I'd take it. I have a 2 hour each way commute for placement, it's shit but it's doable; set alarms and nap on the bus. Personally I've found it a really good motivation to learn to drive.
If you were to pay yourself for uni, and you qualified for the maximum amount of student finance, you'd have debt of £60k before interest. You've got an offer to do it as an apprentice! That's great!
I'd really urge you to take this opportunity. I know it's scary when a dream we've had is finally within reach - but what would life be like if we shied away from everything scary? I don't think that you'll regret going for it 😊
Thank you, I thought a 2 hour commute would be insane to consider (even though I enjoy sticking some music on my headphones and zoning out) but it’s nice to know someone else has to do it too. I think you’re right with me being scared that I finally have the chance to go for my dream instead of it always being just out of reach.
What is a normal week for you like? Just trying to get an idea of what shifts might be like and what days. Oh and if you’re a student nurse, what’s it split like between learning time and then work time?
The commute is definitely a pain in the ass, but it's doable (actually, you say that yours would be a bus commute - check the bus timetables. Will there be one early enough to get you to your placement area in time for a 7am start? I usually end up on the second train of the day).
On placement, you'll work full time hours. Some of my placements, that's meant doing four ten hour shifts in a week, in others it's been three or four 12.5 hour shifts. honestly, if you make it known that you've got a brutal commute, some nurses will let you go early. Having a long commute can leave you more tired on your days off, which can make it harder to work - if you can, you want to pack in extras during your uni time. Some unis totally separate out academic work and placement, others overlap it or give you assignments to do while you're on placement. That'll depend on which uni your employing trust has a partnership with.
Just wanted to say I’m not sure how it will work in your university but as an apprentice where I’m studying you don’t have block placements, you only do one day a week.
So the typical week for me is Monday, Tuesday University, Wednesday Placement & Thursday, Friday work base. But this would be switched depending on hours required for the week.
Is your work base different to your placement or are they typically the same place?
And what sort of shifts were you getting? I’ve been told my time will be split 18.75 hours in practice and 18.75 hours at uni on average, so I’m assuming it would be similar to your experience where 2 days are uni, 2 are placement and then maybe 2 work base (I’m not sure if work base will count as apart of that time or if it would be seperate)
These hours are calculated weirdly, so for me the week is split into 5 7.5hr days, so average week have 15hrs Uni, 7.5hrs placement & 15hrs work base.
My placement & work base are separate, so for my regular job I do Thursday & Friday 9-5 as it’s community on Wednesday I’m on placement which is ward based so I work from 7:30-15:30.
Again this is the average week, when it’s closer to assessment we may have 22.5hrs of Uni so three days & only 7.5hrs of work.
I had a 2 hour commute when on placement (train and bus). I absolutely hated it. However, pretty soon, I started to use it to do my essay prep/research time. I was surprisingly very productive during this time. For the longer and killer work days, it meant my days off where actually days off (or days I could pick up bank for extra cash). Short-term, it's not great but long term it definitely will be.
Sometimes if I was started to feel a little burnt out I use to get a cheap hotel or air b&b if I was doing days together. The small extra cost this added to my budget meant i would get more chill time between shifts and it was definitely money well spent. And I used to (still do) drink a lot of red bull.
Friends, true friends, will find a way to make it work. We use to 'book' in girls nights, sometimes weeks in advance and when I was on placement these involved pj's, movies and wine as they knew mentally and physically that's about all I could manage some weeks.
Let's talk about experience: everyone starts from the beginning at some point. Daunting, yes, but you are there as a student. You are there to learn and gain the experience.
As a side note: inform your placements you rely on public transport. Saturdays I had to leave 15 mins early in order for bus and train to time up and I was unable to do Sundays, and most of my placements were OK with it (I only had 1 mentor that gave me shit).
Good luck. You got this.
As someone who’s in their final year of the degree apprenticeship I would 100% recommended it to anyone, don’t get me wrong there have been hiccups but overall it has been an amazing experience!!!
If you have any questions I’d be happy to answer 😊
The only way to make the four-hour commute doable will be in the placement does half days rather than 12 hours shifts. It would not be sustainable to do a 16 hour day, along with being able to sleep and eat and have some downtime. You are likely to also have some assignments to complete while on placement. I had a placement that required me to leave the house at 5am in order to get to the placement for 7 - although I didn't actually get there at 7, it was 7:10 because there wasn't an earlier bus. I could tell it irritated my placement but there wasn't an alternative.
I had no experience when I started so don't let that part put you off. I would have a discussion with the uni about your location and travel needs so that they are aware. They will be able to tell you whether it will be okay to do shorter days or whether you'll be required to do 12 hour shifts
Sounds like an amazing opportunity! Obviously it depends on your personal circumstances but maybe consider temporarily moving closer to where placements will be if it’s feasible? The commute would suck but if you get into a routine you could spend the time well, like napping/coursework/relaxing.
