Nursing as a mature student with children

I’m 36, with 3 kids and soon to start children’s nursing in April. Is there anybody in the same boat that is currently studying nursing or has completed their studies? How supportive have you found it all regarding placement hours, studies , assignments etc? Was it really challenging or manageable? Was it easy to find a placement that accommodated any issues regarding childcare?

Reply 1

Emily_B

16

Original post by Justm33

I’m 36, with 3 kids and soon to start children’s nursing in April. Is there anybody in the same boat that is currently studying nursing or has completed their studies? How supportive have you found it all regarding placement hours, studies , assignments etc? Was it really challenging or manageable? Was it easy to find a placement that accommodated any issues regarding childcare?

There are plenty of current student nurses managing childcare and placement, and registered nurses who manged placement and childcare as a student - there certainly can be challenges to it. I don't have children but have witnessed colleagues and the students I mentor go through this.
Just some things to consider:

•

while on placement, you're expected to be there full time (37.5-40 hours a week). Timing, length and number of placements is calculated to assume that you'll be there for those hours each week of each placement and therefore complete the 2300 hours of practice placement expected by the NMC at the end of the 3 year degree. Some students do need to do an extra placement at the end of the course to make up/complete missing hours.

•

You don't go finding your own placements - the university allocates you so that you get a variety of placements (in accordance with the availability to take students that their partner healthcare providers have). If a placement's hours are 9-5 Monday-Friday, childcare will be a lot easier to sort. However, a lot of placements (hospital wards, ED, ICU, nursing homes) work shifts where start times are usually between 7 and 8am; e.g. my shifts start at 730am and students asking to start at 8-830am get told no as this would then affect the whole rest of the ward's day (and student learning and being able to practice safely starting with handover!)

•

There are some placements which are really strict about you being in for the shifts they've put you in for, and others which definitely will work with you to compromise on shifts which work for you and your childcare. The latter is more common than the former where I work.

•

Your assignments for each module, and the date they're due, will have been set before the start of module; all the information will be in the module handbook the day you start each module. This will give you time to start planning your workload to fit in around lectures, placement and your family.

Reply 2

Justm33

OP

8

Original post by Emily_B

There are plenty of current student nurses managing childcare and placement, and registered nurses who manged placement and childcare as a student - there certainly can be challenges to it. I don't have children but have witnessed colleagues and the students I mentor go through this.
Just some things to consider:

•

while on placement, you're expected to be there full time (37.5-40 hours a week). Timing, length and number of placements is calculated to assume that you'll be there for those hours each week of each placement and therefore complete the 2300 hours of practice placement expected by the NMC at the end of the 3 year degree. Some students do need to do an extra placement at the end of the course to make up/complete missing hours.

•

You don't go finding your own placements - the university allocates you so that you get a variety of placements (in accordance with the availability to take students that their partner healthcare providers have). If a placement's hours are 9-5 Monday-Friday, childcare will be a lot easier to sort. However, a lot of placements (hospital wards, ED, ICU, nursing homes) work shifts where start times are usually between 7 and 8am; e.g. my shifts start at 730am and students asking to start at 8-830am get told no as this would then affect the whole rest of the ward's day (and student learning and being able to practice safely starting with handover!)

•

There are some placements which are really strict about you being in for the shifts they've put you in for, and others which definitely will work with you to compromise on shifts which work for you and your childcare. The latter is more common than the former where I work.

•

Your assignments for each module, and the date they're due, will have been set before the start of module; all the information will be in the module handbook the day you start each module. This will give you time to start planning your workload to fit in around lectures, placement and your family.

Thank you so much for your response.

In my case I’d find it easier working nights and weekends with a 7.5 day shift to make up the hours, does that sound like something that would be reasonable or do they usually prefer full day shifts? I understand every Trust is different, I’m just trying to work out what type of hours I should expect.

Also, I’ve read that some days at uni or simulation days can count towards your placement hours, is this true?

Hi there,

A nursing degree is challenging, and plenty of students are mature students with children. Some placements can be flexible, but others are strict with hours/allocating shifts.
Assignment deadlines are set at the start of the module, but flexibility can vary when it comes to asking for extensions, and you typically need an excellent reason as to why you'll need one. I've had assignments that I've been given 2-4 months to complete, but two assignments were assigned to that timeframe.

At LJMU, we have simulated placement, 120hrs per year, and these count towards our 2300hrs of placement.

Nat
Third-year student nurse mentor and ambassador

Original post by Justm33

I’m 36, with 3 kids and soon to start children’s nursing in April. Is there anybody in the same boat that is currently studying nursing or has completed their studies? How supportive have you found it all regarding placement hours, studies , assignments etc? Was it really challenging or manageable? Was it easy to find a placement that accommodated any issues regarding childcare?

Hi there! 👋,

I hope you are well. Even though I have not experienced this exact situation.
There are many students in my cohort who are currently studying a nursing course and are a full time mum!

Every university is different, so it is definitely worth speaking to your university and seeing what support they can offer, the nursing course itself can be challenging at times (with or without children!) however, as long as you are keen to strengthen your time management skills you will be okay! (Remember when it gets tough, you have got this!)

Placement hours are almost non-negotiable however, most placement opportunities are helpful and adapting your time for placements and hours around childcare if you speak to them in advance.

In general, it is worth noting, to speak to your student wellbeing team/services at your chosen university, and to speak to you placement facilitators who are normally happy to assist you with your studies and placement opportunities.

Hope this advice helps, and very good luck with your studies.
Han - 2nd Year Mental Health Nursing student
WrexhamUniReps

Reply 5

Justm33

OP

8

Thanks for the informative responses guys 🙂 x

Nursing as a mature student with children

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