Any nurses out there? Can I have a quick word?

[Kellamity]

I am about to do my return to practice course (Sept 2012) and between now and then I would like to get a bit of reading in as I have been out of practice for 9 year .

Can you recommend me a good all round journal? It always used to be either the Nursing Times or the Professional nurse and maybe a good text book for a bit of bedtime reading? I still have my Watsons!!! Any good pocket books that might come in handy for when I start work?

[XBenedict]

(Kellamity here) How is everybody getting on?

I am now on my 4th week on the wards and bloody loving being back. It's hard, heavy work but I love it! Need to knuckle down and start studying now.

[lateSeptember1964]

Lovely to hear that it's going well. Are you working a set number go hours per week? My first study day is 5th November, so getting nearer. I just need to organise some jabs and I will be ready.

[XBenedict]

I am working 2 shifts a weeks which means by the end of my placement I will have completed 150 hours! Just finished an early today and I've loved every minute! I really do need to start my essay though.

[lateSeptember1964]

I'm so pleased your enjoying it. I thought two shifts a week would be good. Thought I could pace it out over ten weeks. What is the essay title and when's it due? Sorry I always have questions but I just can't wait to get back although nervous about how the family will cope. Really pleased for you.

[CarnivorousPanda]

I'm on week 4 of my RTP course, hopefully starting Placement next month.
I hope to do 2-3 shifts per week.

[XBenedict]

My essay is a reflective essay so we can choose an episode of care and write 3000 words about it. Their is a reflective model we have to base it on. I have chosen an episode - wound dressing and I thought I would explore water v saline to clean as the staff nurse I did it with always uses water - new one on me since I last nursed and there seems to be quite a bit of literature - that's as far as I've got!

[lateSeptember1964]

That essay sounds really good and there should be loads of literature/research to support it. Course starts Monday can't wait. Have just looked at my last post and realised that I said "worried how the family will cope" How typical is that. Never mind how I will cope!

[XBenedict]

Good luck late I will be thinking of you. I can't believe how much I am enjoying it. My confidence has soared, I hope you get as much from it as I have. We were in Uni today talking about application forms and interview techniques - scary to think I have to do all that now!

[GimmeIrnBru]

I have looked into this but QMU (Edinburgh) do not run the RtP course because there is no longer a demand for it (that was when I phoned back in January this year).

Good to hear of others doing so well on their course though. I am still considering this, but I think I would have to self-fund the course unfortunately. It is putting me off slightly. £1100 is a lot of money.

[XBenedict]

It is a lot of money Gimme and then to do over 100 hours for free it's a pricey course if you have to pay for childcare too. Gotta think long term. Shame there's nowhere nearby that offers the course.

[GimmeIrnBru]

There's a few others in Scotland, but it's all down to logistics (same for everyone). Lovely to hear that others are doing great though. Hopefully one day the course will be fully funded by more institutions which will encourage more to come back to the profession.

[XBenedict]

2 of the girls in my course travel up from Devon to Wilts to do the Uni bit but they have a placement locally which is where most of your time is spent - is that an option for you Gimme bearing in mind it's just short term. Not ideal though and easy for me to say as Uni is just 40mins away and my placement is opposite the children's school!

[GimmeIrnBru]

It's a possibility XBendict but I don't intend to go back to work until the youngest is in primary school. I've a 5yo and 2yo just now. At least another three years. I just need to decide if I'm going back to nursing or doing something completely different. Unforunately, nursing is all I've known since the age of 17!!

[lateSeptember1964]

Well the majority of my theory days are over. Its been a great two weeks and the others on the course are lovely. I have one more study day left and some e-learning to complete. Start my placement on 3rd December. I can't believe that I have come this far and so pleased I did it.

[woollala]

I am struggling to find a work placement, I currently am applying to do a return to practice course. I don't work in a clinical setting.

I am aware that I have to fund and find my own clinical placements. This is easier said then done, I can fund the course but I cannot find a clinical placement. I really want to go back into nursing but I just don't know what to do no more. Can anyone provide any advice?

[CarnivorousPanda]

Woollala where are you? There was no course running near me, so I had to travel.

[XBenedict]

Oh Woollala I'm really sorry to hear this. I have heard it's finding the placements that's causing most of the problems for many return to practice nurses. I hope you find somewhere. Where are you?

I have 2 weeks with the specialist nurses now. Been with the diabetes nurse today - absolutely brilliant. Doing a community shift tomorrow and with the social worker on Weds. Tissue viability next week then it's 2 early shifts, a day at uni and I'm done - how did that happen?

[lateSeptember1964]

xbenedict its unbelievable how quick it all goes. Went over to meet my mentor today and get my shifts. The hospital is lovely and the staff really nice. By the time I pencilled in two shifts per week plus some hospital study days that were available the hours just seem to have built up.

Woollala the advice my tutor gave me was to leave no stone unturned. Think of everywhere including nursing homes. As long as they have a sign off mentor you can do a placement there. I am at a private BMI hospital and I have to say they have a dedicated training nurse who has been unbelievably helpful. If you have a BMI hospital local give it a try.

[CarnivorousPanda]

I'm going to meet my mentor tomorrow, have already pencilled in some shifts. Hopefully up to 60 hours so far. I agree about looking more widely for a ploacement, nursing homes are a good idea.

I'm hearing mixed stories about other placements...............so feeling a bit nervous.

[donnaedina]

Hello all! this is my first time posting I have been out of nursing for 12 years bringing up my girls have applied for rtp at Uni of herftfordshire I live in brentwood essex couldnt find anything closer. And have a placement arranged in a gp practice.near Southend quite hard to arrange though. Have to self fund as nothing funded where I live.Starting in January I hope any advice about how hard it is to juggle placement study and family life? .

[XBenedict]

Good luck donna we weren't allowed to use practice nursing as a return to practice placement so I'm a bit as this is probably what I am going to do once I've finished the course.

I have LOVED working on the wards but be warned it's manic and the paperwork is unbelievable. I can't really work shifts long term and if I'm really honest I don't think working on the wards is for me anymore.

Having a good mentor really helps. I have a wonderful mentor, really made my course. I know a couple of the girls on my course haven't been so lucky!

[donnaedina]

Thanks XBenedict I am very nervous after being out of nursing for so long! good luck with your job hunting.x

[XBenedict]

You'll be fine xx