The Student Room Group

Is it true that KCL cut student nurses hours?

Hello, I am going to year 13 and applying for children's nursing through UCAS. I live in london and is planning on commuting so im choosing unis that are in london :smile:

My first choice would be KCL as i absolutely loved the open day and the new children's stimulation ward. However i was reading someones comment of a 2nd year student children's nurse at KCL and said that when they are on placement, instead of doing 12 hour shifts , they come out doing 11.5 hours. This is because of kings giving them a "paid break". This makes me quite hesitant to apply there because i know that the missed hours is going to build up and would make me graduate later than everyone else and to do more placement shifts to make up for the missed hours. I also heard them say that kings sneakily put them on an adult placement.

Does this happen often? If so, then I dont mind making City, uni of london my first choice.
Reply 1
Original post by blind-ranger
Hello, I am going to year 13 and applying for children's nursing through UCAS. I live in london and is planning on commuting so im choosing unis that are in london :smile:
My first choice would be KCL as i absolutely loved the open day and the new children's stimulation ward. However i was reading someones comment of a 2nd year student children's nurse at KCL and said that when they are on placement, instead of doing 12 hour shifts , they come out doing 11.5 hours. This is because of kings giving them a "paid break". This makes me quite hesitant to apply there because i know that the missed hours is going to build up and would make me graduate later than everyone else and to do more placement shifts to make up for the missed hours. I also heard them say that kings sneakily put them on an adult placement.
Does this happen often? If so, then I dont mind making City, uni of london my first choice.

Thats true for everywhere. You legally have to take your break as stipulated by the nursing and midwifery council, and these breaks arnt counted as part of your hours just like employment unless you have paid breaks meaning your still on call. But you arnt.
It doesnt mean youll finish any later than anyone else.
Original post by PonchoKid
Thats true for everywhere. You legally have to take your break as stipulated by the nursing and midwifery council, and these breaks arnt counted as part of your hours just like employment unless you have paid breaks meaning your still on call. But you arnt.
It doesnt mean youll finish any later than anyone else.

Oh okay :smile: Thank goodness. I was scared when i was reading that comment
(edited 2 months ago)
Reply 3
Original post by blind-ranger
Oh okay :smile: Thank goodness. I was scared when i was reading that comment

No its normal. Some places are less strict on breaks, some let you go early but still put your actual hours, but taking off breaks is standardised by the NMC and you get penalised if you dont if that makes sense. Ie you have to re do those hours youd said youd done when you hadnt.

So 1 of my placements on a ward we did 13 hour shifts, but technically they was only 11.5 hours as we had 1.5 hour breaks, though we often were let out early but still put down the 11.5 hours. Then when i was on community doing a 9-5 job (8 hours) but you get half hour break which equates to 37.5 hours a week.

Welcome to the working world 😂

Quick Reply