Mature Psychiatric Nursing

elexus86

Hi all,
I am starting in september in DCU in psychiatric nursing....
I am just wondering if anyone else is starting as a mature student.....
Or would anyone have any info on the course such as

• What is the placement like are they short days or long days?
• What the timetable is like???

and any other information you think would be handy too know.........

louloubella

This is not a reply to your question Im afraid!

What was your interview like for the course?

Did you do a pre nursing course?

Am applying next year- all info welcome!!!


Good luck in your studies.:D

elexus86

Hey louloubella,

• Well the pre-nursing course is very good I did it myself. You also can apply through Fetac with the pre-nursing course. There is a lot of work involved in the course. I thought it would be a breeze but its wasnt. It is ment to be like 1st year in college. So if your intrested you will be fine.
• The apptuide test for mature nursing is hard enough some people will say it is reall easy but I didnt think so. If you are good at them then you will be fine. There is a course ran I didnt attend it but wish I did now as I didnt get a high enough score in the app test for the college I wanted.
• I found the interview ok, I was nervous of course but that was just natural. There was a panel of 3 people and only 2 of them spoke to me, the other lady was just writing. I was just honest in mine.

I hope some of this has helped you....
If you have anymore questions just ask.........

louloubella

Thanks for the reply- really helpful.
A few more things just came to mind...
How are you finding the course in psychiatric nursing?
Also, do you think I would be at a disadvantage if I did NOT have the pre nursing course?
It would involve giving up my job and I was not anticpating that yet...

elexus86

I have not started yet. Will be heading into first year in the end of september. I know a lot of people whom have done it and they said it is tough enough... But again I think if your intrested you will be fine...
Well too be honest I don't think that you would be any worse off not having done the pre nursing...
I done it as I was unemployed and wanted to put my time too good use. I dont think I would have gave up a job for it...but that all up too you.....
Will you be able to support yourself through college?
What college are you hoping to get into....
Just another thing when you are appling through the CAO use all your spaces...
I also so know people who failed the interview this year and who passed it and still didnt get a place in college because she did not reach high enough in the app test the college's she wanted....
I hope I am not scaring you just your best to know as much as possible..

crazygirl101

elexus86 wrote: »

Hi all,
I am starting in september in DCU in psychiatric nursing....
I am just wondering if anyone else is starting as a mature student.....

Or would anyone have any info on the course such as

• What is the placement like are they short days or long days?
• What the timetable is like???

and any other information you think would be handy too know.........

Hi, I am a second year psychiatric nursing student in DCU and love it , I'm not a mature student but did do a plc to get in. In first year you will do two placements one in November and one in April as far as I know. The first 2 week November placement will be five short days a week and the 4 week April one will be more then likely be 3 long days (this does differ if your placed in a day centre which will be 5 short days. Hostels and hospitals will be 3 long days!). The timetable is pretty full probably 9-4 most days, but there is only one day a week that involves signing in and it is mandatory that you be there. Hope this helps a little bit! Good luck!

elexus86

Thanks crazygirl101.....

Ya that is great to know... Just another favour to ask.. do you have a sample of your timetable from last year or do you know where I can get a copy of one....
Do you not have to swipe in for each class... I thought they were really strict on attendance..

crazygirl101

I dont have my timetable from last year as it changed on my portal page when I registered this morning! It will appear on your portal page as soon as you register so you should get yours soon enough! the swipe in system wasn't in operation last year only the year before so hopefully it'll be the same this year! Its hard enough to make it the one mandatory day a week! :P

louloubella

elexus and crazygirl..
let me know how ye get on-

i will apply for NUIGalway and Limercik and maybe DCU.



Fair play to ye.

crazygirl101

just stumbled across this randomly and was wondering how your both getting on?

elexus86

Hey CrazyGirl,
I am getting on great. What about yourself?
All these cuts in pay are really getting to me as I am going to have to look about going abroad.

crazygirl101

Im getting on grand! yeah its the same with me the cuts are horrible i'm in the middle of the internship so finals are all done an dusted which is a relief but theres absolutely no way I could survive on the money Im getting at the moment its a joke but I really really don't want to move away but I suppose at least other countries are willing to give decent money for the extremely challenging job that we do. I love the work but its crazy how busy the wards are at the moment and the amount of physical/verbal abuse thats going on to staff!