Mature entry to Nursing! Who else is applying

Will

So who else is applying this year? I'm just finishing off my application tonight and will have it sent off by the end of the week

Hoping to do general in either Trinity or UCD. Read in the CAO booklet there is no interview this year for mature applicants

As of 2011, the mature nursing/midwifery selection process will no longer have a requirement for an interview.

It's on page 4 if anyone fancies a read, so it's going solely on the aptitude test now. Good news for some I suppose

Larianne

Best of Luck Will!!

Edit: Nursing is also very good in DCU.

Will

Cheers Went to DCU previously. Not my most favourite of places anymore :pac:

Larianne

Yeah, I thought so! But the school of Nursing there is very good!!

Will

Tis very good indeed. Just finished off my application there. Should be sorted by the weekend. Wooo!

smilerxxx

I applied last year guys, and got in :). I'm in UL and loving it. Well done on taking the leap. ANd best of luck in your aptitude test. I went to the career services day last year and found it fantastic. Even just for confidence alone it was well worth it.

Will

Congratulations At the moment I'm trying to figure out how much money I've to fork out as I already have a basic degree (found out, it's 7,260 a year). How you enjoying first year? Any placements done yet?

smilerxxx

ouch..... I do know a few in my year who are paying that. They hit the credit union. First year is brilliant. I just got my exam results this morning and I was super delighted. Got 3 A's and 2 B's woohoo. We did a 4 week placement in november and it was really enjoyable. Our next placement is is april, so roll on april.

Have a look at your finances, see what you can manage. I left a full-time well paid job to come back. I got no financial help I just saved up as much as I could, and now i've a little part time job that keeps me going. I thought I'd sink under the stress of the financing, but everything has fallen into place.

folane

I've applied to do midwifery in TCD or UCD!!!

Trying to find the right aptitude tests, any ideas where i might find the right ones???

Hey Will, we could share classes!!!

Will

I applied to both Trinity & UCD also for general nursing, general & paeds, and psych Just finished off the online app there tonight. Sending documents on friday morning on my day off.

Think there are one or two documents on the http://www.nursingboard.ie/ website regarding the aptitude test

Laydee

I got into nursing & paeds las year in DCU. I know you may not like DCU anymore but you won't be on campus that much! Placement takes up most of the course and I would strongly advise that you base your decision on what hospitals the universities work with, that's what I did & it makes getting in for 7am a little easier!

Trinity work with James & Tallaght. Tallaght children's hospital is where they do their paeds.
UCD work with Vincent's & the Mater. Crumlin is where they do their paeds.
DCU work with Connolly hospital, Beaumont and the Mater. Temple street is where they do their paeds.

Best of luck.

Larianne

Actually, where you do your placements is a very big deciding factor and you should look into that.

Forgot about the Laydee!

Will

Yeah I actually chose the other 2 colleges cos they are way closer to me and also their placements are too

Will

Anyone know when we're meant to hear about the aptitude test? I've heard nothing but I believe it's at the beginning of April :-/

smilerxxx

Hi will from what i remember we received our letter that confirmed our application around week 2 in march. Then i think in week 3 you log on to the pas website and enter your app number and your given a time and centre to attend. I think it's Apr 9th this yr if that's a Saturday. The letter you receive will direct you to log on to pas on a particular day. You'll print a letter from that. But if you go through the nursing careers handbook for 2011 it gives you a date schedule for each step. Hope that helps. I can't check for certain as I'm on the mobile.

Will

Yup invites are being sent out on the 11th - here's a link for people http://www.nursingcareers.ie/images/ContentBuilder/NACFY%20booklet%202011.pdf

ithread

Hi everybody!

Just wanted to say hi! I applied last year but sadly didn't get it so I've been doing an introduction to nursing course which has been great! Like you smilerxxx, I left a well paid job and struggling financially but I'm praying everything will fall into place ;-)!!! Reading that yous are getting on so well in the course it great - very encouraging!

Not looking forward to the aptitude test on Saturday but went to the day course and found it really helpful!

All the best and heres hoping - you too Will!

