I've wanted to be a nurse for a long time. I was a nursing assistant on a medical ward for a while, but had to leave when I became unwell. I loved it though, especially the palliative care aspect - it was sad, but I felt privileged to be part of the end of someone's life. I also liked being involved with the families of the people I was caring for - it was a really holistic way of working. My dream would be to work in a hospice or be a Marie Curie nurse.
So, for this I have to go to university. I have 4 reasonable A levels and I've got onto a university course before (though didn't go) so I know I can get a place, but there are things that worry me a bit:
1. Being old. I'm in my mid twenties and I'm worried about being judged for being older. In my thread in Veterans Support, some people have addressed this and have been very supportive, but it's still a huge sticking point for me.
2. Finances. How would I afford university? I'm worried about being lumbered with a ton of debt that I can't pay back. My parents can't afford to support me and I wouldn't expect them to.
3. Short sleeves. The NHS has a "bare below the elbow" policy, quite rightly, due to infection control. I assume that this is the same for private and charity run establishments. I have significant scarring all over my forearms from cuts and burns and skin grafts. When I was an NA everyone was lovely about it, but I still worry about being judged.
4. Not being academic enough. I worry that I am no clever enough any more. I used to have a reasonable brain on me, but it's been left to go stale. I'm starting a college course in September, so hopefully that'll kick start things, but it still worries me.
5. Not being stable enough. I've been stable for almost a year now, but I haven't really had any stress to contend with - no work or study. I'm concerned that I won't cope with a demanding course that requires work and study at the same time (what with placements and such).
That's it for now, I think.
I want to get excited, as I could apply soon for a 2013 start (providing I got a place). I don't feel that I can though because of all of these reservations.
Thank you for reading if you got this far. :)
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
1. When i started my nursing course i was 22 years old, and i was one of the youngest people on said course. I think with it being quite vocational, the majority of people have gained work experience in the field for a few years before committing to doing their training. There were very few people that were on the course straight out of school. The people on my course were mostly between 20 and 50!
2. When you do nursing, you dont pay tuition fees etc, you get a bursary. i dont know what it is else where in the country, but in London it was £637/month. This is a none taxed amount of money that you get because so much of the course is placement based and you are effectively working on the wards.
I also had a part time bar job in the evenings.
Dont forget, as a student, you are exempt from council tax and such so your bills are cut.
3. I cant help much on this one im afraid, i dont having scarring on my arms, but when i had my occupational health assessments, they said that kind of thing is only an issue if you have open wounds.
4. As there are a large proportion of older people on these courses, they do ease you gently back into the more academic side of things, but a lot of your tests are quite practical. (like the OSCE, which is a test where they check you can take blood pressures etc etc.) most nursing courses have an English and Maths written test as part of the interview process, and as long as you pass that, you'll be fine... Its not a difficult test at all!
5. When you apply to do nursing, you have to have an occupational health check where they will look at your medical records and ask you questions about it. I believe the criteria may have changed slightly since i applied, or perhaps it varies from uni to uni, but when i applied at Nottingham, i was told right at the last minute that i would not be able to start the course as they required that my medical record show that i was 'two years free from incident' .. that is, from trying to off myself etc as opposed to having therapy/taking medication.
However, the university that i eventually went to to do my course said that a year free from incident was fine, and they just made me very aware of the services that were available at the university should i struggle.
Im not going to lie, i found it really ****ing hard. i had been out of school for 5 years and was used to being in work and going home and not having to think about it until the next day. All the essay writing and stuff used to take me forever.
I guess, thinking about it and being rational, it is good to have a bit of life experience before doing a nursing degree. It's comforting that there were older people on your course. I worry so much about fitting in OK, though that probably shouldn't be a huge concern.
Oh, that's good about the bursary. Did you live at home or away? There's no university near the town I live in, so would need to move to wherever my uni was. Having part time work is a good plan, though I guess it would add to an already stressful workload.
I had to see occupational health when I was an NA and they said the same about scars. They weren't concerned as long as there was nothing fresh and open. The scars on my arms are all very old, but still visible. That said, as I mentioned, everyone was lovely when I was working on the ward so perhaps it would be OK.
My English is reasonable, but I worry about my maths. I got a B at GCSE, but that was some years ago and I've not done anything since! I think it would probably be OK though. It's good to know that they ease you in quite gently. :)
I've never tried to kill myself and will have been stable for a year come September, which would mean things would have been fine for two years when I was due to start in September 2013. Hopefully that would be satisfactory.
Thank you for being honest. I imagine that it will be very challenging, but that's part of it that I look forward to. I would love to give it my best shot.
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
i moved from the arse end of nowhere, to london to do my degree.
i think my student accommodation was £400 a month, but again, being in London thats probably more expensive than elsewhere in the country, and even when it comes to not being in halls any more, house shares and stuff are not as expensive as you might think.
