Nursing options...

Mr.Nice Guy

I'm asking about this for someone else but I'd appreciate any input from those in the know.

Say you have your heart set on a career in nursing but are unsure if you can get to the 400 points mark (or thereabouts) via the CAO, what are your options? Or are there any? Are there courses that are more around the mid-350 range? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

DrIndy

I hope someone who is more in touch with the points for entry can help - but remember too that you can also do nursing from a mature entry which looks more broadly at you than simply academics.

Dr Galen

the points for nursing went up a bit this year and will probably continue to rise a little for the next while. The reason for this was that they had fewer places this year, a drop of 300 nationwide AFAIK, due to cutbacks etc. Thats means that instead of having 1800 places like in 2008 there will be 1500 this year.

Realistically, your going to be looking at circa 400 for most of the courses in Dublin. Outside of here, you might get it dropping to in and around 380 but I'm not sure. You could have a looky at the CAO website as that would have the latest stats.

As Dr Indy suggests, you could always look at going the mature entry option, for those over the age of 23. That is a different process, with an aptitude test and an interview.

LilMrsDahamsta

There are a number of FETAC courses around the country that provide students who don't achieve the required LC points with another route to their chosen career. This is one example in Cork College of Commerce, but there are others too AFAIK. Just be aware that after completing a course like this, entry to University is still competitive so there are no guarantees.

GER12

Have a look at the CAO website for 2009 to ascertain the points requirements for entry. If you go as a mature student that may also be an option in relation to the points that have to be obtained. You could go down the FETAC route for a year and gain a qualification and then side step into nursing. You should decide which type of nursing you wish to do - and then plan how you are going to achieve it - what grades you need - is there any other options that will improve your candidancy? You may consider doing some work as a nursing assistant or a social care worker to gain experience while in school or going through FETAC.

Another option would be to contact the Nursing & Midwifery Council in the UK - UCAS would be similar to our CAO. You may consider doing courses in the UK - and I can recommend them.

cligereen

First of all, what branch of nursing is your friend interested in? General / Psych / Intellectual Disability / Children's / Midwifery. The points vary by branch as well as location. Usually Intellectual Disability Nursing has lower points requirements than say Children's. That isn't any reflection on the course, just that it's a less popular course.

The points did indeed rise this year, as they have year-on-year since the CAO took over the application process.

Once you are over 23 years old you can apply as a mature student using a different CAO code. Then you need to do an aptitude test and an interview but they don't look at LC points, so that may be an option.

The courses that are equivalent to the LC are FETAC Level 5 courses. A full award consists of 8 modules IIRC and distinctions are required in most of them. This will then count in place of the LC points. Many of the VECs around the country run these, so check with them.

The best site to check out is www.nursingcareers.ie which is the nurse education section of An Bord Altranais. Most of the info is there (including point requirements for all the courses over the last few years).

Mr.Nice Guy

cligereen wrote: »

First of all, what branch of nursing is your friend interested in? General / Psych / Intellectual Disability / Children's / Midwifery. The points vary by branch as well as location. Usually Intellectual Disability Nursing has lower points requirements than say Children's. That isn't any reflection on the course, just that it's a less popular course.

She wanted to do some Children's Integrated course but the points look a bit beyond her. I think General Nursing would be the preferred option then as a result. She doesn't qualify as a mature student.

Cheers for the reply and to everyone else for their comments. I'll pass the info on.

miss_shadow

It's so far far easier to get in to a U.K nursing college if she doesn't get the marks. All the girls I know who went for an interview for the U.K colleges got in. They can also apply for grants here and take them to the U.K and apply for a grant there.

kingston university in London is a very good college,applying there myself next year and know I will get accepted.

central park

My daughter did not get the required points for nursing in 2008 and did the FETAC course and got 9 distinctions. She is now looking at trying to get a place in the UK for Feb/March 2010. Does anyone have any advice? All she wants is to become a nurse!!

behan29

get youre daughter to apply through UCAS, they will help, i have a sister in the process of doing the same. If all else fails try ringing the various nursing campuses. Find out where she would like to study, ie London,Sheffield etc, etc. it can make a huge difference where she studies, in terms of quality of life and the general standard of the college. Moving to the U.K is a tough decision, it can be very lonely and very hard work. Be mindful to look input college fees and bursaries. I moved myslf to U.K and did the nursing route, best move i have ever made. Best of luck. Most important piece of advice when youre daughter becomes a nurse, do not come home until you have specialist cousre, be it in accident and emergency, I.C.U. Best of luck.

central park

Thanks for the reply and the advice.She has applied to UCAS and we are going over for the open day in Luton on 10th Oct. Does anyone know what this Bedfordshire Uni is like for an Irish girl going over on her own? Will also try a few more places in London. Any recommendations?

behan29

I dont know the uni personally,my partners friend works in the hospital and she says that it is ok .Luton as you more than likely know that it has a big irish and italian population and it has good transport links to and from London. I would know a lot of the hospitals in London that youre daughter would be working in. London is ok, the bigger of the irish population would be in North London, the uni based in North London is the North Middlesex. Its not a bad uni, usual complaints as any uni. My sister who is also applying wouldnt be going down south, she has being advised to go to sheffield. Oxford is an excellent place to study, its clean and safe and she would get a excellent deucation, there is also a good irish population there also. Hope all goes well.

central park

Thanks Behan 29. Anyone else heading over to open day next Sat?

jackyh

just wondering i can i apply through the cao as a mature student for both sligo and castlebar?

cligereen

Hi Jackyh,

You certainly can apply for both colleges as a mature student. You apply through the CAO. Each course has two options, the conventional route and the mature student route. Each option has its own code, so for example you'd apply to Sligo as a mature student using one code and as a traditional student using a different code. Each code counts as one of your options. So if you applied to Sligo, for example, under both routes, that would count as 2 options even though it's the same couse in the same college.

I hope I've explained that well enough but go to www.nursingcareers.ie for all the info on the application process, but the upshot is that you can apply to several colleges under both routes if you wish and use up all your options on the CAO form.

nursingal

I am looking into applying for nursing in th UK. I am 23, from Ireland and have previously done an accounting and finance degree. Will i have to pay fees? Can u recommend universities to do nursing in London?

nursingal

I am also applying to Kingston University next year. Is it a good college? I am a mature student of 23

nursingal

I am applying to the London to do nursing, what are the best universities in London? Also i am 23 so would be a mature student, i have done a degree in Accounting and Finance, will i have to pay fees?

central park

Update! My daughter got a place for Childs nursing in Edinburgh following an interview last weekend. She starts in January and her fees are paid by the Scottish government. So dont despair if you don't get the required points for colleges in Ireland. There are more ways to go about it!!

Son Of A Vidic

If willing to travel definitely go to the U.K. and if willing to go there well London is the place to train. The professional experience gained in London will be unrivaled, I'd recommend the Royal Free Hospital. It's a great teaching hospital, it's in a beautiful part of London beside Hampstead heath. It's full of Irish so that will help the 'oul' homesickness and it's beside Belsize Park the Northern Line Tube station.

Dr Galen

i've also heard good things about the Royal Free. Have known a few people who have trained there and loved it

aissmythsmh

hi, i am 35 & have am starting to research a degree in nursing in england pref somewhere close to bristol. Anyone have any information or help? Are fees paid for?? Do you get paid a bursery?? Thanks..