Which to choose???

[clipclop1]

Im going to go to university next year and have put down to do either child nursing or midwifery.... but cant decide which one would the better option to go for.... ideally, i'd like to stick with my decision for life n not decide to change or go back into educatioin at a later date.....
Any words of wisdom as to which would make the better option (if i was lucky enough to be offered both that is! lol)

[20SilkCut]

Well it really depends on what YOU would like to do. I would not try to second guess your preference.

You do say however that you are going to Uni next year so i guess you are still young (under 20). What i'm trying to say is that you still have plenty of time in life to make further decisions on your career (and you prob will do so). We all change as we grow older and make different decisions based on where we are in life and our needs and wants.

Read up on both options, speak to the Uni concerned, arm yourself with informed choices and make a decision. You can always do more training as your find your specific niche!

good luck.

[clipclop1]

ahhh no, am 25 (nearly 26) so after doing my college access to Higher Education course.. THEN uni id really like for that to be 'it' with the whole acedemic side of my life! haha!

Was just looking to see if anyone had any insights or info about anything as they both do have their own plus points!

But thanks!

[Mrs Y]

Hi there! I also did Access to Higher Education in my late 20's (a bit later than you!) and am now in the first year of a Midwifery degree. Obviously, I can't tell you whether to go for Child Nursing or Midwifery but what I would suggest is that you make your decision before you send your application through UCAS. Both Child Nursing and Midwifery courses are heavily over-subscribed and any applications which do not show full commitment to a specific path are more likely to be rejected.

It's definitely worth looking into each career in more detail, and thinking about the type of clientele you'd prefer to deal with; as a child nurse, you will be dealing mainly with poorly children and their families. The work can be extremely challenging, but very rewarding, and you obviously have to have a huge amount of patience and a natural love of children.

As a midwife you will be mainly supporting well women and their families through a normal life experience, generally with a positive outcome. If it's babies you particularly want to be dealing with, then midwifery probably won't be for you as the actual contact with the baby is a very minimal part of the job.

Have a look at the NHS website for more information about both careers and the options available long-term for career progression and areas in which you can specialise. Also bear in mind, though, that whichever course you opt for, you certainly won't be 'over the hill' once you qualify and will still have plenty of time to do further training later on if you wish. One of my fellow students has just started her Midwifery degree at the age of 50!

Good luck whatever you decide, and I hope you enjoy your training and subsequent career. All the best!

[clipclop1]

Thanks Mrs Y, that was helpful!

iv already sent off the forms with both choices on... the tutors on my course said that it would prob be a good idea to give myself some choices.... although after what uv said there..... am hoping that il get accepted onto one of them at least!
Have decided to do child nursing then, if i do decide after a while, then il do the 18 month course into midwifery.... slightly regretting the decision to put both choices on now but its done n cant change it....

but thanks for ur answer!

[Mrs Y]

Sorry to have made things more complicated, clipclop! Just to put another spanner in the works (sorry!), but wanted to make sure you're aware that you can't do the 18 month Midwifery route as a qualified Child Nurse; you have to be an Adult Nurse to do the conversion.

Good luck with the application, whichever route you opt for, and all the best for the future. Hope you enjoy your studies xx