Div 2 to Div 1.Worth it? Really??

[ProudofmyNursingart]

I should put in here first that I am no 'newbie' to nursing. I have done aged care nursing for 22 years. MY parents are nurse's and I have always wanted to be one.

I am no spring chicken. And not just out of high school.

Nursing is my passion.

i really want to be a Div 1, but.........

I am in my last month of Nursing study for the Diploma of Nursing. Because my school is in SA and I am in Vic I need to enrol with SA and then transfer my enrollment to Vic making me an Endorsed Div 2 Nurse straight away as I have already completed my medication exams and module.

I am of course doing the 18 month full time course through Distance Learning. But due to ill health on my behalf it has taken me just over 2.5 years. BUT I AM NEARLY FINISHEDOn my last 2 electives. One more BIG workshop and a quick aged care placement and then an acute. That's it.

During workshop in Whyalla all the facilitators were encouraging us to go and do Div 1 saying it was actually a lot easier and a lot less to learn than our EN course. They find all that we have to learn overwhelming. And their teaching it!

I have found the actual context of the EN course very easy but the amount we have to learn and cram into ours brains has been the hardest thing I found.

But always considered Div 1 an unobtainable, wishfull dream because it looks and sounds so darn hard.

Or is it?

Truthfully how hard is it?

Has anyone done their Div 2 and bitten the bullet and found it easy?

I know of plenty of people who have done their Div 1 straight up who found, once again, the amount of work to learn overwhelming but the course simple.

But on the other hand I have also seen friends crumble into a nervous breakdown through the stress of it.

I am a single mum of one almost 12 year old boy with additional needs and I myself have a 'hidden' physical disability that I never let on to anyone I work with until they know I can do my job as well as anyone else. But it does cause me to be hospitalised quiet often interupting life in general. But I cope extremely well. And it has not stopped me from studying my Nursing Diploma or before that my Certificate 3 in Aged Care. And would do my Div 1 through Distance Learning as I have done with my last two courses. I love Distance Learning.:balloons:And works so well with my life.

What does anyone think?

Please be truthful. It's the only way to judge if it's possible.

Tell me encouraging or discouraging things if you want.

Any input is most welcome.

NURSE'S RULE:bugeyes:

[Grace Oz]

Why not just enjoy working for awhile as an EN, then see how you feel about further study.

Ultimately, only you can decide.

I wish you all the very best.

[nyapa, RN]

Why not just enjoy working for awhile as an EN, then see how you feel about further study.

Ultimately, only you can decide.

I wish you all the very best.

Agreed. Working as an EN gives you a good background, and you'll find that you do a lot of similar/same work to an RN, especially if you are medication endorsed. You surely would get credits for being an EN if you decided to go on and do an RN course

[bronween]

WOW! Congratulations on all of your hard work so far!

As someone who completed their Div 2 (NOT medication) in Vic, then transferred up and did Div 1 in QLD i would certainly say there is an increase in the learning curve once you get into uni. I'm so so grateful that i had my Div 2 knowledge already as it proved to be a great starting point for my Bio knowledge. At no time did i find it "easy", however i think having the Div 2 gave me the advantage knowledge wise, but also that i knew it was the career i wanted before getting into it.

I studied with just-out-of-high-school-kids, mother-of-twos, pregnant women and everyone in between. Unis are so accepting of individual circumstances nowadays.

I'd say finish your studies, and dip your toes in the nursing world. If you find you still enjoy it and want to continue onwards, then get into a uni course, STAT!!!

[JoMc]

Don't be scared. Doing your Div 1 at Uni is not that hard. You don't need to be a brainiac but what you do need is drive, motivation and be able to prioritise your workload which it sounds like you are doing at the moment in your life now bringing your son up etc. Go for it! I was a Div 2 and decided to bite the bullet and do my Div 1 and now that ive nearly finished, I cant believe a) how fast its gone and b) why I stressed over the decision so much - its not that hard. Good luck with your decision.

[tiij]

if its what you want to do, do it. the course is fine. the most challenging part was trying to work for cash and do clinicals at the same time. i was exhausted during those periods. but study wise.. the content of whats presented is not overlly challenging, just read lots. too easy.

do i think its worth it? well maybe more scope of practice and increased room to climb the professional ladder.. and i have no idea about pay...but other than that... div 1 or div 2. doens't really matter in the end? your doing the same type of stuff.. especicially if your medication endorsed.

hope your happy with your decision but div 1 is certainly not unobtainable. you can do it :)