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?

[mandamoot]

hi there , new here but have just finished rtp course.
started in Jan. Had to self fund and sorted my own placement although uni did sort all other girls placements. I did 150 hrs on CCU and loved it.
It was terrifying at first as had been out for 9 years and had not nursed an adult for over 20 yrs. My previous speciality had been neonates but as I was adult trained I had to do my hours with adults !!!
am happy to answer any questions.

[brittany1]

Hi
I am not in the country so would appreciate any actual names of universities and names of placement contacts preferably in the Birmingham or London area as I can probably find accommodation there with friends. I have found this thread very reassuring but no one actually says where their placements were found. Contacts would be great. Many thanks.

[Embo83]

I live in Cornwall, and am trying to find an RTP course. Plymouth uni do one, but they can't guarantee it goes ahead next year due to funding. I know Bristol uni do one, but does anyone know if I could get a placement nearer to home and travel to Bristol for study days?
I am desperate to return to nursing after 5years. It's not gonna be easy!

[PennySillin]

Embo I did mine in Swindon (I am the OP btw have namechanged!). 3 people on our course were from Cornwall and were really well supported locally and just came to Swindon for the study days. Mary Hopper at Oxford Brookes is the course contact and she will help you find a placement.

[PennySillin]

Mary's last few courses have all been fully funded too!

[Embo83]

Thanks penny. I might email her to find out. How many days did u have to attend for study? Swindon seems far if it's a weekly thing lol

[PennySillin]

I think initially it was 3 days and then it was about 3 or 4 compulsory study days - that's it! Everything else was local to them and she even visited them in placement (she likes it when she gets Devon and Cornwall students for this reason )

[brummie2]

Royal Bournemouth hospital offering placement opportunities for Bournemouth uni RtP students on nhs jobs website.

[Leighgull]

I started RTCN via the University of Hertfordshire with a placement at Basildon A and E. it's tough as I have to knock off 375 hours as well as studying but, all being well, I'll finish in May. My advice is to keep plugging away to find a placement. Hospitals are very short of good Nurses. My main problem is getting to grips with what I can and can't do.

Good luck all.

[Saro14]

Hi All, Please I need placement badly in Mental Health. I have already secured a University place for September, 2014. Any ideas and help. Funded or non-funded. Am prepared to travel any where as all my children are grown up and independent.

Cheers.

[tiptop1985]

Hi, I was interviewed for rtp about 5 years ago at uea but told I would need to work as a hcsw and then to apply again as I'd been out since 1998 although my registration expired in 2005 whilst in the middle of bringing up 3 kids under 5 ( bit of paeds for a change!) I'm on my own now and have done some private terminal care work and am currently working in school as a teaching assistant. I would like to come back not only for me and the camaraderie of a team but also to give my kids a decent life. They will all be at high school this September.
I have a degree in English from 1999 and am currently studying a teaching and learning support diploma level 3...I'm worried I may not be up to the level required nowadays as I was RGN in 1988. As a single parent, I also need to study in Norfolk for childcare reasons. Has anyone undertaken a Uea course recently? I would be grateful for some advice. I asked a recent bsc graduate while my parent was in hospital last week and he said there were no courses running at present. Also, can you do distance learning with this? Thanks anyone!

[stillkicking]

Hi i have been out of nursing 25yrs and am currently working in acute services as a HCA in NI. I love it and am wondering if all the stress of doing the RtNP is really worth it as I have always loved doing basic nursing care and the staff nurses of today are so bogged down in paperwork etc. Would value an opinion. Thanks

[motsntoots14]

Hi, i wonder if this thread is still active?.
I am starting a gateway to study module at Stirling university next month, with a view to doing RTNP in Feb 2015. Has anyone done the corse in Scotland?, and also i am dual trained in both adults and sick children..after the course, and doing placement on say an adult ward, would i still be able to apply for paediatric posts??
Many thanks,
Catrina

[MaryB1]

Can't answer your queries but would be interested on how you get along. I live in Edinburgh and they don't do the course here. I have looked into doing the online course with Stirling though and then hope I can do my placement in Edinburgh. Not sure about the funding side of things either though. As far as dual trained, I would assume that your course would lead to being adult only., but I could be wrong

[Waterbean]

Just started my RTP this week at Northumbria Uni. Very daunting but keeping an open mind. Could anyone tell me how hard the assignment was to complete (we only have 8 weeks to complete) and how flexible the placement was with off duty as I would only manage 2 shifts a week on top of attending uni. I am a single mum with 2 young children so struggling a bit. Any reading material you could recommend. Thank you.

[leannek66]

Ladies help me out just received an email from Bucks for my return to practice nursing.I will be funding myself i hv saved for that but my problem is securing a placement in my area which is in a different county(Hertfordshire )I am due to start September.I tried Watford General Hospital and they said they don't have a contract agreement for Bucks students .Please help as I am beginning to panic

[leannek66]

Please help wr can i get a placement urgrrr

[lateSeptember1964]

Previously contributed to this thread at the start in June 2012 (just looking back) prior to starting my RTP. Its been a long haul but a great experience and last week I was appointed Senior Sister. I did my placement at a BMI Hospital which was great. I know the Watford area as I originate from Harrow. Have you tried some of the private hospital i.e The Clementine Churchill, or the one in Bushey. I think theres also a Shires hospital out at Hemel. Or the other possibility is Mount Vernon. It doesn't have to be a Hospital as long as there is a sign off Mentor. My advice take anything as its just a step back in.

[adeline123]

i have been allocated a return to pratice nirse to support ehile she is on placement. i am uptodate with my mentorship training but woild appreciate some advice from people who have been on rtp courses regatding things they would like from mentors or wish they had had. placement is due to start 7/11/16.
thankx

[loveMyWeeDog]

I was wondering if anyone has done/doing a return to practice course and did you have any luck getting a job after completing the course?

I'm half way through return to practice at Stirling University. I'm loving it so far and enjoying my placement but getting nervous about applying for jobs. Quite a few people on the course have already starting applying for jobs but the applicantion forms look so daunting 😱

[Nursemills]

I have an interview next week for the return to nursing course after passing the English and maths tests.
I wondered if anyone could help me with possible interview questions or can suggest any reading material. Thanks in advance.

[TRACEYMUMOFMANY6]

Hi I have just found out that I have an interview for the return to nursing course in 3 days and need to do a500 word critical review of a research paper and discuss at interview . Very nervous and don’t have a clue . Any ideas of what theory may ask ? And what’s a critical review x