PreNursing question

Laydee

I plan to apply for Midwifery in 2010 & to improve my chances I want to do a course first starting in Sept 2009.

The 2 choices are a pre nursing course & a Healthcare Assistant course specialising in Maternity, Paediatrics & General.

I have been told that a pre nursing course can improve my chances of being accepted to do midwifery.

On the other hand I'd have a little experiece in a Maternity unit if I did the Healtcare course.
I want to work while I'm in college & if I do the Healthcare course I can work weekends as a Healtcare assistant while in college.

Opinions on this are very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Laydee.

estreet girl

Hi Laydee,
I have worked as a Healthcare Assistant for a number of years and have no experience whatsoever in Maternity.I got a place in Tcd for Mid-wifery this year and will be starting from scratch.In a way I am l am panicking that I didn't pick General!!!
Personally if I was you I would do the Healthcare course as I feel you would have a lot more scope with it.Can you get some experience in a General Hospital at all? You may be able to do a few agency shifts.
There is no pre-requisite to do either course,although like you said it most likely will work to your advantage,and if nothing else give you a feel for the world of Nursing.
Can I ask who reccomended you do the pre-nursing course,was it some one in Nursing/Mid-wifery,and also what are the costs like for both courses.
Best of luck with your choice:)

Larianne

I also would suggest doing the Healthcare Assistant course as you will get more experience with patients by working part-time. It will also help with the funds!

lol1

Hi

I would highly recommend the Pre Nursing course. Most of them have work experince intergrated into them anyway so you get the best of both worlds. The modules you will study will give you a good idea of what to expect in the future when you go onto to do the degree.

I finished my Pre Nursing course in May. Im since waiting and hoping to get a place through the CAO as a mature nursing student. I found that when I went for my interview it really helped that I had done the Pre Nursing Course and it also meant I had loads to talk about and the interview panel really focused on asking me about the course.

Laydee

My sister in law is a nurse & she was saying how the majority of the course places are given to people applying through points with CAO.

I am a mature student & I want to get this first time around so that's why I want to do a course first.
The cost of both courses is the same & I can do it through the BTEA.

I think I'm sold on the Healthcare Assistant course.
That way I can work part time as a Healthcare Assistant course while I'm doing the degree course.

Curlz

Hi There,

I am living in Dublin & going to apply for Mature General Nursing next year.

The posts here have been really helpful so thanks! As I have no nursing experience and work in a completely different area altogether I am looking at what I can do in the meant time. I am enrolling in an anatomy and physiology evening course for 10 weeks which I will get a Diploma for. I am also starting to volunteer with ‘Children In Hospital’ in the next few weeks hopefully www.childreninhospital.ie This is only what I have been doing so far, would anybody recommend anything else?

I’m looking forward to doing nursing but its scary looking at the posts about interviews/assessments and to think I might not get it after all of the effort & hard work put in to it! :eek:

Larianne

I don't know how benefical the anatomy and physiology course would be. Grand as it would help give you an idea of the area. I would also have a look at the UCD Access to science and engineering course. I did this last year and found it really has prepared me for college. Also as it has the UCD name behind it I think it holds more weight than other part time courses.

As I said before, I would suggest doing a FETAC course as a Healthcare Assistant. You will get work experience during the course and then pretty likely, a job after it. It is the best way to get hands on experience in health care and whether you like dealing with people who are sometimes very sick or grumpy or moody or psych patients etc. etc.

I didn't do the course but started work as a care assistant this time last year. I'll be starting Physiotherapy in a few weeks. It's definitely something to look into.

okay... so I just read your post again. You're currently working, so you wouldn't be able to do the healthcare assistant course or work as one, yeah? Well I'd strongly suggest getting work experience in a few different hospitals/nursing homes/community centres. Take whatever experience you can get. It will only make your application stronger than the next person - you have to see it that way. Make it so there would be no reason to give a place to someone else over you.

