum to a wee girl who will be 3 in the summer.

i started adult nursing in october 07.

i was in uni until end of january then started placement. while at uni i had my wee girl in a private nursery (she has gone there since she was 7months as i returned to work) she went 2 full days and 2 half days.

i got the maximum childcare help from the uni and i get about £170 from tax credits. im also a single mum so get some extra money on bursary. i dont get any benefits etc, i pay my own rent but council tax is stopped being a full time student.

its been ok, its a lot of work but ive managed.

iv been at placement for 4wks now and its hard going but its working out ok.

any questions please feel free to ask, good luck!

paula xxx

hi nutty, i just remmebered about this, what sort of hours do you do in the classroom at napier and also what sort of hours do you do on placement?

hiya kerry,

when i was in lectures i had my wee one in nursery 2 full days and 2 half days. i was in uni all day monday, occasionally half days tuesday, off a wednesday, in til about 2ish on a thursday then in on a friday morning.

on placement - when you first start they say you have to do core hours, 0730-1530 then after that i went onto long hours as i was in hospital so i do 3 days 0730-2000.

being a single parent i found at first the placement hours hard, but friends got together and helped, so id drop my wee one off at a friend at 7 and she took her to nursery and either my parents or a friend would pick her up for me. more often now, we stay at my parents the week im working and A stays with them while im at work.

its tough but you get there!

my next placement is a nursing home so not sure what the hours will be, then community, which will prob be more like office hours. we have to do 37.5hrs per week.

good luck!!

nutty xxx

thank you nutty, thats great.