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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Are there any 'career' type options for 16 year olds....nursing???

33 replies

NotanOtter · 05/12/2010 21:35

Rather than staying on until 6th form - maybe nursing or OTC even?/

My 16 year old is an able but totally unmotivated girl and she needs to find a focus to 'drive' her.

Nothing really fires her up at school but she is bright and despite being lazy at school - works v hard at her saturday job.

Nursing would be ideal - but can you do that anymore???

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VivaLeBeaver · 05/12/2010 21:40

Nursing is now changing to a degree only career, so you will need a-levels or similar to get onto it. There may still be some unis doing the diploma but they are been phased out by 2012. You can start a diploma at 17. Some hospitals may still have nurse cadets, which you can do at 16 I think.

Or health care support worker job.

Goingspare · 05/12/2010 21:41

Isn't nursing a graduate profession now?

VivaLeBeaver · 05/12/2010 21:44

Just looked, some unis still doing diploma. But think that 2011 will be the last diploma entry. So she needs to get applying if she wants to do nursing without a levels. Plus the bursary is better for the diploma.

cowboylover · 05/12/2010 21:44

Not without A levels I think but I am not 100%

I didnt like school or the school enviroment and I was one of only 8 who didnt say on to our schools 6th form.

I found the colledge enviroment alot better and more challenging with more courses aimed at vocational qualifications that are more job specific.

Can you support her in going to a few local college open days?

Goingspare · 05/12/2010 21:44

Apprenticeship?

Tortington · 05/12/2010 21:46

btec health and social?

Original poster

NotanOtter · 05/12/2010 23:08

thankyou all and some of those look interesting....
she is very bright so i do not want her to undersell herself but she has NO drive

college environment may well be better but not sure it will be structured enough for her 'nature'

she needs a strong leadership....it is odd how much she loves working and is very successful in her saturday job ( a chain of shop/cafes) i almost think some kind of 'management trainee' thing might suit her

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Original poster

NotanOtter · 05/12/2010 23:12

those apprenticeships might have something....

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Appletrees · 05/12/2010 23:17

It's so hard now. I wish there was an opportunity for my sixteen year old to work his way up, making the tea somewhere and getting training on the job. I think they have to be pretty motivated to convinc someone to take them on nowadays, outside of formal apprenticeships. It's such a shame.

whenigrowup · 06/12/2010 14:59

Give your local Connexions service a ring (the careers office as was). I've always found them pretty helpful for explaining the options to parents as well as young people. Don't be too worried about college not being structured enough; my local FE college has a good personal tutor system and they are very on the ball if students are not keeping up to speed as they should be; they certainly don't just leave them to get on with things. Might be worth seeing if they have an Open Day organised. My daughter is the same age and found the options available to be quite exciting.

mumblechum · 06/12/2010 15:03

Would she be intersted in the Armed forces? They offer some pretty interesting careers, inc. nursing.

Original poster

NotanOtter · 06/12/2010 21:40

thanks for those ...
oddly - armed forces would probably suit her as she thrives with structured environment...

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TheFarSide · 06/12/2010 21:46

Sounds like she has quite a lot of drive if she is successful in her Saturday job.

Has she said what SHE wants to do?

Original poster

NotanOtter · 06/12/2010 21:48

therein lies the problem ( my son works at your namesake restaurant !) the far side- she has NO idea - says silly things...

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TheFarSide · 06/12/2010 21:50

What silly things?

PressureDrop · 06/12/2010 21:51

She could do an apprenticeship, or a more vocational course at college. Or take a gap year now, work and find out the hard way how tough it is with nothing but a handful of GCSEs to your name (I did this, btw - highly reccommend it for unmotivated teens).

BranchingOut · 06/12/2010 21:53

Isn't there an armed forces sixth form scheme? You go to board in a sixth form college and get sponsorship and training along the way.

GetOrfMoiLand · 06/12/2010 21:53

Perhaps the army nursing corps - Princess Alexandras or something.

www.army.mod.uk/army-medical-services/9869.aspx

My dd is 14 and is looking to enter the RAF as an officer when she is 18 - wants to go into air traffic control.

DD loves it - she goes to air cadets. She joined last year as she had been bullied at school and was at a low ebb - I cannot thank it enough as it has given her structure, confidence and she adores the strictness of it all.

Perhaps your dd would like to have a look at the cadet force, to give her an idea of what forces careers are like. I had no idea what to expect (I know nobody in the forces) but is worth approaching it wityh an open mind.

pippibluestocking · 06/12/2010 21:54

You need a levels for nursing and soon to be all graduate profession

GetOrfMoiLand · 06/12/2010 21:55

Yes WElbeck College is the forces 6th form - you have to be very strong in maths and physical sciences however.

pippibluestocking · 06/12/2010 21:55

And need to be at least 18 obviously

Original poster

NotanOtter · 06/12/2010 21:56

VERY silly - akin to 'dancer' ' mouses coat designer' 'hot air balloon sew-er'

she won't take anything seriously

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Original poster

NotanOtter · 06/12/2010 21:57

gerorf that sounds good...where is it?

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GetOrfMoiLand · 06/12/2010 21:58

To be honest, it is not the end of the world leaving school at 16, however that is NOT something I would recommend, stay at school for as long as poss.

However I left at 16 due to family circumstances, I studied PT and hve two degrees. So was not the end of the world. Gave me time to get a job in an area which interested me and find out what I really liked the look of.

Original poster

NotanOtter · 06/12/2010 22:01

getorf - my son who has mild asperger syndrome has recently joined air cadets and it is PERFECT for him - dd would pour scorn on it

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