Medical Malpractice

Diploma of Higher Education in Adult Nursing - OU?

I am working as a HCA in my local hospital. I want to continue my studies and become a fully-qualified nurse. I cannot afford to leave full-time work though as I have commitments. I have been looking at the Open university and they offer a pre-regiestration program, which on completion will lead to being registered as a nurse. The Diploma is being changed into a Degree in 2012, this would be a fantastic way for me to study and continue bringing in the pennies! Has anyone else gone this route or is currently taking this course?

Public Comments

1. University fees for student nurses are paid for by the NHS plus you receive a bursary to live on. I'm a student nurse & l also work as a bank HCA to supplement the bursary. Most of the people on my course do too. I generally do one shift a week. Some students work 16 hours a week because you can get Working Tax Credit then & it doesn't affect the bursary. As you are an HCA at your local hospital you could apply for secondment from your trust to train as a nurse. Your uni fees are still paid for the NHS but you don't receive a bursary. Instead you continue receiving your HCA wage whilst you train. Once you qualify, you don't have to return to that hospital as a nurse if you don't want to but you do have to work for the NHS for 1 or 2 years. I can't remember if it's 1 or 2, a friend of mine is on secondment from her trust whilst she trains as a nurse. With the OU course, you would need to be sponsored by your employer. Not all NHS trusts do this but they do all offer secondments. Personally I'd favour the traditional route of university rather than OU. I find the support of my cohort invaluable, the academic side is quite intense at times & I really do value the support of the group when we study together. You might find some more useful advice in the forum of this site. http://www.studentnurse.org.uk/ Incidently, the OU course is a diploma which as you know is being phased out in favour of the degree. If you opt for the OU option, you will qualify with a diploma not a degree. You will only qualify with a degree if you actually start a degree course. The OU diploma will not magically become a degree in 2012. If you wish to progress in your career then a degree is a must so I think that's another reason to choose normal uni over the OU. Good luck with whatever you decide.