Tell me about nursing

[Maharani]

I'm considering doing a nursing degree in London.

Any urban nurses out there? I know Blagsta is and has given some good advice . Can others tell me your experiences of the degree, the theory and practical side; best uni to study at in London; personal stories; how shift work affects you and your families; working for the NHS under all of the current pressures and squeezes; hospital hierarchies; treatment of nurses by more senior medics and anything else of note.

If I start the course next year my daughter will have started secondary school by the time I am qualified. I'm slightly concerned my hours will affect my time with her. I'm also a single parent, her dad is on the scene but is a chef so works stupid hours and has her irregularly.

I'm thinking of working with either the elderly, in mental health or midwifery.

Any helpful advice would be gratefully accepted. I think I'd love it but I really want to research before I commit. Oh and I'm in my late 30's now and have a non science degree.

Muchos gracias!

 

[Shechemite]

AFAIK (and i'd happily be corrected), mental health nursing (possibly the others) doesn't need a science degree as an entry requirement. I was actually looking at a those courses at my local(isn) uni, and having a degree and the requisite English language skills seems to be sufficient. The community mental health nurses may work reasonably regular shifts, but those on the wards appear to work dreadful patterns (sometimes a morning and an evening, then a night, then an evening and a night).

If you've got the passion for it that's the main thing surely

May I ask why nursing, and not social work/social care?

 

[Shechemite]

I work on the MH nursing course (albeit in a slightly tokenistic 'service user involvement' role'; they're very good to me). The lecturer who I liaise with may have answers to specific questions and/or literature that may be of use.

 

[Looby]

I'm doing an access to HE course at the moment. I'm heading to social work but most of the other students want to do various nursing courses. Midwifery is apparently very competitive and hard to get on the course. You need to have a brilliant application and loads of experience to stand a chance according to our tutors. Adult and MH are easier courses to get on.
Not saying this to put you off, it's just that if you're not 100% set on midwifery, maybe look at something else. Have a look at individual uni requirements too, they can vary massively.
I had to do maths GCSE despite having a-levels and OU credits.

 

[Maharani]

Seems I can do some work experience within my local NHS trust...does anyone know anything about this and how to go about it?

 

[Fingers]

I'm considering doing a nursing degree in London.

Any urban nurses out there? I know Blagsta is and has given some good advice . Can others tell me your experiences of the degree, the theory and practical side; best uni to study at in London; personal stories; how shift work affects you and your families; working for the NHS under all of the current pressures and squeezes; hospital hierarchies; treatment of nurses by more senior medics and anything else of note.

If I start the course next year my daughter will have started secondary school by the time I am qualified. I'm slightly concerned my hours will affect my time with her. I'm also a single parent, her dad is on the scene but is a chef so works stupid hours and has her irregularly.

I'm thinking of working with either the elderly, in mental health or midwifery.

Any helpful advice would be gratefully accepted. I think I'd love it but I really want to research before I commit. Oh and I'm in my late 30's now and have a non science degree.

Muchos gracias!

Sod all useful advice from me but think you would be brill at it.

I will speak to my mate though as she knows about such stuff

 

[Shechemite]

Seems I can do some work experience within my local NHS trust...does anyone know anything about this and how to go about it?

Possibly contact them directly. On their website they may have a ''working with us' (or similar) section. Or you could just ring the main Enquiries number and explain your your interest in doing work experience in such and such department, and they should be good enough to put you through the right person.

 

[Saffy]

I'm not sure about London hospitals but at our local hospital they run a volunteering course in most areas of the NHS where you can work on a ward for 15 weeks, and at the end of it you get a completion certificate which can help with your university application. My daughter's doing this now (who's 17) as she want to get onto a midwifery course and as Looby said, it's very competitive.

 

[Saffy]

Also, many years ago when I was a student nurse there was a requirement to do some night shifts. I had young children at the time and didn't have a car and so they tried to keep my placements as local as possible. That was children's nursing btw, though I'm sure it would have been similar for adult nursing.

 

[Shechemite]

I'm at the aforementioned University early next week. Is there anything that I can ask on your behalf?

 

[Maharani]

I'm at the aforementioned University early next week. Is there anything that I can ask on your behalf?

Actually, it'd be great to ask where I can find out about doing some work experience alongside a nurse...it's hard to find info on this online. Thank you.

 

[Shechemite]

Ok no problem, i'll ask the lecturer tomorrow, although an actual hospital/trust may be a better source of info.

I'll see what I can find

 

[Shechemite]

Have you contacted the trust themselves? It may take several phone calls to find the right department, but you don't have anything to lose.

 

[Maharani]

Yeah I have called tbe NHS careers number...i shall call a couple of trusts tomorrow. Thanks.

Could you also ask about the two year course? How intensive it is etc. Thanks.

 

[Plumdaff]

Maharani I'm really busy today but pm me and I'll respond at length when I have time. (MH nurse, didn't train but did post reg in London, worked in a full trusts across London).

 

[Maharani]

Maharani I'm really busy today but pm me and I'll respond at length when I have time. (MH nurse, didn't train but did post reg in London, worked in a full trusts across London).

Ok, will do ta.

 

[Sirena]

I'm thinking of working with either the elderly, in mental health or midwifery.

My mother was a geriatric nurse most of her life.

It's not glamorous (that might make it less competitive - which is a good thing) and it is often dead-ended (in the literal sense ) so you would have to be prepared for that.

But I think caring for old people at the ends of their lives and seeing that their final years and their passing is handled with dignity and compassion, is one of the deepest things a person could do in their life.

 

[hash tag]

^^^ if only everybody thought that way ^^^^
An old adage is what if it was your mum?