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Has anyone studies the EN course with a baby at home???

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Author Has anyone studies the EN course with a baby at home???

Anthea

(offline)

  • Joined: May 2008
  • Location: Gunnedah
  • Posts: 7

Sun May 25, 2008 11:05 am

Hello everyone,

I am currently studying aged care cert 3 at tafe one day per week. I am working casual at an aged care facility and i have a husband that works long hours and a baby of 9 months at home! I would love to get into this course but i just don;t know if i can handle it! I want to be a nurse and thought that i may not get back to it until we finish having children. I know its only 12 months and i think thats what makes it so tempting!

Has anyone done this course while raising a family? What were you biggest struggles? Did you regret it?

Any help would be much appreciated!

suzfenau

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  • Joined: Apr 2008
  • Location: Melbourne
  • Posts: 18

May 25, 2008, 12:05 pm

Hi Anthea

Sorry I can't answer your question as I am in the same situation as you (except my 2 kids are 4 & 9) but I do know that you can do the Enrolled/Div 2 Nursing course part time - it takes 2 years but that could be an option for you - I know I couldn't manage full time studies at the moment. Good luck.

keeshy

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keeshy
  • Joined: Apr 2007
  • Location: Melbourne
  • Posts: 189

May 25, 2008, 08:37 pm Last edited May 25, 2008, 08:37 pm update #1

Hi there,

I chose to do my Div 2 (EN) part time cos I have young kids too. Worked out to be 2 days a week for 18 months. When I started last year in Feb my eldest was 6 and my youngest was 13 months. I am not denying that it has been hard but it has been so worth it. You have to be committed and make time for your studies and kids etc. A good balance. It is doable though for sure and if you want it then go for it.

I knew if I didnt make the break when I did I was never going to do it. I dont regret it. If I had older kids I would have done it full time, but thats the only change I would have made.

Good luck

modified: Sunday 25 May 2008 8:38:11 pm - keeshy

Anthea

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  • Joined: May 2008
  • Location: Gunnedah
  • Posts: 7

May 26, 2008, 05:11 pm

Thanks for the replies!!! Who do you see about doing EN (div2)???? What are the costs involved???

Thanks

suzfenau

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  • Joined: Apr 2008
  • Location: Melbourne
  • Posts: 18

May 27, 2008, 09:53 am

Hi Anthea

I'm sure there are many others who can answer this question and give you more info than me, but I'll tell you what I know from searching loads of info on the net. You can become a Div 2 nurse in the following ways: A traineeship (Usually through an aged care facility, you would attend school 2 days a week and need to work at least 15 hours a week for part time or more for full time - the up side of this is you would be earning as you learn but the hours envolved could be tricky with a baby at home (unless you have a great support system of family & friends - as you are already employed by an aged care facility, they may be able to help you here or maybe know of other facilities who offer this traineeship?). You can enrol at a TAFE (not sure if it's available part time though) - (it's either called Certificate IV in nursing HLT43407 or Diploma of nursing Division 2 HLT51607 - I believe the diploma is the newest version of the course) or you can enrol with a RTO registered training office some of these do run the course part time over 2 years (this is the avenue I'm looking to take and will be sitting my test & interview in August!) I can't remember where I got my list of Melbourne RTO's but if I search back over my computer history and find it I'll send you a link - the course codes are the same where ever you take them - so even typing those codes in as a search will come up with various options. You are one step ahead of me as you have experience in aged care - I am a little worried about my chance of getting in with zero experience (just life experiences) but up until now it hasn't been the right time to persue this wish of mine. Good Luck with your search and let us know what you decide.

Regards Suzie

lokisare

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  • Joined: Sep 2007
  • Location:
  • Posts: 37

May 27, 2008, 05:20 pm

Hey Anthea check out this webpage http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/en.html

it has the information about the trainee program which seems to run in Gunnedah.

And also this webpage http://www.nmb.nsw.gov.au/EN-courses/default.aspx from the nurses board about recognised courses, you might want to contact the individual institutions about applying.

Good luck

delbry1

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delbry1
  • Joined: Jun 2008
  • Location: Chinchilla, QLD
  • Posts: 2

Jun 08, 2008, 05:55 pm

Hi, I have a 22month old and I work in Aged Care on Night Duty 10pm- 6.30am 10 shifts per fortnight. I am about to commence my Diploma of Nursing EEN via Videolinq through SQIT and like you I am wondering how I will manage!!!! I think its all about being organised and of course you have to have a good helpful partner or a support network to back you up when things get rough or you need a break. Easier said than done in allot of cases I know.......

zippy

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  • Joined: Jun 2008
  • Location:
  • Posts: 4

Jun 11, 2008, 01:17 am

Hi everyone,

I did my EN when my 3 kids were under 11, with the youngest being 5. It was a 12 month full time course (with medication endorsement in TAS) and one of the hardest years of my life! Having said that I am now very happy working in in a public hospital 9 shifts a fortnight. it was well worth the effort financially and psychologically. It did me good!

I guess it depends on if (and when) you are planning on having more kids? I can see the attraction of qualifying and 'getting it out of the way' but my biggest regret is not having got my RN out of the way!. The kids grow up so quickly and in many ways time and inclination become more elusive for the 'upgrade' as time goes by. For example if I went for my RN now my pay would decrease dramatically, including uni fees I would be out of pocket until well after my kids left home!

Prior to my kids being born I worked as a carer in aged care. It is interesting to remember that as a carer a cert III aged care worker will earn more money hourly doing weekend nightshift that a medication endorsed EN in a hospital on day shift! If I had to do it all again I guess I would try for a couple of nightshifts, working around my partner and kids, whilst studying for my EN or RN .

I hope you find a good solution for your family.

Best of luck and kindest regards.

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