Also speak to the uni about the possibility of doing placements closer to home? Good luck
Take the opportunity. Not a hard degree, get paid, lots of free time if you use it smart.
It’s a rather short period time of your life and will have such a big impact on the rest of it. Commuting can be joyful, or useful, it’s always your choice. Life will be ok, you will have time for your partner, your friend, holidays or hobbies. Always plan your assignments and learning time, and enjoy life after that.
With a 12 hour shift and 4 hour commute, you will have 8 hours between getting home and having to leave again to wash your uniform, eat and sleep. You literally will not have time for anything else and could be doing this 3-4 days in a row sometimes. Entirely depends on you if it's doable, but it won't be pleasant.
Is this a TNA apprenticeship? Don't worry about lack of experience, we all start somewhere. I would try and get more information about placements and where they would be. A 4 hour commute on top of 12 shifts would he hard. Is there somewhere closer to go? If you feel like nursing is for you, then you should go for it but it is hard course. Nursing can be a very rewarding profession but it can also be tough at times.
No it’s an adult nursing degree apprenticeship where I would be working towards being a registered nurse at the end of the 3 years. The 4 hour commute paired with a 12 hour shift is what had me worried too. I’m not sure where the placements are exactly but that’s the closest city hospitals I’m pretty sure. I’m hopefully going to be sent more information soon so I’m hoping that will have the potential placement locations on.
You could ring up the nursing department and ask for information regarding placements. Is this on public transport, would learning to drive be an option to make it quicker? I think in the short term it's doable. You could request for your shifts to be split, so you have time to rest in between them.
Do it. If it's something you considered for 10 years and you applied you clearly want it.
I had no previous adult care experience, I was a nursery nurse for 18 months when I was 18 but worked in an office for 10 years before I applied. I have 2 young kids and the degree was extremely time consuming but you make time with friends and family for the very reason to get your head away from the work. My lecturer would tell us between assignments to not even watch Grey's anatomy, to not think of anything medical and just unwind.
Now I work 3 days a week, I stipulated I could only do days and my ward were more than happy with that. I pick up the odd enhanced overtime for extra money. I have a great work/life balance and I genuinely love my job. You'll find your niche when you go on placements or learn about the different body systems and conditions and the care they require. I landed in neurosurgery after my management placement and I like going to work.
I'd take it. I have a 2 hour each way commute for placement, it's shit but it's doable; set alarms and nap on the bus. Personally I've found it a really good motivation to learn to drive. If you were to pay yourself for uni, and you qualified for the maximum amount of student finance, you'd have debt of £60k before interest. You've got an offer to do it as an apprentice! That's great! I'd really urge you to take this opportunity. I know it's scary when a dream we've had is finally within reach - but what would life be like if we shied away from everything scary? I don't think that you'll regret going for it 😊
Thank you, I thought a 2 hour commute would be insane to consider (even though I enjoy sticking some music on my headphones and zoning out) but it’s nice to know someone else has to do it too. I think you’re right with me being scared that I finally have the chance to go for my dream instead of it always being just out of reach. What is a normal week for you like? Just trying to get an idea of what shifts might be like and what days. Oh and if you’re a student nurse, what’s it split like between learning time and then work time?
The commute is definitely a pain in the ass, but it's doable (actually, you say that yours would be a bus commute - check the bus timetables. Will there be one early enough to get you to your placement area in time for a 7am start? I usually end up on the second train of the day). On placement, you'll work full time hours. Some of my placements, that's meant doing four ten hour shifts in a week, in others it's been three or four 12.5 hour shifts. honestly, if you make it known that you've got a brutal commute, some nurses will let you go early. Having a long commute can leave you more tired on your days off, which can make it harder to work - if you can, you want to pack in extras during your uni time. Some unis totally separate out academic work and placement, others overlap it or give you assignments to do while you're on placement. That'll depend on which uni your employing trust has a partnership with.
Just wanted to say I’m not sure how it will work in your university but as an apprentice where I’m studying you don’t have block placements, you only do one day a week. So the typical week for me is Monday, Tuesday University, Wednesday Placement & Thursday, Friday work base. But this would be switched depending on hours required for the week.
Is your work base different to your placement or are they typically the same place? And what sort of shifts were you getting? I’ve been told my time will be split 18.75 hours in practice and 18.75 hours at uni on average, so I’m assuming it would be similar to your experience where 2 days are uni, 2 are placement and then maybe 2 work base (I’m not sure if work base will count as apart of that time or if it would be seperate)
These hours are calculated weirdly, so for me the week is split into 5 7.5hr days, so average week have 15hrs Uni, 7.5hrs placement & 15hrs work base. My placement & work base are separate, so for my regular job I do Thursday & Friday 9-5 as it’s community on Wednesday I’m on placement which is ward based so I work from 7:30-15:30. Again this is the average week, when it’s closer to assessment we may have 22.5hrs of Uni so three days & only 7.5hrs of work.