I think September 2013 would be a good intake to aim for, it means that you have time to perhaps, prove that you are ready for work/education again, perhaps look into a weekend/part time evening job along side your college course that is medically related. Or even like, volunteer stuff at homes or whatever.. it all looks good on your application.
I got a C in my GCSE maths and i didnt do it at A level and i was fine.
Im sure there are members who have more up to date experience, im going back 4 odd years with mine.
I've wanted to be a nurse for a long time. I was a nursing assistant on a medical ward for a while, but had to leave when I became unwell. I loved it though, especially the palliative care aspect - it was sad, but I felt privileged to be part of the end of someone's life. I also liked being involved with the families of the people I was caring for - it was a really holistic way of working. My dream would be to work in a hospice or be a Marie Curie nurse.
So, for this I have to go to university. I have 4 reasonable A levels and I've got onto a university course before (though didn't go) so I know I can get a place, but there are things that worry me a bit:
1. Being old. I'm in my mid twenties and I'm worried about being judged for being older. In my thread in Veterans Support, some people have addressed this and have been very supportive, but it's still a huge sticking point for me.
2. Finances. How would I afford university? I'm worried about being lumbered with a ton of debt that I can't pay back. My parents can't afford to support me and I wouldn't expect them to.
3. Short sleeves. The NHS has a "bare below the elbow" policy, quite rightly, due to infection control. I assume that this is the same for private and charity run establishments. I have significant scarring all over my forearms from cuts and burns and skin grafts. When I was an NA everyone was lovely about it, but I still worry about being judged.
4. Not being academic enough. I worry that I am no clever enough any more. I used to have a reasonable brain on me, but it's been left to go stale. I'm starting a college course in September, so hopefully that'll kick start things, but it still worries me.
5. Not being stable enough. I've been stable for almost a year now, but I haven't really had any stress to contend with - no work or study. I'm concerned that I won't cope with a demanding course that requires work and study at the same time (what with placements and such).
That's it for now, I think.
I want to get excited, as I could apply soon for a 2013 start (providing I got a place). I don't feel that I can though because of all of these reservations.
Thank you for reading if you got this far. :)
Hi there :) Fellow nursing student here! :)
1. Trust me - age DOES NOT matter! I'm on a course with women up toooo 41? I think! And they all do the same stuff as us, nobody gets treated differently, and we all have a right laugh together :) Trust me , age wont be an issue :)
2. Your fees are free! :) And you get given extra bursarys too, then on top of that - you can get a maintenance loan which will cover the rest. You wont have to pay it back until your earning a certain amount, and on top of that, its such a small amount leaving that you'll barely notice :)
3. Ah - my scars aren't on my arms, so I can't relate too much to this, but I have been on placement recently with a girl with significant scarring, we were on a MH ward, so actually alot of people there related to her and didn't judge her, and a friend of mine , who is studying at London, has had a bit of judging, but mainly from bigoted old men =P
4. You. Is. Smarts. You have 4 A-Levels - YOU IS SMART :)
5. You don't have to have perfect MH for this course - it is a stressful course, and your tutors/mentors take that into consideration. Its very flexible, I've had extensions/extenuating circumstances due to MH and issues in my life (e.g. family deaths) which also needed time off of placement - which they were lovely about. 2 friends of mine were diagnosed with depression very recently, and uni has been BRILLIANT about it. I really can't sing their praises enough regarding their attitude to mental health, its fantastic :)
I hope this helps!
We’ve got obsessions
I want to erase every nasty thought that bugs me every day of every week
We’ve got obsessions
You never tell me what it is that makes you strong and what it is that makes you weak.
Thank you so much. That is all really helpful. :) *hug*
I'd love to study in London as I love the city and I have family up there. I think it'll definitely be one of the places I apply to.
I do some volunteer work in the care sector at the moment and am looking for part time paid work. I want to have all I can under my belt to give myself the best change of getting accepted and then getting cleared by occupational health.
Thanks Boats&Birds. That's all really useful stuff. It's good to know that they're flexible and understanding.
I'm hoping college will help me with my application when I start. I remember vaguely what I did before, but would probably need help with my personal statement etc.
Again, thanks a lot. It's really helped. :)
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
3) I'm a student midwife and I have scaring (albeit not horrendous) on one of my arms, at one point they were quite red still, but now are very white. I haven't had any issues with them, I told my first few mentors because I was very anxious about them, but they were fine with them. Occ Health weren't concerned with them either, as long as they are healed.
I've never had any 'patient' or visitor mention them, including on my 3 months general nursing. At one point when I had healing wounds I wore a tubi-grip and anyone that asked I just said I had a nasty wound I needed to cover, the only person that questioned me lots and was rude was a doctor.
