advice on nursing/midwifery course please!

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Hi all,
just a quick question.....if one is to go on a midwifery or nursing university course for three years, how many days and hours per week would you need to attend uni?
I work full time and love my job but maybe will look to train further in the future.....just worrying if i would still be able to go to work while studying. Thanks

If you do a nursing /midwifery course you will be doing 50% uni 50%. work either community or hospital based shifts begining at 0700- 07.30 hrs and finnishing at 20.00 hrs.uni is more relaxed but during work placements you will also be expected to work nights and weekends.Don t forget you will also have exams and essays by the ton.These days nursing is very popular as its a secure reasonably well paid job so the course is tough at times.If i were you i would contact my nearest hospital and join the nurse bank and get a taste of the job before you commit.

It's pretty much like a full time job, rather than a uni course in terms of holidays etc. There will be some theory weeks where you finish early/have self-directed learning etc but the NMC have minimum contact/practice hours requirements that the uni has to prove occurred.

Depending on your placements/mentors etc you will have some weeks where you work nights, weekends, early mornings and late evenings (all for no financial reward) but there will always be time for you to do bank shifts as a nursing assistant for extra cash.

I love my job but I wouldn't train again for all the tea..

thank you....it looks like it might not be possible after all! i work full time in an admin role in a hospital in london. i thought i could do it while still working part time! i can't afford not to earn for 3 years!
hmmmm:(

You can do part time courses that take 5 years at some unis, so might be more workable?

You will be entitled to a non means tested nhs bursary if doing a diploma course (approx £500-£600pm I think) of if degree then it's means tested.

You definitely wouldn't be able to slot a job in doing the course, I did care work on the nurse bank for a while whilst I did a access course then gave it up once I started my midwifery degree as there were just too many balls to juggle with uni placement, kids, life, home, taking a pee

Worth it though.

thanks....will think about it:)

as said holding a part time 9-5 role won't be achievable, but plenty of the students I mentor work evenings and weekends.

you've mentioned you are working in a hospital - have you spoken with your training department, discussed in your appraisal? There might be the opportunity to take on a secondment post (paid) to complete your training. Our policy is to second for pre-reg degrees at mid-point Band 3, so those on Band 4 generally agree to take the paycut for the year.

The bigger trusts around here actually have a secondment manager within their training departments, maybe yours has?

hi twinklytoes.....i'm sorry i didn't quite understand what you mean by a secondment post?
i am in a permanent position at the customer service department and it's band 3 monday to friday! i have not spoken to my training department yet! could clarify pls as i am new to the nhs and not very clear

sorry - the nhs will second staff to University to do their nurse training and you receive your full pay whilst you are there. They rarely guarantee a job afterwards, but generally you are not tied to return to the hospital that seconds you.

Our criteria is two years service but we have seconded admin staff to do their training as well.

sometimes the hospital / trust will advertise secondments externally too (when there is high need for a specific speciality) on the nhs jobs website. At the moment there is a big drive for nurses to retrain as Health Visitors, so there's adverts everywhere and registered nurses are receiving regular mailings to home addresses asking us to consider.

should say that your permanent post remains yours whilst you are away at University. But generally the secondment policy follows that of the maternity policy, so you may return return to a band 3 admin post in outpatients rather than PALS for example, but would be 9-5, mon-fri.

so i can go and study and keep my job? i will still get paid my full salary while training? I wonder what my manager will say and how many hours would i need to go to my admin job while i am training to become a nurse? sorry too many questions.....

thank you twinklytoes i will find out today

Usually secondment means that you keep your job and salary whilst training but don't work (instead you study) and you can return to your job after if you want, possibly while you look for a nursing post.

it's all clear now i found all the information today on the intranet at work. i would need the support of my manager.....hopefully