Nursing Apprentice Route OR University Route?

Hello everyone,

I'm really torn whether I should do the apprenticeship route for nursing...

In my heart, I want to do the apprenticeship route. It's free most importantly. No student debt! But there are a couple of things that are holding me back:

- It takes a year or two longer. After finishing the TNA program, I'll have to gain a year of experience as a Nursing Associate before my trust could send me to uni again to do the top up program and become a Registered Nurse.
- Does it say 'Top Up' on my uni diploma when I finish the top up course or is it a full 'BSc in Nursing'? Saying this because I'm worried that my apprenticeship won't be recognised abroad and only in the UK. I don't want to spend all those years training only to be limited in opportunities. If I'm going to do this, I want to do it properly.
- I can only do it in the university that my trust partners with, which is fine! It's not a complete deal breaker. Just that I would want to do it in a university that I like.

Whereas if I go to uni, it will only take me three years, go to a uni that I love, and no doubt recognised abroad as it's the traditional route of becoming a nurse. But I will have to pay student loans (which to be fair is not too bad when I think of it). It's just that I'm a mature student who has changed careers and I feel a bit uncomfortable spending three years relying on maintenance loans. I have a partner who supports me completely but ideally I still want to earn my own money as I've been working for the past 10 years, and not earning anything for the duration of university seems a bit daunting.

Can someone enlighten me please?

Reply 1

LewisDoherty

I am starting an apprenticeship as a Healthcare Assistant to get my level 2 and 3 before hopefully starting my nursing apprenticeship.

There are multiple options with the degree apprenticeship you can do the 2 year TNA apprenticeship then do the 2 year Top Up after getting a year of experience as an NA. There is also a 4 year RNDA route but many trust don’t offer this option anymore. Some trusts even offer a 3 year RNDA route but this extremely rare, I believe Isle of Wight offer this.

If you want to go to uni depending on your circumstances you can do all 3 years at uni or just do the 2 year top up at uni. If you were to go to uni you could also do bank shifts as a HCA where you will book your own shifts so they can work around your placements.

The major benefit of the apprenticeship of course is that is paid.

Through the apprenticeship you earn the same degree as anyone who goes to university so it should be accepted abroad also.

Alternatively you could also look into doing your degree with Open University which requires you to be employed as a HCA but can undertake your degree in that job so you are still earning a wage - https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/nursing-healthcare/degrees/bsc-nursing-r39