When they were quite red still I put foundation on, except this is pointless if you're going to be in theatre and 'scrubbing' because you have to wash up to your elbows (I did this once, wasn't a huge problem as i just put it back on when I'd finished in theatre)
Basically, chill out people don't see what they don't want to see
for 4 & 5) I've struggled on and off on my course due to life circumstances and MH stuffs, my tutors have been very supportive, I had counselling at uni for almost a year. I had to 'step off' the course for 6 months due to MH stuffs and I repeated the 2nd semester of my 1st year. Basically, I've had lots of crap during my course and uni have been great and very supportive You'll be fine!
Last edited by [Awakening] : 21-07-2012 at 11:49 PM.
Reason: silly mistakes...
Hey, i may be a fellow nursing student but my input may mean zilch since I live in NZ but I can tell you that even over here, majority of our student body for nursing and health studies are over 25. People tend to go out, get life experience and then come on over to nursing. =)
My intake had a girl who was in her mid-late twenties and she had both arms cavered in scaring for mid upper arm down to her hands and no-body ever said a thing to her. I have mild scarring and it has not been mentioned either.
When it comes to your mental health, I have just gone back to study after having last semester off due to my depression. When I went back they put a 'health and wellness' plan in place so they knew what my warning signs or a relapse are and how they can help me out. I'm not sure what you Uni would have in place but chances are that they will have something that will be along those lines. =)
I say go for it! =)
From Nymph to Dragonfly, I know my place.
Call me Bee. =) Like it or Lump it.
‘Cause the passion and pain are gonna keep you alive someday
I've wanted to be a nurse for a long time. I was a nursing assistant on a medical ward for a while, but had to leave when I became unwell. I loved it though, especially the palliative care aspect - it was sad, but I felt privileged to be part of the end of someone's life. I also liked being involved with the families of the people I was caring for - it was a really holistic way of working. My dream would be to work in a hospice or be a Marie Curie nurse.
So, for this I have to go to university. I have 4 reasonable A levels and I've got onto a university course before (though didn't go) so I know I can get a place, but there are things that worry me a bit:
1. Being old. I'm in my mid twenties and I'm worried about being judged for being older. In my thread in Veterans Support, some people have addressed this and have been very supportive, but it's still a huge sticking point for me.
2. Finances. How would I afford university? I'm worried about being lumbered with a ton of debt that I can't pay back. My parents can't afford to support me and I wouldn't expect them to.
3. Short sleeves. The NHS has a "bare below the elbow" policy, quite rightly, due to infection control. I assume that this is the same for private and charity run establishments. I have significant scarring all over my forearms from cuts and burns and skin grafts. When I was an NA everyone was lovely about it, but I still worry about being judged.
4. Not being academic enough. I worry that I am no clever enough any more. I used to have a reasonable brain on me, but it's been left to go stale. I'm starting a college course in September, so hopefully that'll kick start things, but it still worries me.
5. Not being stable enough. I've been stable for almost a year now, but I haven't really had any stress to contend with - no work or study. I'm concerned that I won't cope with a demanding course that requires work and study at the same time (what with placements and such).
That's it for now, I think.
I want to get excited, as I could apply soon for a 2013 start (providing I got a place). I don't feel that I can though because of all of these reservations.
Thank you for reading if you got this far. :)
1. I start my nursing in september, as you know, I will be 26. So that is 29 when I graduate. When I went to my interview for Uni there were many people older than me. I also work in a&e at the moment and there are a lot of older nursing students. Nursing is one of those careers where the older you are the more valuble you could be because you have more life experience than a 18-19 year old.
2. You will be entitled to a student loan like all other nursing student and due to you mh problem you should get to keep you DLA (if you get it, of not then apply for it). If you are worried about money I would suggest staying at home with your parent and going to the closest Uni as that will save you a lot.
3. See my thread on scars as a nurse. But also be reassured that I have worked in health care for 2 years now (on medical wards) with short sleeves and no one has judged me for it or treat me differently. As long as you are putting the patients needs first then you will be respected by the patients and staff.
4. If you have the grades to get into nursing then you are clever enough. They would not accept people they didn't belive could cope. Also I promise you will not be the only one there who has not studied for a while. Many people take time out before starting Uni.
5. I think you will always worry about stability because you know how sick you can get when you are unwell. However if you are honest with occupational healthy and you tutor they will be able to support you. Also making sure you have the full backing of you mh team will help.
Just make sure you set up a good crisis/relapse plan with your team and ty not to worry to much. If it happenens it happens and then you just deal with it. It is unlikely you will loose your place if you fall ill. More likely they will support in returning to Uni when you are well again x
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