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I've been thinking about changing my career choice lately :/

Rn, im going to be doing my 3rd and final year of animation at September, But over the past two years I've started to realise that I've always liked doing animation and art and a hobby and not something that i would pursue as a career choice.

The only other course that I've been really interested in (but my dumbass never considered and listened to my um about) was get a nursing degree, i started tot think about this more when i met my old college friend a week ago. She talked to me about how she's currently studying an online course for science GCSE and apply for a degree in Radiology. I ended dup talking to her about how i feel about my course now and about wanting to do nursing.

She told me that i should go for it if that's what i really want to do. Now i feel like im making a good or a bad decision about this. My mum wants me to do it but im afraid that i might regret it later in life...
Original post by Temmy1
Rn, im going to be doing my 3rd and final year of animation at September, But over the past two years I've started to realise that I've always liked doing animation and art and a hobby and not something that i would pursue as a career choice.
The only other course that I've been really interested in (but my dumbass never considered and listened to my um about) was get a nursing degree, i started tot think about this more when i met my old college friend a week ago. She talked to me about how she's currently studying an online course for science GCSE and apply for a degree in Radiology. I ended dup talking to her about how i feel about my course now and about wanting to do nursing.
She told me that i should go for it if that's what i really want to do. Now i feel like im making a good or a bad decision about this. My mum wants me to do it but im afraid that i might regret it later in life...

I would finish off the undergrad degree in animation first.

Upon finishing the degree, you should be able to apply for a naster's degree in Nursing (make sure the degree is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council; see: https://www.nmc.org.uk/education/approved-programmes/)

Most of the Nursing master's degrees accept candidates with an undergrad in any subject. Some won't though, so you would need to check the entry requirements to be absolutely sure.

Do note, the master's should be partially funded by the NHS bursary.

See the following for example:
https://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-masters/msc-adult-nursing
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/courses/msc-nursing-science-registered-nurse-adult--dtfnax6/#entry
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/18749/msc-adult-nursing/entry-requirements/#course-profile
https://www.tees.ac.uk/postgraduate_courses/nursing_&_health/msc_nursing_studies_(adult)_pre-registration.cfm
https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/courses/postgraduate/adult-nursing-pre-registration#accordion513943-header513943
https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/nursing-adult
https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/nursing-mental-health

Do note: the specialism of the nursing degree would determine the specialism of nursing that you would go into. It would then be prudent to pick the area of nursing that you want to specialise in prior to doing the degree e.g. mental health, adult, children, etc.
Original post by Temmy1
Rn, im going to be doing my 3rd and final year of animation at September, But over the past two years I've started to realise that I've always liked doing animation and art and a hobby and not something that i would pursue as a career choice.

The only other course that I've been really interested in (but my dumbass never considered and listened to my um about) was get a nursing degree, i started tot think about this more when i met my old college friend a week ago. She talked to me about how she's currently studying an online course for science GCSE and apply for a degree in Radiology. I ended dup talking to her about how i feel about my course now and about wanting to do nursing.

She told me that i should go for it if that's what i really want to do. Now i feel like im making a good or a bad decision about this. My mum wants me to do it but im afraid that i might regret it later in life...


This is not a decision you need to rush in to. Take your time, start attending uni open days from September - listen to the course talks and chat to staff and students. Try to get some relevant shadowing experience and look for a part-time job in a care setting.

Nursing (and midwifery and Allied Health Profession courses) are exception courses for student finance so you could take nursing as second undergraduate degree. That would mean you could apply for both tuition fee and maintenance loans again. This should also apply to pre-registration masters courses, but do check with SFE if a particular masters course you're interested is registered on its database as attracting undergraduate funding. (NB - if you get your funding from SAAS or SFW, the rules are different.)

If you study at a uni in England, you would also be able to apply to the NHS Learning Support Fund (not the NHS Bursary) for an additional training grant of £5,000 per year plus other benefits.