Will

Thanks, best of luck to all sitting the aptitude test

spooky2009

How did everyone get on today? I think I did OK, besides the maths part,but I answered everything even if it was just a guess! There isn't negative marking right?!

mum79

spooky2009 wrote: »

How did everyone get on today? I think I did OK, besides the maths part,but I answered everything even if it was just a guess! There isn't negative marking right?!

Hi Spooky2009,
I thought it wasnt too bad but I didnt finish the maths or the last question on scenarios. Not sure if that will go against me. Its really hard to tell in these tests how you did becasue it depends on how well everyone else did. Do you know what date the results are out in May?

ithread

Hi guys!

So glad it is over!!!!! yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Anyway, I think the results will be ready online on the 6th May - its says in that little orange book they sent out.

Good luck!

ithread

Hi spooky2009
No negative marking - you can relax.

Will

I think I did ok in it, not sure. Missed out on 8 questions - 2 in the word association and 6 in the maths. I've heard it's pretty normal not to get em all finished though so I'm told. Not worrying either way as it's done now

Some dude got a bit cheesed off after one of the exams and went up to the invigilator there. Couldn't hear what was going on but was entertaining between the gaps in tests.

spooky2009

thanks ithread ,that's a relief
Just wondering - does the course you're doing guarantee you a place in nursing, or is it just for experience? I haven't heard of before but if I'm not successful this year, it's something I'll have to luck into!
Good luck to everyone & roll on the 6th.

ithread

Hi spooky2009

No guarantees with the course unfortunately - its just good experience and you get to do a 2 week placement. Theres a few colleges that do the one year nursing studies course. One advantage is that you can apply through fetac as well as the mature route but I have heard you have to be getting distinctions in all the modules before they will even accept you? Plus fetac places are few!!!

Roll on the 6th - I second that!

Must have been in the different hall from you Will!!! A few people in mine were made to rub out answers they put in after the woman said 'stop pencils down'!! That wasn't so funny - felt sorry for them a bit!

Will

I was on the 4th floor at the 9am exam, aisle 3. The invigilators seemed nice enough, no one was made rub out answers though so you musta been on the 5th floor. People were talking however, and repeated requests were asked of them to be quiet.

Few people were on the wrong floor after queuing up to get registered, don't know how they coulda mixed it up, said clearly on the forms what floor you were on.

Roll on the 6th indeed, I'm wondering if the scores will be drastically different this year - as last year they included the interview. So it's probably likely that scores won't be as high this year compared to last years.

ithread

I wonder what the scores will be too!!! I didn't realise people were on both floors, I was in the Hogan Suite -starting to wonder how many matures applied this year??? Last year it was in and around 2200. Maybe its best not too wonder!!!

Good luck everyone!

melly85

hiya.. i also sat the aptitude test for mature nursing.. the results of the test are out on 6th may... does anyone know when we will be notified if we have succeeded in gaining a place in the college?? is it online or by letter in the post?? thanks !! xx

spooky2009

Hi, I'm not sure of an exact date but in the CAO handbook it says "In early July, offers of places may be issued to applicants such as mature nursing/midwifery code applicants". But offers may be made later to fill any vacancies. Good luck!
Does anyone know if the paid work in the final year is still cut?

ithread

Hi guys

Last year there were several rounds of offers starting in early July with round 0 which was mainly for mature students I think. Looks like its different this year. There is some info here, under Key dates:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/applying_to_college/application_procedures_and_entry_requirements.html

Another website says Round A for non-standard applicants early July???


Spooky2009 - not sure of the pay cuts but you can keep up to date here:
http://www.inmo.ie/INMOPage_3_7131.aspx

Hope it helps!

Will

You should have a good idea by the points you get for the aptitude test whether you are gonna get a place or not I imagine.

Will

I'm looking forward to Friday, I don't really get stressed about exams but the results day makes me nervous. Best of luck to all on the 6th.

lisa dingle

hi, we're nearly there now, very nervous now...

does anyone know what time we should be able to access the results at?

thanks

spooky2009

Im so nervous and excited, I think i'll be pretty upset if i dont get into nursing!:( I have no idea what time the results will be available at, but I will be checking early!!

lisa dingle

thanks spooky2009, someone i know rang public jobs this morning asking what time and they said that they didn't know but that it would be before 4 or 5pm! was really hoping for 9am myself.... one minute i'm thinking i did fantastic and the next i'm thinking i failed. best of luck for friday

spooky2009

God i hope it doesn't take that long, anyways good luck to everyone!

