ProNurse

I am wondering the same thing myself!

Having just finished my second year and having heard lots of third years bemoaning the fact that they cannot get a job I am at an all time low and not at all motivated to start my own third year.

All we can hope is that things will improve but I don't see that happening by next September! If the worst comes to the worst I will do bank nursing until a job does become available but don't really relish that idea as no doubt all the jobless nurses will be doing the same. I am lucky that I have kept a contract with my current employer as an HCA, hopefully this will increase my chances of being offered bank work as a staff nurse later, it's the hope I am clinging to anyway!!

well.... I had a letter this morning from another college that's closer to home asking me to come in for a interview for the access course, I will also have to do some basic English & maths tests and submit a 500 word essay from multiple choices on the day. I personally live in the real world and believe that 'life is what you make it'.... I'm going to give it 100 percent regardless.  

People who worry about there being no jobs:

I just wonder what you'll do instead that pays you over £20k basic and which you've more chance of getting a job than in nursing? 

Nobody (at nurse level) is guaranteed jobs in this world, but few professions offer you a better chance of one or a more in-demand qualification.

I packed in the NHS to go full time agency, and I can guarantee that every week I'll be offered at least two or three interviews for full time jobs - and this is from employers and agencies I've told, often many times, that I'm not interested in a permanent job.  If I really started looking I know I'd be inundated with them, and believe me, I'm nothing special and haven't been qualified that long.

As long as you don't limit yourself  - I'll only take a job if it's a short bus ride away, I'll only take a job in theatre, I only want a job where my mates work, or whatever - you will get a job.

Don't believe the scare stories. if you want to be a nurse, then be one.

I wasn't trying to be a nay-sayer! I have wanted to be a nurse for 17 years now and am a very mature student who did years of studying with the OU before I was able to take up a place on a nursing course due to family committments. I am already very well qualified, money does not come into it at all, nursing is what I want to do, if necessary I will continue in my present job as an HCA until a job turns up.

In the area where I live nursing jobs are very hard to find and even agency work is hard to come by, I know as lots of my friends do agency work and are finding it tough, two years ago it was a very different story.

As regards to being prepared to travel, it is a must here as the nearest hospital is 30 miles away, whichever direction you go in!

£7 an hour is pretty high for HCA jobs. Basic wage is £5.80 and I'd guess most HCAs, in the private sector anyway, are on that and I don't think a band 2 in the NHS is on much more. Utterly scandalous for the job they do.
Don't know how the CRB thing will affect your chances - oldies (ahem) like me have had a much longer time to build up a less than perfect past - and a medical history - than someone in their early twenties so I'm guessing, considering the number of mature entrants, that quite a few of us get flagged. Depending on the nature of the offence(s) I shouldn't think something done 25 years ago would be a huge sticking point unless you want to work in prisons or the like when it may be. You never know, it may not show even on an enhanced - best to declare it all the same though - I've never had anything show on an enhanced, yet I did get flagged for something pretty minor from decades ago when a higher than enhanced check was needed.

 I dont think I could do 120 mile round trip but it just goes to show how committed you are.... your husband too. Yes, the west country is a great place to live but there's a bit of a art to it as regards survival. The wages are always lower than anywhere else and the cost of living higher, its almost as if your paying the government extra because its classed as country living. I have my college interview this Monday 16 Aug along with the entrance tests and 500 word essay, fingers crossed I will pass and be asked back for the 2nd interview a week later. 

 yes it does, Im glad you think so too. I will post it up next week, what it was like etc.