BTEC level 3 extended diploma in health and social care for childrens nursing?

Hi!

I'm just about to finish my last assignment for the BTEC level 3 in Health and Social and I've been accepted into UWE for Children's Nursing.

I am so glad that I decided to go to college and study this, rather then do A-levels. Like everyone else has said, you get so much more experience and I think it then allows you to help make your personal statement better because you have a lot to talk about!

I've done 6 placements, 4 block weeks and then the rest one day a week apart from holidays. I've been able to have a hospital placement on an adult ward and on a maternity ward (looking after the babies!!), another in a nursery, another in a preschool with children with additional health needs (like epilepsy etc), a residential home and a primary school helping the children.

Altogether there are 18 units you need to complete, it's not easy and it does take up a lot of time, but theres no exams and as long as you stay up to date, you should be fine! I think the units that have been the most useful to me are communication, anatomy and physiology, physiological disorders, psychology, development through life stages, physiology of fluid balance, public health and also caring for children and young people!

Each unit has around 3-4 assignments each and they can be either presentations, essays, discussions or posters etc.. so therefore you have many opportunities to practice everything that you will have to do in university!

Feel free to ask any questions
Hope I've helped too!!

Gina

Hey!
Oh my gossshhh thank you so much for your reply! xxx
This has helped so much! Wow!!! That sounds so goood - I really really like the idea of the placements - that seems so beneficial! Thank you so much!! What parts did you find hard about the course?
That sounds so much more suited to me than A-levels - although exams don't bother me too much - i have always found to enjoy coursework a lot more because i am able to take my time over it!
Well done for getting into UWE! I bet you're so excited - good luck for when you start - you'll do great i'm sure!!! I just have little question but no worries if you can't answer it yet because you aren't at uni yet but my fear about children's nursing is the maths... I managed a C at GCSE but I have always struggled with maths, do you have any idea of the level of maths difficulty involved with childrens nursing?
And also how did you find college life? i've been told college is a lot different to school? With the health and social care course is it all day 5 times a week? as I know with some other courses at college it might only be half a day?
Ohhh and just about placement - what sort of things do you do on placement - say when you were at the hospital? And were you on placement on your own or were you with other students from your course?
I understand you are probably super busy at the moment so it's fine if you can't answer them pahaha!!xxxx
Thank you so much again

No problem

Placements are the best I've learnt so much that theory can't teach you, such as building relationships with patients and their families in the hardest times and learning different skills which you can put into practice in your every day life!

I think the hardest thing for me was doing all of the units, in my college, you do around 5 units at a time and it can all get a bit much sometimes, but I think that's because I didn't do all of it when I was given it (another words, I left it until last minute but I've learnt that that isn't a good idea! haha ) Also, I've been aiming for distinctions all throughout the course even though I only need 2 distinctions and a merit overall, but I suggest that if you can, you try your hardest to get the highest grades in each unit.

I SUCK at Maths, not going to lie! I failed 2/4 maths tests in my uni interviews and I only just managed to get a C. But the good thing about UWE is that they gave you a basic maths test verbally which was very simple, although I think that there is another maths exam when I start, but I can start revising that throughout the summer. If you go on the university of southampton website, I think that there is a practice paper, that will give you an idea of the questions if not, just google it and you'll find one

I am very very very excited! But at the moment, I'm very nervous too because I'm coming to the end of my course and it's all becoming real!!

I enjoy college life because I'm treated more as an adult. I like not being forced to do my work or go into college because at the end of the day, I know I'm responsible for my grades and that's exactly what it's going to be like at uni. I think at 6th form, you'll be babied quite a lot as it is compulsory to go in.

At the moment, my timetable is Monday 9-5, Tuesday 11:45-5, Wednesday 11:30-5, Thursday is placement and Friday is a home study day, although I can go in for support if I want it I think hours vary between colleges so you'd need to ask about that

Finding the placements are mainly my responsibility, we have a work placement officer who sorted out the NHS but otherwise, I had to find my own. It's compulsory to do at least 100 hours per year and in the second year to have at least 3 placements. I was on placement by myself although some other people were in the hospital, but we were all assigned different wards. I was basically only allowed to observe, however I was allowed to complete observations (blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, temperature) with the nurses supervision. I liked being able to observe because I've learnt SO much, I've even needed to deal with deaths of patients which is useful for my career as I know I'll come across it sadly :/

I hope I've helped! anymore questions, please don't worry about asking!

Gina xx

Hi, just a bit for me to add, I am at college at the moment and have just completed the advanced diploma in society health and development and the 1 year btec in health and social care, I had 5 interview for university and have received an offer from nottingham for child nursing which was my first choice. Personally I have found the courses quite easy, just alot of paperwork!!!!

I do the BTEC course, I'm just in the process of doing the extended diploma and have applied for sociology & criminology at university so this course can get you into all sorts of pathways!

I'd definitely recommend it due to the amount of placement you do which is awesome for personal statements!!

Good luck!!