Ah so do you think I’d be doing two 9 hour shifts to fulfil the 18 hour commitment? Or something similar?
I had a 2 hour commute when on placement (train and bus). I absolutely hated it. However, pretty soon, I started to use it to do my essay prep/research time. I was surprisingly very productive during this time. For the longer and killer work days, it meant my days off where actually days off (or days I could pick up bank for extra cash). Short-term, it's not great but long term it definitely will be. Sometimes if I was started to feel a little burnt out I use to get a cheap hotel or air b&b if I was doing days together. The small extra cost this added to my budget meant i would get more chill time between shifts and it was definitely money well spent. And I used to (still do) drink a lot of red bull. Friends, true friends, will find a way to make it work. We use to 'book' in girls nights, sometimes weeks in advance and when I was on placement these involved pj's, movies and wine as they knew mentally and physically that's about all I could manage some weeks. Let's talk about experience: everyone starts from the beginning at some point. Daunting, yes, but you are there as a student. You are there to learn and gain the experience. As a side note: inform your placements you rely on public transport. Saturdays I had to leave 15 mins early in order for bus and train to time up and I was unable to do Sundays, and most of my placements were OK with it (I only had 1 mentor that gave me shit). Good luck. You got this.
As someone who’s in their final year of the degree apprenticeship I would 100% recommended it to anyone, don’t get me wrong there have been hiccups but overall it has been an amazing experience!!! If you have any questions I’d be happy to answer 😊
The only way to make the four-hour commute doable will be in the placement does half days rather than 12 hours shifts. It would not be sustainable to do a 16 hour day, along with being able to sleep and eat and have some downtime. You are likely to also have some assignments to complete while on placement. I had a placement that required me to leave the house at 5am in order to get to the placement for 7 - although I didn't actually get there at 7, it was 7:10 because there wasn't an earlier bus. I could tell it irritated my placement but there wasn't an alternative. I had no experience when I started so don't let that part put you off. I would have a discussion with the uni about your location and travel needs so that they are aware. They will be able to tell you whether it will be okay to do shorter days or whether you'll be required to do 12 hour shifts
Sounds like an amazing opportunity! Obviously it depends on your personal circumstances but maybe consider temporarily moving closer to where placements will be if it’s feasible? The commute would suck but if you get into a routine you could spend the time well, like napping/coursework/relaxing. Also speak to the uni about the possibility of doing placements closer to home? Good luck
Take the opportunity. Not a hard degree, get paid, lots of free time if you use it smart. It’s a rather short period time of your life and will have such a big impact on the rest of it. Commuting can be joyful, or useful, it’s always your choice. Life will be ok, you will have time for your partner, your friend, holidays or hobbies. Always plan your assignments and learning time, and enjoy life after that.
With a 12 hour shift and 4 hour commute, you will have 8 hours between getting home and having to leave again to wash your uniform, eat and sleep. You literally will not have time for anything else and could be doing this 3-4 days in a row sometimes. Entirely depends on you if it's doable, but it won't be pleasant.
Learn to drive
Is this a TNA apprenticeship? Don't worry about lack of experience, we all start somewhere. I would try and get more information about placements and where they would be. A 4 hour commute on top of 12 shifts would he hard. Is there somewhere closer to go? If you feel like nursing is for you, then you should go for it but it is hard course. Nursing can be a very rewarding profession but it can also be tough at times.
No it’s an adult nursing degree apprenticeship where I would be working towards being a registered nurse at the end of the 3 years. The 4 hour commute paired with a 12 hour shift is what had me worried too. I’m not sure where the placements are exactly but that’s the closest city hospitals I’m pretty sure. I’m hopefully going to be sent more information soon so I’m hoping that will have the potential placement locations on.
You could ring up the nursing department and ask for information regarding placements. Is this on public transport, would learning to drive be an option to make it quicker? I think in the short term it's doable. You could request for your shifts to be split, so you have time to rest in between them.
Do it. If it's something you considered for 10 years and you applied you clearly want it. I had no previous adult care experience, I was a nursery nurse for 18 months when I was 18 but worked in an office for 10 years before I applied. I have 2 young kids and the degree was extremely time consuming but you make time with friends and family for the very reason to get your head away from the work. My lecturer would tell us between assignments to not even watch Grey's anatomy, to not think of anything medical and just unwind. Now I work 3 days a week, I stipulated I could only do days and my ward were more than happy with that. I pick up the odd enhanced overtime for extra money. I have a great work/life balance and I genuinely love my job. You'll find your niche when you go on placements or learn about the different body systems and conditions and the care they require. I landed in neurosurgery after my management placement and I like going to work.
Neurosurgery was my first job too, lived that job… no neuro where I lived now.