Want to go into Nursing at 53 which path should I take?

Hello,

You do not need Cert III to do the EN course. You will need to sit the VETASSESS test and then hand in your application and results to the course provider/s you are applying to. If you do the EN course you will be registered in 18 months. Then you can convert to RN studying for 2 years full time.

If you begin with the RN course it will be 3 years full time, all up. FT study doesn't mean FT at the uni. I have friends doing the EN course and they are at their tafe 4-5 days a week. I am doing RN and I am at uni 1.5 days a weekm with the rest being independent study either in the library or at home.

If you cannot be away from your mother for hours on end perhaps online study, or the RN course would suit you best? It would take an extra year an a half to complete, but it would save you 6 months of study if you were planning on doing EN then RN anyway. RN is VERY flexible (can't comment on En besides what friends have told me) and I think it would suit you well. Call a uni you are interested in studying at and meet with the course coordinator to discuss the study options.

It's a big commitment to make so you want to make sure you make the right choice.

I study RN full time and honestly, I am at uni no more than 1.5 days a week. I do flexible model placement of one day a week so I don't get stuck working 4 week blocks at once. I think flexible model placement would suit you with your mothers carer needs. Have you looked into a respite program? Perhaps you can get her in there once a week while you go to uni/placement? 

At my uni we make our own timetables. You can put all of your classes next to one another so you only have to come in one day, or you can do one class a day so you aren't away from home for too long. It is super flexible and if it is your life dream you need to go for it! Start making appointments with course coordinators and get your applications in before they close.

Good luck!

Hi Snapey, could you please tell me which uni allows you to go in one day a week and have this type of placement you do? I have never heard of full time uni for one day a week or with flexible timetables.

thanks

Thanks Snapey I've looked at example entry exams and know I need pre work with my math,, so I've got 2 options,, I can do the UPP programme at Uni it's for people like me,, they get you up to speed with math sciences etc.. Then go direct into B of nursing at Uni 2016. 

Or I can do my cert 111 at tafe while there use their learning support service and get my math skills up to speed. Then go into EN 2016" or I may be able to get private math coach by pass all this,, and try get entry into a step intake of EN at the San in Wharoonga or online.

I'll keep emailing and making phone calls. Going to an info day at tafe in week or 2'

ive gotta be realistic, if I'm 53 now, by the time I am ready to be registered I'd be 57 or 58 maybe,, then Im reading of the endless stream of grads who can't find work, more graduates than jobs. Freaky prospect. I'm in Sydney, where are you located? 

Maybe I should consider private math coach, get into EN diploma,, online or elsewhere very confused at this point. If new grads can't find work, then I doubt I'd find work ahead of a young grad. Maybe as an EN I'd have more chances.. 

I'll keep researching. 

Thanks for taking time to for your info, I do appreciate it. best of luck. I will be on and off these forums over the coming months, I'll keep you posted of my decisions and progress. 

Thanks Patricia-KIM

I am in Melbourne. I have heard that the grad situation is the worst in Queensland. I was also worried about not getting a graduate year, but then I thought about it and I decided to do the course anyway because I didn't want to stay in a job I hate because I 'might' not get one. If I don't get one I will reapply for mid-year intakes, I will apply for the 'less desirable' aged are jobs, I will work as a bank nurse to get my experience up. Grad years are NOT the deciding factor on whether we become nurses- our determination to get a job is.

Please don't let your age hold you back - you will still have over a decade to nurse! Employers love life experience, and older employees can be more reliable than the young ones who want every weekend off to go out drinking. I am mature age too, and I am not going to let it put me off :)

I didn't do Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Psychology etc in VCE but I passed all of my classes first go because I was determined and made sure I studied hard. I don't think preparatory classes are necessary. If you're doing the undergraduate bachelor (your first degree) it is expected you have VERY basic knowledge of the body/health care etc. They teach you it all - if I can pass, you can pass. It is undergraduate, they expect you to be a novice :)

Hi Snapey and Patricia Thanks for the info Snapey. I am currently enrolled in a bachelor of nursing uni sa distance education but I have decided to change and study the diploma of nursing for next year. I am also a mature age student and have decided to do this as it is too complicated to travel to Adelaide each time for placements and also I want to be working in the field much sooner. I live in Melbourne and have already been accepted to study the diploma of nursing at Health Skills Australia for next year and Careers Australia as I sat their test on campus aswell. Careers Australia had a spot for me to start now in October but I told them that I prefer to start next year due to other commitments at the moment. I will be sitting the entrance test for Nursing diploma at ACU Melbourne aswell in a couple of weeks because I am still unsure of where I want to study my diploma. It would be good to get into ACU but if I don't then I will stick with the ones I have already been accepted into. I was also thinking to do GCIT online and the completion of this diploma through GCIT guarantees you a spot into ACU bachelor of nursing 2 years as ACU is affiliated with GCIT. For now I think my best bet is to do the diploma, start working in nursing and then decide to do the degree only if I am up to it.

Cheers 

I too am mature aged student (52) and started B of nursing last year with one unit, as I hadn't studied for over 30 years and wasn't sure how I would go. Science was my first unit which I passed, I only went to year 10 at school and didn't do much more in science than bunsen burners and beakers.This year I did the rest of first year and also passed while working 2 jobs. The Uni I attend is compulsory attendance for all 1st year classes with 6 weeks prac in 3 week lots.I originally wanted to study to EEN then work at that level while I finished B of nursing but uni changed the rules and am unable to do that now. I do know some folk who have done EEN at TAFE but have been very unimpressed with organization, I have been looking for somewhere that will recognise my prior learning at Uni to enable me to work as EEN so far not much luck. I think if I could do it over again I would do EEN at TAFE or correspondence then go on to RN at uni. I do know a few older people who have been very successful and have gone on to be fantastic nurses, do your research find the college that best suits your situation and go for it. Hope this helps.