What is the open university k101 equivalent too?

[Feff]

Does anybody know please? As in nvq, all I can find after an hour of googling is that it's an FHEC level 4 and a higher national certificate am I being really dull lol?

I want to see about becoming a healthcare assistant/auxiliary nurse because I haven't got into university this year so looking at my options! Thank you x

 

[emyandpotato]

If it is level 4 then I think it's equivalent to first year uni, in which case OU let you do a credit transfer so that that can make up part of your degree. Do you know how many credits it is? It will likely be 10, 30 or 60.

 

[Feff]

Yeah it is equivalent to first year of uni I think, I think it's 60 credits! You have to have support of your employer and already be in a health care setting to do the nursing degree through the open university I think though?

Do you know what nvq level it would be? I think it's a 4? But it sounds too high lol!

Thank you! x

 

[emyandpotato]

I think the levels are generally the same across the board so yes if it's level 4 for one it should be an NVQ level 4, though if you're confused just email Student Support and ask!

 

[emyandpotato]

Though if it's 60 credits it's equivalent to only half of first year, as one year is 120 credits.

 

[Feff]

Thank you so much I didn't even think to ask them haha! I'll give them an email now. Yeah, that makes more sense actually lol. I did see on google someone else say it was equivalent to first year of uni too though! :S x

 

[orange-sox]

It's equivalent to first year university studies in terms of the academic standard, but at 60 credits it's only half of the study credits that you would do in the first year of a traditional 360 credit Bsc or BA (Hons) course... does that make sense?

You say you didn't get into Uni this year, what courses did you apply for?

If It's nursing you're looking at, provided you have already met the standards required for your chosen uni's course then I'd look at applying for healthcare assistant jobs in the local hospitals. Getting relevant hands on experience is the only way you'll know if it's for you, and will be a major factor in an reapplication to uni.

I'm in the third year of a Nursing Degree right now and the competition is fierce for courses but sadly the drop out rate (particularly in the first year) is seriously high due to the number of people who apply for the course after two work experience weeks in the local care homes etc.

If there's anything I can help with then drop me a message xxx

 

[Feff]

Ah right, I get it now thank you!

I applied for children's nursing, I got rejected from 2 universities and waiting to hear on the 3rd but really don't think I'll get in so looking at other options!

I'm in the middle of my k101 course, well nearing the end now (got my exam in June, gulp!) so when I pass (thinking positive haha) I'll probably be looking at hca jobs! Yeah, I'm hoping it'll look really good on my application. I haven't really got any experience now, I just applied for the feedback mainly because I never thought I would get in this year anyway.

I bet! One of the universities told me that my application was of good standard but the competition was extremely high this year I hope nobody wants to do nursing next year haha.

Thank you so much I will take you up on that if you don't mind! xxx

 

[orange-sox]

Firstly, don't be so hard on yourself! The offer I wanted the most was the last to come in, you just have to wait and see!

Childrens nursing is the absolute hardest nursing course to get onto there are tiny numbers of places(there was 120 of us adult nurses to just 20 childrens nurses when we started!). You got fantastic feedback, so some hands on experience should seal the deal for you next time around.

I was a mental health HCA before I started my training as an adult nurse, the skills are easily transferable and it means you'll have a head start with the practical side of things when do you get on a course - first year is mostly about getting a solid grounding of the basics like bed changes, patient transfers, bed bathing etc.

Of course I don't mind, anything I can help with just let me know!

 

[emyandpotato]

I agree hun. My sister worked her arse off for her entire time in school. Ended up with AAB grades at A level, all in subjects relevant to nursing, and still didn't get on to the paediatric nursing course she wanted at Nottingham. She could have been a doctor with those grades! It's getting really tough to get on to, so don't be too hard on yourself!

 

[Feff]

Firstly, don't be so hard on yourself! The offer I wanted the most was the last to come in, you just have to wait and see!

