WHICH IS BETTER? Biomedical Science or Nursing???

Hello,

I'm thinking applying to university, but I don't know which course is better!! Biomedical Science or Nursing? I was thinking doing Biomedical Science first and then apply for medicine. I I didn't get a place I can apply for PGCE to become a chemistry/biology teacher. Is that possible??? Because I heard that students graduate from Biomedical science, are really hard to find a job in the hospital lab! Whereas nurse is more stable and easy to find a job. I really don't know what to choose!!! Can some one help please??? Thank you.

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Reply 1

claireestelle

Original post by Mi02

I wouldn't pick a job because of entirely because of the stability, it sounds like you're more passionate about biomedical science but the two are completely different roles to each other so I would get whatever work experience you can in both before you think about making an application to be honest.

Reply 2

alleycat393

Some good advice above.

Nursing is a vocational degree that leads to a job but biomed is an academic subject. You can do pretty much anything with a biomed degree that uses your transferable skills. After biomed you can apply for a PGCE or medicine. You don't have to end up working in a hospital lab and certainly won't if you do a biomed degree that's not accredited.

Reply 3

Mi02

Is Biomedical Science degree really competitive and hard to get a place in the uni?? I got ABCD in my AS and I want to apply for the Manchester University. Do u think I can get a place?

I know that nursing and biomedical science is different. But I was scare that I couldn't get a place in the uni, so I thought nursing can be a safe choice. Can u give some suggestion about my five choice about uni please?? Thank you.

Reply 4

claireestelle

Original post by Mi02

I m afraid that nursing is generally no ones safe choice as theres something like 10 applicants per place in many universities sometimes worse, whereas biomedical science has 55% of applicants get a place (for manchester) so really thats more likely. I think ABB is the lowest manchester appear to accept so ABC is a little risky, have you considered applying after you ve got your results if you're set on manchester?

Reply 5

Mi02

I don't know what's my predict grades. But I think it is AAB or ABB.

Reply 6

Mi02

What other university I can apply? I'm thinking applying keele and Kent, are they a good university?

Reply 7

Mi02

Also, I'm going to resit biology, maths and chemistry

Reply 8

Veeox

I'm having the same problem right now, nursing or biomed :s-smilie:

Reply 9

Mi02

Which uni u thinking to apply?

Reply 10

Veeox

If I was to do Biomed I would go for Southampton,Portsmouth,Brighton,Kings and Royal Holloway and if I was to do nursing it would be basically the same just Bournemouth instead of Portsmouth and Bristol instead of Royal Holloway :smile:

Reply 11

Mi02

If u r apply to biomedical science, aren't u apply to the uni that r accredited by IBMS? Also I decide to do biomed instead of nursing coz it has more options for jobs, whereas nursing there would be only one option.

Reply 12

Veeox

I think I will go for biomed too as I want to do postgraduate medicine anyway :smile:

IBMS is not that important apparently, it only is if you want a job directly in the NHS as a biomedical scientist in the lab. Also if your course is not accredited you can ask IBMS to assess your course etc and you might just have to do some extra modules etc you can still get accredited, so I don't think it's particularly important, I have also heard that accredited courses tend to be more boring. It all depends what you want to do with your degree really.

What unis have you looked into?

Reply 13

Mi02

Surrey, manchester, Kent and Keele. Don't know about the last one.
I heard that if want to become biomedical scientist, it is better to do an accredited course. I want to apply to top uni which are not accredited, but I heard that top up modules need to be done in accredited uni after graduate.

Reply 14

Mi02

Is Warwick a good uni for biomed?

Reply 15

Veeox

It's pretty good. Have a look at this http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Biological%20Sciences

Reply 16

Phoebe Joan xo

Dont apply for nursing unless you really want to be a nurse, its hard and half way through you'll think why am i doing this !!!! if you do another degree and then want to be a registered nurse you can d postgrad 2 year nursing, though its a longer route 3 years degree and then 2 compared too doing 3 year nursing degree straight away

Reply 17

Veeox

Do you not enjoy nursing?

Reply 18

Vanny17

Original post by Veeox

I think I will go for biomed too as I want to do postgraduate medicine anyway :smile:

Original post by Mi02

Just to let you both know that to become a biomedical scientist, you would need to be do an IBMS accredited degree in order to register with the HCPC. To be qualified for the HCPC registration, you must be IBMS registered (though you could top up your degree with additional module/s to become IBMS registered) and most jobs will require you to be HCPC registered. Also, for the HCPC registration, you would need to gain experience in a laboratory to for you to practice as a biomedical scientist (It's called a certificate of competence; the degree is just one step). After doing all these, expect a low pay salary.

Don't do biomed with the aim of applying for graduate entry medicine because it would be a waste of your time. Do biomed because you have done extensive research about it, don't care about the pay, and already have a lab that would accept to train you to complete your certificate of competence (mind, most lab don't want people without experience, so all the best to you both).

At least with nursing, after the degree you get a job, and the pay is better than biomed. With additional studying (PHD level I think), you could become a Nurse Practitioner and can prescribe. Also it is paid for by the NHS, so no debt and they give you bursary. Although, you have to be prepared for the long hours in placement and good/not so good mentors and there is no chemistry content; which could limit your choices for Graduate Medicine later.

NB: Do a degree that you know you would love to have a career in, if you don't get into Medicine, not just any degree. Look into NHS funded courses e.g. physiotherapy etc; you might like it.

Reply 19

Mi02

I'm thinking doing a Biomedical Science degree first and then do a master degree to specialise in it.
If I want to work in a hospital, not NHS, is that have to be accredited as well?
I want to work in a hospital to do the blood test stuff. Or be a Biology/Chemistry teacher, is that possible? By doing a PGCE course? Also, can I apply to universities in American to do graduate medicine after Biomed??? Thank you.