Nurse or teacher

[Turtlebreath]

Hi everyone I've not posted before but I am at a crossroads and really not sure what to do. I know that nurse or teacher seems strange as they are so different so I'll explain.
I didn't finish my a levels due to unavoidable factors in my life at the time. However I always wanted to do nursing or midwifery.
I applied for an access course 11 years ago to do midwifery but found out I was pregnant and decided to postpone.
Now I have 3 children age 10, 8 and 4.

I work as a classroom assistant which fits around my kids perfectly. I have no support of any family as they live very far away.

I want to go back and do an access course. My husband and 8 talked about it. He works long hours and his logic is I should be a teacher as I enjoy being a classroom assistant and working with kids. I also run a Saturday drama club for children. I was thinking of being a drama or English teacher as those are the subjects I loved growing up (after science). It makes sense as the shift patterns I'm guessing would be tricky as a nurse. Teacher fits in with the kids etc.
I do love working with kids.

But I can't help feeling so sad about the nursing/midwifery. It was always my dream and I feel such an incredibly large pull towards it.

Has anyone got any experience in these jobs and can shed some light. Anything is helpful.
For example teachers. Primary or secondary. Nursing... Is it possible with kids and no support.
Anything at all would be great.

Thankyou and sorry for that long post

Having worked with teachers from Southern Ireland their working hours and conditions seem to be far better than in England, don’t know if it’s the same in N.I. They talked of better behaviour, far lower expectations re hours put in. Certainly in England you can expect to spend a couple of hours each evening and part of the weekend marking and prepping both in primary and secondary unless you stay late at school.

@Turtlebreath

Today 11:32
Once qualified would it be possible to work say 2 shifts 7-5 and one 12 hour night shift? Do you get some say in your hours or none at all?

It all really depends on where you work. I’d say if you work in the community, GP surgery or clinics you have a little more scope for changing hours but not by much. If you work in a hospital ward I’d say you don’t really have any scope to change hours but you could set your shifts and do the same shifts on a monthly basis.

Community hours are typically 8-4pm, 10-6pm or 8-6pm (if you work 4 days instead of 5).
some nurses will start at 9am and work until 5pm to fit around school hours but you can only let one or two people per team start later due to the size of the team.

If you work in the community however, they would like you to work at least one weekend a month, even if you have set shifts/part time.