Childrens nursing is the absolute hardest nursing course to get onto there are tiny numbers of places(there was 120 of us adult nurses to just 20 childrens nurses when we started!). You got fantastic feedback, so some hands on experience should seal the deal for you next time around.

I was a mental health HCA before I started my training as an adult nurse, the skills are easily transferable and it means you'll have a head start with the practical side of things when do you get on a course - first year is mostly about getting a solid grounding of the basics like bed changes, patient transfers, bed bathing etc.

Of course I don't mind, anything I can help with just let me know!

I can't see me getting in this year tbh, like I said I have no experience so I just applied for the sake of it really! Thank you though

I know, trust me to choose that one wow really?! That's a crazy difference. Thanks I hope so!

What does a hca's role actually entail? Obviously I've looked into it but there's nothing like hearing from someone who was actually one

Thank you so much! what sort of experience do you think would go towards my application? I've emailed about volunteering and explained my situation but no response yet, perhaps I'll ring them if they don't answer soon. I'm not 18 yet either so that doesn't help when looking at volunteering jobs in the health and social sector! xx

 

[Feff]

I agree hun. My sister worked her arse off for her entire time in school. Ended up with AAB grades at A level, all in subjects relevant to nursing, and still didn't get on to the paediatric nursing course she wanted at Nottingham. She could have been a doctor with those grades! It's getting really tough to get on to, so don't be too hard on yourself!

Wow, I bet she was gutted! did she end up going into nursing or anything like that after? Thank you. I just really really want to do it! I'm not doing it the 'normal' way either which doesn't help :/ x

 

[emyandpotato]

I agree hun. My sister worked her arse off for her entire time in school. Ended up with AAB grades at A level, all in subjects relevant to nursing, and still didn't get on to the paediatric nursing course she wanted at Nottingham. She could have been a doctor with those grades! It's getting really tough to get on to, so don't be too hard on yourself!

Wow, I bet she was gutted! did she end up going into nursing or anything like that after? Thank you. I just really really want to do it! I'm not doing it the 'normal' way either which doesn't help :/ x

She studied adult nursing at Nottingham instead, and luckily after her first year they let her switch as someone dropped out, so it worked out. But it truly is so hard to get into!

I know what you mean. I really want to teach and have in fact just added an extra year to my course to make myself more employable, and I'd be gutted if I didn't get on to a PGCE after all of this! Sometimes doing it the normal way isn't the best way. If you don't get in this year then make the most of your time by getting experience, perhaps by volunteering at a children's club or a care home? Do as much as you can as you'll stand out for next year. Good luck

 

[Caite]

I started an adult nursing course when I was 18, somehow I got in with no experience whatsoever. But that was back in 2005, so they may have changed things a bit since then. Our course dropped down from about 45 students to maybe 25 by the time we graduated.

Would you consider studying adult nursing and then doing a conversion course to children's. It would be an extra 18 months, but it might be something to consider? Alternatively, some adult nurses do work in children's settings. In neonatal units, the nurses are either midwives, adult nurses or children's nurses. A lot of school nurses are adult nurses, and health visitors are either adult nurses or midwives (not sure about children's nurses). And then, in some departments you will look after adult and child patients, such as in A&E or theatre.

As for what HCAs do, it does vary depending on the Trust you work in and the area you work. Where I trained, the HCAs literally provided personal care - washing and dressing, toileting, changing beds, feeding patients. Where I worked afterwards, they also did observations, some did dressings/took blood/cannulated/catheterised.

And the uni where I studies replied back too late for it to go through UCAS, but I got a place on their course

 

[Feff]

She studied adult nursing at Nottingham instead, and luckily after her first year they let her switch as someone dropped out, so it worked out. But it truly is so hard to get into!

