Career change for me

Hi folks :-)

I`ve spent quite some time reading these forums lately in the hope that someone somewhere will help me make up my mind. I`m at that point in my life where im thinking `its now or never`. I really REALLY want to become a nurse. However, its a biggie for me as at 35 as i have bills to pay and such like. Mind you, i doubt very much i`m alone in that regard :-)

Anyway, i`m going to need to take an Access course which i have lined up for April all going well. I intend to take the diploma course as i really dont think the degree would be right for me after so long away from a learning enviroment. I reallly dont think i`m degree material anyway.

First problem is that whilst i `think` i really want to go the mental health route, i cant help but wonder as in all honesty i have a general idea of mental health nursing but thats as far as it goes.

I actually passed the DC test (for those who remember that) when i was 18 but after visiting the hospital i was to do my training in, i lost my bottle and decided to travel the world a little :-( Thats a big regret of mine, if only i`d done my training all those years ago...

Sorry, i`m really waffling now lol

My second problem is that i`m genuinely unnerved at the thought of going to uni. I`m no academic and i`m really quite shy and not really outgoing at all. You`d think that having reached my age, i would have out-grown issues like that but alas i have not. I`ve always pretty much kept myself to myself you could say. I`m not a nerd by any stretch of the imagination either! (i know you must have been thinking that )

Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me ? Either students currently in training or long established nurses?

Oh... if you got bored and skipped to this line, naturally, i forgive you :-)

Thanks in advance

Ade

Hi Ade

firstly welcome to the site

I wouldn't worry about going to university, you will get help from tutors plus you will make friends with plenty of others and you will help each other out. Also think about joining an agency as a care assistant as this will help top up your money (many students do this)

Good luck on your journey

Hi Anna, thanks for your reply. I really think that after the first week or so, i`d probably start to come out of myself a little more. Its just that it seems worse as i`ve quite some time before i get to the uni stage, hence more time for me to fuss over it :-)

I actually work weekend nights already looking after a young man with cerebral palsy. I`m there primarily to make sure hes comfortable during the night and of course to monitor his baclofen pump. I`d love to be able to keep this job throughout my training as it pays well and would hopefully fit in around my studies.

Ade

hi, i trained as a nurse when i was 26 so i was a 'mature' student (as they like to call us), and had not studied since leaving school, you may find that a large majority of your fellow tainees are the same, about 80% of my group was, i was one of the younger ones. i worked part time through my training to top up my salary sometimes it was hard but it was all worth it in the end, its the best thing ive ever done, after all i could still be working in retail but now im hoping to start a new life in the usa!

there was lots of support available at college, everyone is going through the same worries and many have families to look after/ bills to pay.

good luck with whatever you decide, i know it was right for me

claire

There are a lot of community colleges that offer nursing courses. They are also smaller classes so more help from the teacher. Just a thought! You'll do fine.

Lori

There are a lot of community colleges that offer nursing courses. They are also smaller classes so more help from the teacher. Just a thought! You'll do fine.

Lori

in the UK all nurse training is done by universities so tend to be big groups with large drop outs

I'm 30 & studying to be a nurse had completed NVQ's in something completely different & they were done at work! So had never written an essay. Most of the tutors & lecturers are supportive (you always get the odd one) & you will get to try adult, child so if you find you enjoy them more than mental health you can always switch branch, I don't think there is many uni's that you can start without picking a branch. There are loads of people older than me as well as people younger than me.

I have been though loads since I've been training, divorce, moved twice, & when I found things to much when I first split up from my now ex-husband I took a year out of the course, which you can always do as long as you complete your training within 5 years (I think) you can keep doing that, or if you know that you are not going to survive on the bursary then you could always do the course part-time & that way you are free to work, the only problem is that part-time is not offered at every uni.

If you want to chat some more let me know

Something I forgot to add is you can always top up to a degree once you've finished your diploma & that way you are not trying to live on student loans & hardly any bursary.

oreo75, some great advice there thank you.

I`d be really tempted to find a part time course as i currently work weekend nights and dont particularly wish to give them up until after my training.

Its great to hear that there are usually a wide range of ages attending training now, thats another `worry box` i can tick off :-)

I`ve recently purchased a copy of `The Student Nurse Handbook` by Bethann Siviter (yes i`m keen, not even taken my access course yet lol). It certainly makes for interesting reading and raises many a valid point. I`m not even half way though and its a real eye opener in the respect that it shows how much more there is to nursing than the average person would believe. I just hope that attending the access course in April will wake up my dorment brain as i have a feeling i`ll be needing it :-)

After reading the book the past few nights, i come home with a whole load of questions, if`s and buts that usually keep me awake for hours. I dare not post every question i have on this forum as there`s just too many lol

Thanks to all who replied

Ade