How Do I Become a Nurse?

To answer your questions in turn: -

1) You being skint, unemployed and a college drop out makes no difference. Your GCSEs qualify you for a place. You will have to attend an interview, of course, but your academic qualifications are sufficient.

2) As for your mental illness, it is not a bar to you being a nurse in and of itself. You would have to undergo an occupational health check, like all students do, to see if you were healthy enough for the course which can be quite strenuous both physically, emotionally and mentally.

3) No, you can’t claim benefits while studying. You will probably receive an NHS bursary (I’m guessing you’re eligible in that you’re a British/EU citizen

4) Apply through UCAS - see link below

http://www.ucas.com/

Good luck!

Hi, I qualified last year. I would recommend doing the diploma as you get a bursary which seemed a better deal than getting a student loan..plus you don’t have the pressure of doing the dissertation at the end which you do on the degree course.
I would say most colleges would be very pleased to have you and would give you a lot of support as they want more people with the experience of mental health problems to become mental health nurses.
Do you have GCSE maths? Some courses used to want this others aren’t bothered and just give you extra maths coaching.
Why not try to get on the bank (NHS agency) as a nursing assistant at your local psychiatric unit it would be valuable experience.

What spotter said! Definately diploma bursary, and getting some work experience in. Avoid degree and student loans and debts.

The work experience could be voluntary, as bank work might interfere with benefits. I had not worked on a ward prior to training, but volunteer work at a homeless shelter, women’s centre and helpline all stood me in good stead.

Occupational Health was my biggest hurdle, however I believe things have improved regarding encouraging those with experience of mental health problems to train as nurses. There used to be stipulations about being out of hospital for 3 years prior to training. Any occupational health nurses out there who can advise on current guidelines?

Best wishes.

Avoid degree and student loans and debts.

A minor note on that: anyone who goes to Wales can study for the degree (they have to, as Wales has moved to degree-only nurse training) and still get the bursary rather than a student loan. However, you would need A levels or an access course in order to meet the more stringent educational requirements for degree entry.

I think spotter is spot on. Get some NHS bank work first. Avoid agencies as (certainly in my area) they will send you to absolute shitholes which will put you off for life. Bank work will let you see nursing in a variety of settings and help you decide which branch (if any) you are most interested in. It will also hopefully give you a good work record. Although illness cannot be held against you, a poor attendance record can.

Under the DDA, Occupational Health cannot discriminate against people with mental health problems. The three year thing olanzapine quotes above is the same as saying they won’t employ anyone who has been hospitalised with an asthma attack in the past three years. Although some employers may still try to pull this kind of shit off, it is completely out of order.

What they have to do (particularly in the wake of the Clothier Report) is personally interview you (rather than just accept a form) to confirm you are currently well and fit for work. They will also ensure that you currently stable, accepting and engaging in any prescribed teatment for your condition. They are likely to ask your consent for them to contact your GP to confirm this. If employed they may offer some kind of occassional monitoring/support sessions. They will also encourage you to actively seek out medical advice for any problems you encounter in the future. That’s about it. The most important thing is that you are open and honest. Failing to disclose is the one thing that will guarantee your exclusion. Just be yourself… your nice relaxed mellow self that is ;o) .

As Beakie points out, nurse training can be very demanding not just because of all the emotional and ethical stuff but students are always on about the huge academic workload. It’s a lot to take on, but like any vocation, most people who really want to do it enjoy it.

Good luck!

Sorry, I’m back again. I know I’ve already waffled on enough already but this document “Mental Health and
Employment in the NHS” may be helpful. You can find the pdf file at… http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_cons.....014841.pdf

“The over arching message to be taken from this guidance is that it is
extremely unjust, a waste of human potential, a great cost to society, and
potentially unlawful to exclude anyone from employment simply because
that person has experienced or experiences mental health problems.”
Snippet there taken from Mo’s link.
I would say, yes, it’s got to be worth a look. I’ve experienced mental health problems from my early teens to date and I am a RMN. I started my training in the early 90’s, when I was about 30, so the pattern of not-wellness was well established. Looking back, I cannot really honestly say what it was I was looking for. A reasonably well paid job? Insight into my own problems? Dunno.
Certainly my college and some of my employers prompted me to look on my experiences as being a source of knowledge and empathy for my clients. One employer simply put up with me until the edges started going a bit ragged and then stuck the f*cking boot in good style. I had a huuuuuuge breakdown then, revolving around work and my (oops) third failed marriage. I was off work for three years, believe it or not, luckily on full pay. So, where am I today? Working as an RMN, just been promoted, managing my own case load.
Go for it.

Hello.

I began my nursing career by applying to be an auxiliary nurse at my local pyschiatric hospital. After 3 months I asked for a secondment onto the degree course at uni and was given a place. The secondment was excellent as it paid me £9,700 a year which was three and a bit grand more than a bursary. I still had to work on the bank and did, way too many hours but the money is so hard to exist on so we all did that.

I don`t have a mental health diagnosis but I hoped this might at least give you some ideas to think about. Not all trusts offer secondments anymore. I lost mine after I stayed in Australia for 2 years. I tried to have my degree transferred to Darwin University which was quite a seamless procedure really except that when I started, Darwin Uni told me that they didn`t do mental health nursing. (This very Darwin, you had to be there.) My city, B.Ham, will gave me my place back but not my secondment so I can`t afford to complete my degree. If a question relating to anything at all to do with the body/illness/wellness etc. comes up in conversation I generally say to my friends, `I know what I`m talking about because I am one third of a nurse`.

Good luck.

Helen.