Nursing Mature Student!

kieraflynn2

I am planning on studying Nursing as a mature student. I currently have a BSc in Applied Biosciences. As a result I will need to pay fees for my course, so I'm looking for some feedback on the nursing course just to be sure it's something I want to do.

Is there anyway in which the government would pay tuition fees through the NHS, either in Ireland, the UK or further afield. What are the pros and cons of the course, areas of difficulty, did you enjoy the course, certain qualities and attributes you should have as a person to persue this career. Chances for career progression and employment opportunities after you qualify. Also, wondering while you are studying would you qualify do work in a hospital in any area.

Any info, however big or small would be very much appreciated.

Cheers.

Extrasupervery

kieraflynn2 wrote: »

I am planning on studying Nursing as a mature student. I currently have a BSc in Applied Biosciences. As a result I will need to pay fees for my course, so I'm looking for some feedback on the nursing course just to be sure it's something I want to do.

Is there anyway in which the government would pay tuition fees through the NHS, either in Ireland, the UK or further afield. What are the pros and cons of the course, areas of difficulty, did you enjoy the course, certain qualities and attributes you should have as a person to persue this career. Chances for career progression and employment opportunities after you qualify. Also, wondering while you are studying would you qualify do work in a hospital in any area.

Any info, however big or small would be very much appreciated.

Cheers.

The HSE run a sponsorship scheme, those I know who qualified for this scheme were working as health care assistants in HSE hospitals for several years. As the HSE isn't hiring at the moment this does not seem like an eligible option for you.

I am really enjoying the course, but to know if nursing in general is for you I would advise you to get some work experience in a hospital or to take on a post as a health care assistant or similar. The course itself is extremely time demanding. Lectures are 9-5 four days a week and 9-1 on Wednesdays in my college. In first year we did a ten week clinical placement, where you work 37.5 set hours as a student nurse on a ward. Should you fall ill or be unable to attend on any particular day, you need to pay back the time minute for minute during your summer holidays. Placement hours are a mandatory requirement from An Bord Altranais and both Trinity and the hospitals have been extremely strict on this.

Attributes required include an incredible amount of patience, a good work ethic and a passion for taking care of people, I suppose. And patience. Did I mention patience? It's the most demanding and stressful job I've ever had (and I'm not even qualified yet) but it is the most rewarding, so I'm glad I've stuck with it. There are many opportunities for career progression, and more autonomy for nurses than ever before. After the 4 year degree (including nine month internship) you're required to do from between 18 months to 3 years of placement in a general/medical ward area before being considered for some of the various postgrad and advancement courses, which are plentiful. You can of course progress without further study, but if you want to work in a highly specialised position I think it is advisable.

Having completed your first placement in first year, including things like manual handling training, basic life support, infection control training and so on, you're (over)qualified to work as a care assistant in any hospital, residential nursing home or similar facilities. I usually take on a role in one of these for my summers, but during the year I work for a nursing agency so I can pick and choose my hours to work around college.

It's an intense course, but if it's for you, you will really, REALLY love it. It's super tough in the first few years when you're training and gaining basic experience, but nurses are required in a huge variety of settings so you needn't always have such a taxing job. Just hang in there for the first few years.

Hope this helps