retraining as an NHS nurse - too old?

[anonymous-user]

Wife works for NHS in a surgical role - always has.

I run my own car related company and love it. Sill doing ok despite things current.

I'm 46 and have a strong calling/urge to get involved with nursing in a hospital for NHS as I'm in awe and totally amazed by them.

I have no medical quals - just engineering namely OND/HND/Degree in elec and mech eng.

So I did hear of an advertisement on 'Classic FM' (dont judge me lol) saying from September there would be some recruitment drive

Sooo getting to the point of the thread - Am I too old to be considered do you think?

[SamR380]

Not at all, the NHS is desperate for nurses and if you are serious about it they'll be glad to have you.
Go into it with your eyes open though, depending on where you work it can be a very hard job.

Good luck.

[anonymous-user]

Portering is a good entry to the nhs , then to a csw role (clinical support worker ) , basically the old auxiliary nurse post. Good way to see how you would handle the squeamish/ sad side of hospital work ?

[shed driver]

Registered nurse here, I think that in the next 12-24 months courses will be free and there may even be a bursary of some kind to help with costs. I'm involved with mentoring students and they are coming from all walks of life and many are in their 50s when they start their courses.

A lot of Trusts have volunteer roles (maybe not at present) but this is also a good way to experience life on the wards. PM me if you want to discuss any specifics.

SD.

[anonymous-user]

shed driver said:

Registered nurse here, I think that in the next 12-24 months courses will be free and there may even be a bursary of some kind to help with costs. I'm involved with mentoring students and they are coming from all walks of life and many are in their 50s when they start their courses.

A lot of Trusts have volunteer roles (maybe not at present) but this is also a good way to experience life on the wards. PM me if you want to discuss any specifics.

SD.

Thanks I will do just that later this evening. Much appreciated

[moorx]

Some NHS organisations also run paid health care apprenticeships as an entry point into nursing. Our local Health Board does (I am in Wales) but I think some NHS Trusts in England do too.

[Hoofy]

Didn't a PHer a few years ago retrain as a paramedic? Can't remember who he was and if he's still here.

[Fluid]

Hoofy said:

Didn't a PHer a few years ago retrain as a paramedic? Can't remember who he was and if he's still here.

I think it was Ray Luxury-Yacht. Still posts on here.

[N111BJG]

I’ve known a number of people who have chosen nursing & midwifery as second careers & starting training in their mid 40’s. You’ll take your maturity and life experiences with you which are a vital asset as at times it can be very challenging.
Go for it & good luck.

[Hoofy]

Fluid said:

Hoofy said:

Didn't a PHer a few years ago retrain as a paramedic? Can't remember who he was and if he's still here.

I think it was Ray Luxury-Yacht. Still posts on here.

Yes, that's him. Hope he sees this thread!

[Ruskie]

Emergency care assistant on the ambulance? tTraining is about 12 weeks including emergency driving. Nursing is a degree program. Happy to answer any questions (Paramedic for 13 years)

[moles]

What’s the worst part of the job?.

[StanleyT]

From a paramedic friend of mine.

"When two ambulances turn up at a car / motorbike fatal. You have to be really careful collecting the body parts to make sure you have them all. Never assume the severed head went in the other ambulance".

The real life example he was given was an accident in the 1990s on the A515 through the Peak District.

First ambulance to arrive tried to resuscitate one of the bikers. He died on scene.

Second ambulance to turn up took the body of the obviously dead second bilker and the critical car driver, leaving before the first ambulance. Witness on scene asked first ambulance if they were going to take the "helmet" which bounced over the limestone wall adjoining the road. Seen the photos from this training pack, the bend was near Parsley Hay / Monyash T junction. Still get the shivers each time i drive past there now. What it would have been like to get to a hospital without a head for a body...urrgh gets the willies right up me.

[Ruskie]

moles said:

What’s the worst part of the job?.

Finished shifts late. 12 hours becoming 13/14 hours. That and PTSD.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks to all for the really useful input and for the chat from the forum member shed driver. Extremely helpful.

I'm really really keen on this move. I've never been as motivated about something like this ever!

I also like the sound of a toe in the water route as a porter and ECA role to a paramedic sounds great and I'm super keen to hear more.

See, one of my 3 kids had a very bad start to life being born very premature and suffering a grade 4 IVH. he has cerebral palsy and a host of medical complications.

In his early years we were on first name terms with all the ward staff, consultants and even the paramedics due to many many blue light red response visits.

I've got a fairly good insight into the environment and feel I want to be involved and care from the other side now.

Thanks again to all

[Gaspowered]

As people have already mentioned recruits into health care come from across the working age group and those who’ve had other careers bring different transferable skills. You indicate your own family experience of delivering aspects of care. Across the country health care organisations other a range of different apprentiseship programs. For nursing you could consider a staggered approach with trainee nurse associate programs through to degree registration programs. These are offered in conjunction with an HEI provider who has been validated to deliver health care programs. The apprenticeship offers a salaried approach often slightly longer than a traditional degree program. Traditional degrees can now attract a £5000 bursary. Contact your local health care provider and they are likely to have a training & development / HR team who could advise on the local options, depending on where you live. It’s always useful to get some experience in health care. Some employers may want apprenticeships to have worked in the organisation but this isn’t always the case. Your local Trusts and University’s will have open days which gives you opportunity (when Covid restrictions end) to explore opportunities in your local area. Have a look at

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/

as you may find other options which suit your skills and interests, from nursing, pharmacy roles, radiology etc
Good luck, it’s never too late!

[Sophisticated Sarah]

Definitely not too old. My wife retrained as a nurse (graduated last year) and many in her cohort were over 45.

It’s a tough course, mainly because it’s complete bks and irrelevant to nursing, however you get a job for life at the end with many interesting career paths.

You’ll find your nursing knowledge will come from placements, the academic side is just filler to make it degree standard. If you understand ‘leadership types’, you’ll be able to pass 90% of your academic study

A good route in could be as an associate nurse?

Edited by Sophisticated Sarah on Friday 24th April 19:31

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Hoofy said:

Fluid said:

Hoofy said:

Didn't a PHer a few years ago retrain as a paramedic? Can't remember who he was and if he's still here.

I think it was Ray Luxury-Yacht. Still posts on here.

Yes, that's him. Hope he sees this thread!

Hello everyone. Crikey I am sorry, I have only just seen this thread. Well, three years is better than never, right?!

That is correct, I retrianed as a Paramedic starting in 2012. I did a year at college to get A-level equivalents, then my Paramedic science degree at University, alongside frontline shifts.

Still doing it. Still like it (kinda ). If the op or anyone else is serious about doing it, by all means drop me a PM and I will help as much as I can!

Cheers.

ETA: I was 41 when I started retraining btw.

[Ruskie]

Two years later Ray, hope you arrive on time at emergencies better

[d8666]

Yes you are to old, my better half is a nurse the last 12 years and she admits it’s a young persons game (she qualified at 22). heavy lifting, non stop, shift work and usually under staffed especially on a medical ward they struggle to get time for their allocated breaks at times. In the end she got a community based post that is 9-5. Monday to Friday not working christmas etc and no heavy lifting.

They can’t seem to keep nurses and seem to be recruiting from overseas which brings more problems also.

Surely there are easier options you can go for.

Edited by d8666 on Monday 10th April 13:55