Try and talk to students yourself. Go to any open days (usually in Nov/Dec) and ask them lots of questions about the course. Write them down before you go. It looks well in the interview if you mention you have spoken to students and they tell you about the course, the horror stories, difficult subjects etc.

Nelly2

Doing a FETAC cert is definitely a wise decision and improves your chances of getting a place as it opens up the FETAC Entry Route on the CAO, so you have a chance of getting in as a Mature Student or by your FETAC results.
As to which course would be best for you...I recommend contacting the College/Uni you want to apply to and see which FETAC certs link to the particular Nursing/Midwifery Degree.
And definitely get in as much work experience, voluntary work and community work as possible.
It's tough work getting a place and competition is always keen for Nursing courses, you have to make yourself stand out from the others. It's good that you've already started thinking about this now as it gives you time to really build up a portfolio.
Here's some info on the FETAC Links to Higher Education, hope it helps
http://www.fetac.ie/hels/Prog_HEC_2009.pdf

Curlz

Hi –

thanks for the replys, very helpful. I have spoken with a nursing home in my area and arranged a chat with them to see if there is anything they can offer me on a voluntary basis. Thanks for the link to the website Nelly2 from what I could see on the FETAC website I don’t think there are any evening courses I can do as they are all full time. I start the Anatomy & Physiology in Sept and am looking forward to it. I will keep an eye out for any other evening courses I can do also.

Curlz

Ok so I just spoke to the recruitment person in the nursing home and with the new regulations these days she said its very unlikely anybody will take me on as I don’t have a FETAC qulification. I can understand where they are coming from but Grrr!! What do I do now? She also said that it was very hard to get Nursing as a Mature Student in Ireland in the ‘current times’ and suggested looking at studying in London but between living costs etc it’s not worth it. I’d rather pay the full fee’s here & live at home & not have as many outgoings as I would there. Did anybody else have this issue when trying to gain experience???

Help!

Nelly2

Hi Curlz, I presume that you are not in a position to do a day course then?! You might find more evening courses or distance learning courses on www.qualifax.ie of course Anatomy&Physiology is totally relevant too, I'd just be cautious as to its recognition.
I Know some people doing a FETAC Cert who really struggled to get work experience in their local hospitals as generally people who work with vulnerable people - children, elderly, sick or disabled would need to have current Garda Clearance as well as Health Clearance. In the end most of them got their experience in a Private Nursing Home. So I would think that, yes it can be difficult to get experience and volunteer work.
IMO, I think it's not necessarily about where you do your volunteer work that counts, what is important is what being a volunteer says about your character and about you as a person. You could volunteer for Special Olyimpics or Cope. Try http://www.volunteeringireland.ie/ for opportunities in your area.
And when the time comes (which won't be long) give plenty attention to your CAO application.
This might also help you prepare for Nursing Entrance Exam and Interview http://www.careerservices.ie/nursing/

Nelly2

Forgot to mention, new applicants to that course will need Garda Clearance from the start, so should have more opportunities for work experience.
I think volunteering for most organisations will probably require it too.
Good Luck!

Curlz

Ok so after having a mini freak out I managed to find an evening course with FETAC level 5. Human Growth & Development or Social Studies. Would anyone recommend one over the other in terms of relevance to Nursing? I start training as a volunteer in 2weeks and i will get my garda clearance through that so that will help with my work experience for my course. I contacted the NCC about info on the written test & interview and they said the only info they have is whats available on the website.

Further Ed.

Be aware that there is a difference between FETAC Full Award in Nursing (comprises of 8 modules) and a FETAC module ie one subject, Human Growth & Development or Social Studies are modules ie subjects and are not a full course.

Curlz

Hi Further Ed.

Thanks for pointing that out to me. I would assume its only that module/subject that the FETAC would be awarded in as it is only part time but i will check with the college. Eitherway its still a FETAC so when it comes to the interview next year it benefit me along with my volunteer work. Just reading the papers today it looks like it will be tough for anyone applying for college this year & next year more than likely with the 'current conditions'. :eek::eek::eek: