How do i know if nursing is the right career for me??

I am an aspiring child nurse. I love children and really want to make a positive difference in their lives. I don't see myself doing any other job because i am a practical hands-on person who would love to be an active participant in someone else's life.

If and when i have my own children, i would be able to care for them in a professional manner and take care of my parents when they are older seeing as i will have some nursing knowledge.

Having said that, i do sometimes have doubts and its because i am not a sciencey and mathsy person, so studying these might prove difficult.

Also, i don't think i would want to be working unsocial hours and be expected to be on-call duty every time. This just puts a barrier to your social/family life.

In addition, the pay does not seem to be good either unless you move up the ladder.

I know money is not everything and i would put someone else's happiness over my own any day, but i would want to live a comfortable life too and provide for my family(mum and dad)

I know that nursing is a rewarding career but its seems to be emotionally draining at the same time. I don't think i would be able to cope.

At this poin,t I just don't know.

I know what child nurses do etc and feel like i would like to do what they do but realistically speaking, i would prefer a 9-5 job in nursing.

Any help/ advice will be appreciated

I dont study nursing myself but my sister does and shes just completed her first year. Firstly if your looking for a 9-5 nursing job there isnt one, your expected to work long hours with different rotas. I agree it is a rewarding career if you have the passion for it and it is hands on so itl be right up your street. You dont need to be a person whos into science but youl need to have basic knowledge of it. The course is mainly placement based so what you learn is all on the job. You can apply for NHS bursarys which are monthly payments which can get you through uni. Lastly if you have the passion for it and your willing to work hard go hard for it. Dont let nothing stop you. I wish you the every success in the future. X


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I am an aspiring child nurse. I love children and really want to make a positive difference in their lives. I don't see myself doing any other job because i am a practical hands-on person who would love to be an active participant in someone else's life.

If and when i have my own children, i would be able to care for them in a professional manner and take care of my parents when they are older seeing as i will have some nursing knowledge.

Having said that, i do sometimes have doubts and its because i am not a sciencey and mathsy person, so studying these might prove difficult.

Also, i don't think i would want to be working unsocial hours and be expected to be on-call duty every time. This just puts a barrier to your social/family life.

In addition, the pay does not seem to be good either unless you move up the ladder.

I know money is not everything and i would put someone else's happiness over my own any day, but i would want to live a comfortable life too and provide for my family(mum and dad)

I know that nursing is a rewarding career but its seems to be emotionally draining at the same time. I don't think i would be able to cope.

At this poin,t I just don't know.

I know what child nurses do etc and feel like i would like to do what they do but realistically speaking, i would prefer a 9-5 job in nursing.

Any help/ advice will be appreciated

If i were you get experience as a HCA and you will see whether you can cope with the long hours and the emotional demands of the job. You will find it hard to get a 9-5 job unless you work in a GP surgery or maybe as a district nurse etc.



From Sep 2017 there is no NHS Bursary it is changing into a tuition loan.

How do i get experience as a HCA

I think working as a HCA is the best option for you. You apply via NHS Jobs. I would strongly advise you to make sure it is a HCA role within paediatrics, as the worlds of adukt and paeds medicine/nursing are very different.

9-5 jobs in nursing are rapidly decreasing unless you work in management etc., as care is moving into the community and longer hours are being demanded of community nurses. There really is very little demand for paediatric community services. Practice nurses are often doing late evening clinics and community visits are moving towards longer shifts and more weekends. Nursing is a 24/7, 7 days a week career. This is not to say that nurses can't have a good family and social life at all, but that the balance is different.**

Pay is better if you work unsocial hours. Those who do long shifts, nights and weekends earn significantly more than those who do the same hours on weekdays only.*

Is it easy to get a HCA post.

I am 18.

Why does nursing have to be a 24/7 job?

If the NHS is short of nurses then why can't they employ more and train more?

This way nurses won't have to be on call duty as everyone will be allocated to their preferred / or specific time?

I don't understand how we need more nurses yet universities only take 50 applicants for child nursing and 250 for adult nursing out of more than 2000 students yearly.

Some many amazing aspiring nursing students to be get turned down each year, why is that? the answers are not justifiable.

It does not make sense, after all, most people are expected to take a loan now anyway.

Why does nursing have to be a 24/7 job?

If the NHS is short of nurses then why can't they employ more and train more?

This way nurses won't have to be on call duty as everyone will be allocated to their preferred / or specific time?

I don't understand how we need more nurses yet universities only take 50 applicants for child nursing and 250 for adult nursing out of more than 2000 students yearly.

Some many amazing aspiring nursing students to be get turned down each year, why is that? the answers are not justifiable.

It does not make sense, after all, most people are expected to take a loan now anyway.

Nursing is 24/7 because people don't just decide to get poorly on a Monday-Friday 9-5 basis. The reason university's only take on that many is because the government cannot afford to train as many nurses as what the demand is. Now they are saying making nurses pay will open up more places thus creating more nurses but I feel it will have the opposite effect but wel soon see! What job you apply for when you qualify is completely up to you. If you don't want a job on call don't apply for it. If you'd like Monday-Friday 9-5 look at treatment room type jobs but as a previous poster said....these type of jobs aren't as popular on job sites as ward jobs will be but who knows! Also for child nursing I have no idea if that sort of job exists as I don't know much on child nursing but I've never known a treatment room dedicated to children . But during your training you'd be expected to cover all types of settings and all types of shifts. Have a look at voluntary if any hcas jobs aren't avail. Good luck

Children have outpatients just the same as adults. Children have day surgery just the same as adults. Both areas are 8-6 (approx) Monday to Friday.Paediatric community jobs are increasing not decreasing due to the push to keep people out of hospital and nursed in the community. Children with life-limiting syndromes are living longer and are looked after at home with MDT's that include the family and community paeds nurses who are based in hospitals and are available if those children need to be hospitalised but also support those children and families in the community.

I wouldn't say all them services you have said are all Monday-Friday 9-5. All trusts are different. The trust I'm from doesn't have separate children's outpatients I've actually never heard of that. Nor do they have children's day surgery....again something I've never heard of. Community settings....again not 9-5 Monday to Friday

Well they certainly do in London!