I know what you mean. I really want to teach and have in fact just added an extra year to my course to make myself more employable, and I'd be gutted if I didn't get on to a PGCE after all of this! Sometimes doing it the normal way isn't the best way. If you don't get in this year then make the most of your time by getting experience, perhaps by volunteering at a children's club or a care home? Do as much as you can as you'll stand out for next year. Good luck

Wow that's lucky then! I bet she was so glad. I know I wish it wasn't!

Good for you! I hope you can become a teacher I suppose. It's just all my friends from college have offers (I don't know anybody who applied to do nursing though funnily enough). I definitely am! What places would you recommend asking? I'm not 18 yet so I don't know who and what would 'employ' me? Thank you so much, good luck to you too x

 

[Feff]

I started an adult nursing course when I was 18, somehow I got in with no experience whatsoever. But that was back in 2005, so they may have changed things a bit since then. Our course dropped down from about 45 students to maybe 25 by the time we graduated.

Would you consider studying adult nursing and then doing a conversion course to children's. It would be an extra 18 months, but it might be something to consider? Alternatively, some adult nurses do work in children's settings. In neonatal units, the nurses are either midwives, adult nurses or children's nurses. A lot of school nurses are adult nurses, and health visitors are either adult nurses or midwives (not sure about children's nurses). And then, in some departments you will look after adult and child patients, such as in A&E or theatre.

As for what HCAs do, it does vary depending on the Trust you work in and the area you work. Where I trained, the HCAs literally provided personal care - washing and dressing, toileting, changing beds, feeding patients. Where I worked afterwards, they also did observations, some did dressings/took blood/cannulated/catheterised.

And the uni where I studies replied back too late for it to go through UCAS, but I got a place on their course

Perhaps they have changed it but I not sure! I have no experience and they said that my application was good it's just the competition was extremely high so I don't know?

Hmm, I suppose I could do that, I didn't even know there was a conversion course lol! I knew there was a midwifery one. I would like to be a HV in the future but when I looked into it it said depending on where you live you need to have sometime 1,5 or 10 years experience of nursing. Does that mean child or adult nursing do you know? Ultimately I would love to be a HV that sort of specialises in teenage mothers. What other jobs could sort of lead me to children's nursing do you know please?

They literally start from the bottom up then there's a hca in my local gp and I didn't even realise until yesterday lol! She does like blood pressure and things like that too, and she helped to give me an EEG? but she isn't always supervised.

Thank you very much x

 

[orange-sox]

Hello again!

Like Caite says, it really depends on individual settings as to what HCA's do but usually it's pretty much any task which a nurse deems you competent to undertake (after sufficient training) like personal care, escorting to tests etc, observations (blood pressure, temp, pulse, respirations), ECG's (heart tests), taking blood samples, cannulating.... The list can go on and on depending on where you work. Many healthcare assistants are extremely well skilled at their jobs and work with indirect supervision - it's a minefield out there haha!

Ultimately any job where you have exposure to caring for people is good experience for nursing, be that in a nursery, after school clubs, care homes, hospices, hospitals, health centres etc. There are also lots of people who go into nursing as a second, third, fourth career and successfully transfer the skills they've gained from their previous careers such as communication, attention to detail, ability to work under pressure etc.

Health Visitors on the whole tend to be adult nurses but it's not unknown for them to have been a midwife or children's nurse. Recruitment really does depend on your area - what are your closest units and I can find out what their HV courses recruitment looks like if that helps?

It's such a confusing system to work in sometimes, but you'll get there! Xxx

 

[Feff]

Ah right, okay thanks for that! I'm going to email a few schools and nurseries and places and see if they would let anybody volunteer. I'll also email a local children's centre. Perhaps I could get in touch with the local hospital too and ask them? So many ideas now lol!

Oh right, thank you! I'm probably being really dull now but what do you mean by closest units? Sorry

Thanks for all your help! xxx

 

[orange-sox]

LOL it's meant to say Uni's... It's my ipad going spell checker mental! X

 

[Feff]

Oh right haha! Swansea university, university of South Wales, cardiff university. Thank you again! xx