The Student Room Group

Should I stay at uni?

Hi I’m a nursing student in Southampton, I’ve had a really difficult time finishing my first year (external repeat year and appeals) due to mental health struggles and I’ve also had problems with my essay writing.
I have enjoyed doing my placements as a nurse and I feel very comfortable on the wards as I enjoy being active and being able to practically learn new skills and tie my learning to physical problems. As well as enjoying the wards I have a good social life at Southampton and am also part of the universities women’s rugby team so plenty of opportunities to go out socialise and do something I love outside of my course.
However last year when I had to redo externally I wanted to move from Southampton and live with my long term bf and work as an HCA for the year my parents shut this idea down and told me I should stay in Southampton so I did which in all honesty I equally regret but think in my situation when I told them it was valid advice. Now this summer I have had to submit an appeal which the uni have messed up and only just given me a response when uni starts in a couple of weeks, increasingly I’m hating the idea of going back to uni and fighting an uphill battle against my course.
I have spoken to many family, friends and nurses on wards who have all said similar things about doing what I want and what is right for me, as well as nurses saying that it’s probably something to go back to later. Yet my parents don’t accept this and want me to carry on which makes me feel like I’m struggling for something they want because they had a plan set out for me in their heads.
I really don’t know what to do and I don’t want to commit to 2nd year and then have to go through this for another 2 years as I can’t start another course, but I also really want to be a nurse I’ve loved the wards but the uni and the academic side of the course is such a struggle right now.
Original post by Morwenna 02
Hi I’m a nursing student in Southampton, I’ve had a really difficult time finishing my first year (external repeat year and appeals) due to mental health struggles and I’ve also had problems with my essay writing.
I have enjoyed doing my placements as a nurse and I feel very comfortable on the wards as I enjoy being active and being able to practically learn new skills and tie my learning to physical problems. As well as enjoying the wards I have a good social life at Southampton and am also part of the universities women’s rugby team so plenty of opportunities to go out socialise and do something I love outside of my course.
However last year when I had to redo externally I wanted to move from Southampton and live with my long term bf and work as an HCA for the year my parents shut this idea down and told me I should stay in Southampton so I did which in all honesty I equally regret but think in my situation when I told them it was valid advice. Now this summer I have had to submit an appeal which the uni have messed up and only just given me a response when uni starts in a couple of weeks, increasingly I’m hating the idea of going back to uni and fighting an uphill battle against my course.
I have spoken to many family, friends and nurses on wards who have all said similar things about doing what I want and what is right for me, as well as nurses saying that it’s probably something to go back to later. Yet my parents don’t accept this and want me to carry on which makes me feel like I’m struggling for something they want because they had a plan set out for me in their heads.
I really don’t know what to do and I don’t want to commit to 2nd year and then have to go through this for another 2 years as I can’t start another course, but I also really want to be a nurse I’ve loved the wards but the uni and the academic side of the course is such a struggle right now.


You need to do what is going to make you happy. It is your life and you (not your parents) will be the one paying for your course. I'm sure that your parents would prefer a happier you than one who returns to uni and suffers from mental health problems again. If you're not ready to return to your course now, then don't. Working as a HCA will give you valuable experience if you wish to return to nursing in the future when you are stronger. As nursing is an exception course when it comes to previous study, you would be eligible for tuition and maintenance fee loans if you started your degree again at a later date.

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