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Thinking about nursing... Help! + rep :)

Hello!

I've been thinking about doing nursing for a while now, but I'm looking for some advice :smile:

First off, what has been your experiences so far? Do you enjoy it? How stressful do you find it?

Secondly, how can I best go about finding myself some work experience? Ideally, I'd like to do adult nursing.

Thirdly, I already have a place at university next September to do a history degree, and as it's something that I've wanted to do forever, it's not something I really want to give up on. Would I still be eligible for NHS bursaries if I'd already done a degree?

Thanks! :smile:

Reply 1

Tashalls

11

Personally I found it really boring and heavily biology in lectures etc, I dropped out before placements :o:

. Tbh it's something I may go back into because the 2 year graduate course will be more specialised and my problem was that I was more interested in mental health.

You will still be entitaled to bursarys yes :smile:

, so it's quite a good choice after a first degree.

For experience I would email hospitals near you and ask if you can shadow a nurse for a week or two, it shouldn't be too hard because obviously they want more people to do it. You could get a job as a HCA at uni, this is what I idealy want to do, or as an assistant in a school/ nursing home etc. Anything with people counts as experience, especially vunrable people.

Reply 2

usub123

woow nursing is very intresting. I want to study it but BTEC or vocals which one do u choose to get in

Reply 3

psychocustard

OP

18

Don't jump on my thread! :frown:

Reply 4

Becky_90

12

Its a real mixture of experiences, you see so much variation throughout. Some parts i have found dull, im not gonna lie. Im someone who prefers a biology side to things but obviously there is alot more to nursing to learn than just the biology.
It can be stressful. I personally think its more stressful on placement than while at uni, and there are times you will come home wanting to drop out. Its a course full of ups and downs! It is enjoyable though.

For work experience i would try getting in touch with various health care settings, even just a day here and there is better than nothing. Like mentioned above you could also try get some HCA work, this will give you a good insight.

Reply 5

puddlejumper

2

psychocustard

Don't jump on my thread! :frown:

My, my. What a nice charming person you are. With people skills like that the universities will be falling over themselves to give a place. Not.

Reply 6

Subcutaneous

19

psychocustard

Hello!

I've been thinking about doing nursing for a while now, but I'm looking for some advice :smile:

First off, what has been your experiences so far? Do you enjoy it? How stressful do you find it?

Secondly, how can I best go about finding myself some work experience? Ideally, I'd like to do adult nursing.

Thirdly, I already have a place at university next September to do a history degree, and as it's something that I've wanted to do forever, it's not something I really want to give up on. Would I still be eligible for NHS bursaries if I'd already done a degree?

Thanks! :smile:

Well I'm over half way through my 2nd year- I recognise you on the site anyway :holmes:

anywho..
as for your questions
1. Experience, well so far they have been up and down. I found my first year a challenge in aspects of finding my feet, getting to grasps with ward life and simply the role of a nurse. I also had a very unpleasent mentor on my first placemetn which dented my confidence massively- however it's a hurdle you overcome. Academically 1st year was tough in workload and getting your head around creating your portfolio, however I was lucky in that I had biology and psychology a-levels and found my Anatomy and Physiology exams not AS hard as others who hadn't done them (I got 90%)

Now as a second year, it's been so much better! I've found my feet in nursing, I know what I like/don't like and my confidence has shot up to take more initative and understand why as nurses we 'do what we do'. I still have a while to go but its fab to see how much I have really improved, and it's been due to having some amazing placements that have really pushed me.

2. Do i enjoy it? Yes, couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. I had good and bad days, just like any career. When I started I didn't know if this was truly what I wanted to do- but like I said, this is my vocation :smile:

3. Stressful..ok. Well, it is stressful. Everyone handles stress differently, on placements I DO get stressed however for me it's good stress and I thrive on it a lot more. However academically, second year in particular, the bar has been raised and there is an increase in work and I am finding myself feeling sick at the thought of doing it! On the plus side it does ALL make sense and it all comes together and the assignments and exams you do you can see how it will make you a better nurse, so it's all worth it in the end.

4. Work experience. Well firstly, contact your local hospitals within a 20mile radius about WE programs you can do in their trusts or if offered. Secondly, contact nursing homes near you, and ask to come spend 2-3 weeks with them shadowing the nursing staff. The BEST experience you can get is to apply to be a healthcare support worker/HCA/CSW they come under many names, google the term and it should come up. This job is part of the nursing team, and delivers the basic nursing care and asissts the nurses in their care for the patient. You can do it as a paid job and is a fantastic stepping stone onto the career if you can do it!

Finally yes you will get the NHS bursary if youve already done a degree.

Thinking about nursing... Help! + rep :)

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