D_25

do u think we will have an idea by our score?other years ud kinda no if u had a good chance of getting a place if u got a high score and u could just check the nursing careers book for past high scores but this year cos there was a 4th section i duno how the scoring will work. any1 no? also other years ud find out the highest score that a person got so ud no where u were but doubt theyl tell us that tomoro.

Will

205 was the highest score last year, 150 was the minimum. Guess we will just have to sit and wait

D_25

hey! ya i no, i just was thinkin that itl be different this year cos seeing as there was a forth section the scores will prob be higher so even if 1 of us got 205 as a score tomoro,we cud think we did great but really that might be the lowest score this year! wud be handy if they told us the highest and lowest tomoro aswell!!

lisa dingle

order of merit list is available!!!

Will

link? im looking on public jobs but can't see anything new

edit - never mind it's under the new updates

so the lower your number the better? or what? I got 40

spooky2009

Well done Will! I got 63 , dunno if thats good or bad! so do ye think that everyone has their own number of merit or could more than one person be on the same number of merit? Like if two people had the same score?!

Will

Order of Merit List:
At the beginning of July you will be placed on a separate list for each mature code course (in order of merit) for which you have applied. The position on each of these lists is determined by the score achieved at the written assessment (i.e. your order of merit).

Quota of Places:
The total number of places available in nursing/midwifery courses is 1570 (standard and mature code) and the numbers for each course are listed in pages 28-29 of "Nursing/Midwifery A Career for You" 2011. A quota of places is allocated to mature code course applicants.

Offers:
Because of the keen competition for places, not all applicants who were successful at the written assessment will get an offer of a place.
First offers of places to mature code applicants will take place in early July. If necessary, further offers may be made early August. Offers will be issued by post and may also be viewed and accepted on the CAO website (www.cao.ie).

Important: You are responsible for ensuring that you meet the specified entry requirements and conditions. This letter and the processing of your application at any stage of the competition should not be taken as an offer or an indication of eligibility for the course/s.
For all further information including information on Higher Education Institutes, Offers, Available Places Competition and Sponsorship for Public Health Services Employees Please see the handbook "Nursing/Midwifery A Career for You" 2011.

In line with best practice, this office provides candidates with a feedback report on their performance at the test. This will give an in-depth analysis of your results and will issue to you by the end of May.

I think the lower your score the better as the chances of the course being full increases as you go up along the list.

smilerxxx

Hi guys,
Best of luck with ye're scores tomorrow! xxxx I know how the nerves are, this is an anwful process of waiting and worrying. Its worth it though:)

Will

Scores came out already, they're going on order of merit this time round it seems

Confused2011

I got 391 is that really bad? I'm super worried now when you got 40! Does that mean I'm 350 places worst off than you will? Thanks

smilerxxx

I've had a look over on rollercoaster and it seems this order of merit list is the overall list i think. So I would take that as, out of 3000 people who sat the exam you had the 40th highest score. You will then go on an individual order of merit list for each of your courses. So you could possibly be number 1-5 in those. I think you've done fantastic. Will you recieve a letter in the morning also giving you your test score??? I reckon your in... well done :D:D.

We had our interview letters this time last year, so we didn't have any scores.. it was stomach turing.

smilerxxx

Confused2011 wrote: »

I got 391 is that really bad? I'm super worried now when you got 40! Does that mean I'm 350 places worst off than you will? Thanks

Not at all xxxx out of 3000.. top 10% what courses have you applied for?

Will

Confused2011 wrote: »

I got 391 is that really bad? I'm super worried now when you got 40! Does that mean I'm 350 places worst off than you will? Thanks

391 out of 3000 is nothing to be sniffed at

Confused2011

Thanks will and smiler! I didnt realise 3000 sat the exam! Sure all I can do is wait and see! Congrats on your score Will ! Best of luck to everyone!

Confused2011

Smiler I've applied for all four to give me a better chance general would be my first ! I've also applied for social work I've an interview on Friday! Nursing is what I really want to do though so if I don't get in this year I've applied for a pre nursing plc fingers crossed!