Health Visitor training advice!

[OliviaHarriet]

Hello!

I am currently on maternity leave and am due back to work towards the end of the year. I work as a nurse and have done for almost 10 years. Since having my baby, however, I have realised that I no longer want to work the anti social hours that come with traditional ward nursing. For many years I have wanted to train to become a health visitor but life has always got in the way! I was just wondering if anyone who had completed the training would mind giving their opinion please?

I’d be looking to secure a university place for September 2025. Unfortunately, full time training seems to be the only option and my baby won’t be quite 2 at that point. Is it doable with a young family?!

Thank you in advance!

Could you go to work in the community in the meantime? Shifts are tough with little ones but you could do a year in community then apply? Or a year where you are and apply? If you really want to do it nothing will hold you back but best to do it when you are ready? Good luck 🤞

People do it with much younger children….the last scphn student I worked with started when her baby was 10 months….so it’s doable …..the course has now gone to apprenticeship in most areas so make sure you not caught out by this….as the entry requirements are now different….eg you have to have an honours degree and gcse maths and English ….no way round this ….but you have a year to get sorted if not…..its not like 10 years ago when ‘call to action’ was around and there were loads of training opportunities…..this year our trust have recruited 2 students and both were internal…….5 years ago there were 6 places……10 years ago around 15 ……so by taking a community job for a year you are greatly improving your chances ….even a community job in school nursing…..it will introduce you to working in safeguarding arena etc ….good luck