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf

If you do decide to go for it, use the NHS course finder tool to search for approved courses:

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/course-finder
Reply 3
Original post by MindMax2000
I would finish off the undergrad degree in animation first.
Upon finishing the degree, you should be able to apply for a naster's degree in Nursing (make sure the degree is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council; see: https://www.nmc.org.uk/education/approved-programmes/)
Most of the Nursing master's degrees accept candidates with an undergrad in any subject. Some won't though, so you would need to check the entry requirements to be absolutely sure.
Do note, the master's should be partially funded by the NHS bursary.
See the following for example:
https://www.herts.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-masters/msc-adult-nursing
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/courses/msc-nursing-science-registered-nurse-adult--dtfnax6/#entry
https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/18749/msc-adult-nursing/entry-requirements/#course-profile
https://www.tees.ac.uk/postgraduate_courses/nursing_&_health/msc_nursing_studies_(adult)_pre-registration.cfm
https://www.city.ac.uk/prospective-students/courses/postgraduate/adult-nursing-pre-registration#accordion513943-header513943
https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/nursing-adult
https://www.salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/nursing-mental-health
Do note: the specialism of the nursing degree would determine the specialism of nursing that you would go into. It would then be prudent to pick the area of nursing that you want to specialise in prior to doing the degree e.g. mental health, adult, children, etc.

Thanks for the advice!! My mum told me that I should study a year in a college course called Access to higher Education: Health and Social care and try working at a care home as well. She also told me that I should to an undergraduate degree in nursing. is that a good way to get into that course?
Reply 4
Original post by normaw
This is not a decision you need to rush in to. Take your time, start attending uni open days from September - listen to the course talks and chat to staff and students. Try to get some relevant shadowing experience and look for a part-time job in a care setting.
Nursing (and midwifery and Allied Health Profession courses) are exception courses for student finance so you could take nursing as second undergraduate degree. That would mean you could apply for both tuition fee and maintenance loans again. This should also apply to pre-registration masters courses, but do check with SFE if a particular masters course you're interested is registered on its database as attracting undergraduate funding. (NB - if you get your funding from SAAS or SFW, the rules are different.)
If you study at a uni in England, you would also be able to apply to the NHS Learning Support Fund (not the NHS Bursary) for an additional training grant of £5,000 per year plus other benefits.
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf
If you do decide to go for it, use the NHS course finder tool to search for approved courses:
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/course-finder

Thanks for the advice, ill check them out!
Original post by Temmy1
Thanks for the advice!! My mum told me that I should study a year in a college course called Access to higher Education: Health and Social care and try working at a care home as well. She also told me that I should to an undergraduate degree in nursing. is that a good way to get into that course?

My mum told me that I should study a year in a college course called Access to higher Education: Health and Social care and try working at a care home as well.
No. If you are doing a degree in animation, you should already have A Levels, IB, something at Level 3. Undergrad degrees in nursing don't require you to have your Level 3 in any subject. You should be able to reuse what you already have from college in your application for an undergrad in nursing. The academic entry requirements for nursing aren't particularly high, so it's worth looking through the entry requirements for undergrad degrees in nursing to be sure.

The Access course would be equivalent to what you have for A Levels, IB, BTEC, etc. No point in doing another qualification when you don't need to for what you want to do.

The work experience in a care home, on the other hand, is useful. Most unis would be looking to see whether you have the passion for the job (the pay and work conditions are pretty poor, so you would need to be motivated by other reasons). Having work experience in a care home is what most nursing applicants use to boost their personal statement.

She also told me that I should to an undergraduate degree in nursing. is that a good way to get into that course?
Since you are going to complete your degree, why would you want to spend 3 years doing another undergrad when you can do a master's in nursing in 2 years and get the same job? I recommended the postgrad since it's likely going to be quicker, and probably significantly cheaper. If you want to do a second undergrad, then it's up to you - Student Finance should be willing to loan you the money to complete it (they are usually pick about which subjects they would fund you for in your second undergrad).
(edited 2 months ago)
Original post by Temmy1
Thanks for the advice!! My mum told me that I should study a year in a college course called Access to higher Education: Health and Social care and try working at a care home as well. She also told me that I should to an undergraduate degree in nursing. is that a good way to get into that course?


Undergraduate courses will be your best option. The masters courses listed above require recognition of prior learning and 500+ hours of healthcare work experience.

Start calling the admissions departments at unis you would be interested in and ask if your current level three qualifications and your pending degree would be acceptable for the course.

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