Jan 04, 2012, 10:42 pm
Nelly
Firstly, congrats on being accepted in the Dip of EN. That is an achievement to be proud of. I know it is very competitive to get into over here in Perth too.
I have just completed Semester 1 of the Diploma so might be able to answer your questions - although I know all TAFE are slightly different.
I studied full time - which over here was 3 full days on campus. Then, they expect the same number of hours in study ie 18 hours in class + 18 hours for home study. I actually found that I needed more time than that at home to keep up. Our first semester we do 12 units - so it was very full on. In regards to working at the same time, I too have kids and run our IT/Accounting business - so it was demanding to say the least - but I didn't need to work full time.
However, I would say about half of my class did work full time whilst studying and many really struggled to keep up with the homework and study for exams etc. The majority, by the end of the semester had significantly cut down their work hours or dropped out of the course. You say you have a supportive husband - that is absolutely CRITCAL if you are going to try and attempt to keep working full time and studying.
Our clinical hours are at the end of each term or semester - depending on what stage you are in. So, instead of coming to school 3 days per week for the last 3 weeks of semester - we went out on full time prac (Mon-Fri 8 hour shifts). So yes, the clinical hours are included in the 18 months.
From the students in my class who were working (and even for myself working part time) this is the time I struggled with the most. So to do 40 hours a week for your prac (which is physically and mentally exhausting) plus working your normal full time job, plus looking after the family and doing required study / homework at the same time - it is full on... This is the time I needed to call in favours from all family and friends to help keep my family (and me) afloat.
For the next 2 semesters we have 2 x 3 weeks + 2 x 4 weeks prac = 14 weeks full time prac - that will be very difficult - but all worth it in the end!
I don't mean to be negative - but I am just being realistic - I wish someone would have warned me about it before I started the course last July.
Having said all of that, I have LOVED every single minute of it and I wouldn't change it for the world. I am frustrated having to have a 2 month break before we start back in Feb - because I want to keep on going and keep on learning! But, you need make sure you have everything organised before you start.
I am a mature student - as you are I assume - and I don't want to just do the course and pass - I want to learn as much as I can and be the best educated nurse I can - so I want to make sure I have enough time and energy to learn everything and take it in. From what I have seen - those that try and work full time and study - just can't physically give it the time and energy to give it justice. Is it possible to cut down to part time work while you are studying ESPECIALLY when you do your pracs?
Hope that helps. But, by all means phone TAFE when they re-open - but I found when I did that they would just say "you will be told everything on the first day". Which we were, but I wanted to be organised before then - I needed that to get my family ready for the impact it would have on them.
But still TOTALLY worth it!
Cheers
Rebecca
