[MyPrincess]

Hi!

I’ve now just finished week 3 of uni studying Bachelor of Nursing and I am finding it very hard and a huge workload. I am only studying part time but the amount of stuff we have to learn is overwhelming. So of cause I am now doubting my ability to be able to ever pass uni. Before I applied for uni I tossed up whether I should apply at TAFE to do the EN diploma instead. And after these last 3 weeks, I’m starting to think maybe I should of.

So my question is, has anyone here done the EN diploma at TAFE and then gone on to uni to become a RN? How has the workload and content compared? Do you still have to write these damn essays with referencing at TAFE? Or has anyone dropped out of the BNursing to go do the EN diploma and found it easier? Not regretted it?

Sorry for the rambling if it doesn’t make sense. My head is all over the place atm with what should I do. And to make things worse, I have a 5 month old that I am having huge guilts over, with not having as much time for her as I would like to have. I’ve always been a SAHM for my other 2 kids so this is making me feel guilty for not being here all the time for her, like I was with my other 2.

Thanks!

[howdo]

DH is 6 months into EN at TAFE. He says there are a lot of short answers questions that require research. He says there are not really any essays. There are exams both practical and written.

HTH.

[annasue]

Errrr of course a degree at Uni is harder than a diploma at TAFE. As for what you'll be happy with as an end result , that depends entirely what you want from your career path.

The workload at Uni is heavy, can you do it over a longer period of time and take on fewer subjects at once ?

It's not about how long it takes, but that you reach your goal at some point.

You need to decide what you want to be doing in 10 years, 15 years, 20 years time.

[bellalee]

I guess it depends on the TAFE, at ours we do have to write essays with APA referencing, plus a lot of other theoretical coursework, labs, folios, presentations, exams and 10 weeks of placements.

We have quite a high workload, for example we do 9 hours of Anatomy and Physiology per week (3 x 3hr sessions, basically one body system per session).

Our teachers have told us our particular course is far more intensive than the 1st year of the degree because we need to be able to go out and work in 18 months. Also this course is full time hours, 9am-4pm, 5 days per week, part time would be the same hours but only 2-3 days per week.

My TAFE is affiliated with a Uni so we get 18 months credit towards the Bachelor which I may or may not do when I've finished this, but I get automatic entry into the degree if I want it and I have three years to accept the place. Not all TAFE's enable this, for some that are not affiliated with Uni's their course only gives 3-12 months credit towards the Bachelor.

The reason I decided to do the Diploma is because of the medication endorsement and greater scope of practice these days for EN's. There is also the fact that I could be working as a nurse in 1.5 years, and possibly doing the degree to become an RN part time as well. Although I do know people who finished my course last year, went into the bachelor full time, are working as an EN part time and managing quite well.

[MyPrincess]

Thanks howdo.

annasue - I know a uni degree is going to be harder than a TAFE diploma, I guess I wasn't really asking about the complexity of the work, I suppose it's more about the workload, does that make sense? I don't seem to have a lot of time atm, and I also didn't realise how much time I would spend doing it all (& I am only doing 2 units). My ultimate goal I think is to end up working in the area of fertility or midwifery. So I know I would have to eventually become an RN to pursue either of these and then do a post grad, but I suppose I'm just afraid I won't get to my end goal as an RN so I thought doing EN for a while first would help keep me going to get to my end goal?

It's not about how long it takes, but that you reach your goal at some point.

This is true so I will have to keep reminding myself of this.

Thanks bellalee. It sounds like your course is very full on. And this is what I would be afraid of, giving up the RN path for the time being to pursue the EN path, and then finding the workload at TAFE just as heavy. Again, I think it is just the time factor for me at the moment so that would defeat the purpose...But finishing the diploma in 18 months and then being able to go out and work does sound appealing...Good luck with your studies!

Arghh, all these decisions on what I should do...

[Bluemakede]

Ask sone of the full timers what the other subjects you aren't doing this semester are like. As you may find the other 2 subjects are a bit less intense, so next year may be a bit lighter for you. I know it is this way at my uni, as part timers in 1st semester are doing A&P and psychosocial care, of which A&P takes up a lot of time (psychosocial isn't as full on, but you can't really slack with it either). Come 1st semester of the 2nd year, the workload is easier as there is one extremely 'cruisy' subject, and the other is only mildly full on, but more practical. I do know a few part timers who've added an easier 2nd year subject this year cause they're not drowning so much this semester, and have the time to do 3 subjects.

So you may find that it's only every 2nd year that's more full on.

[MyPrincess]

Thanks bluemakede! Funny you should say that but the 2 units I am doing are A & P and Psychosocial dev so it may look like I picked the 2 worst ones to start with! Nothing like jumping straight into it! Our uni runs a mentoring program so I am still awaiting to be contacted by a second year student. So once I hear from them, I will definitely be asking them which units they found full on and which ones weren't as bad. I am trying to persevere with these 2 units but as you said, the A & P is a lot of work. Next semester (that is if I make it to then) I think I will just do the one unit - the follow on second unit in A & P. But I'm just taking it one day at a time and see how I go.

[Kafkaesque]

The first few weeks of every semester are hairy! The first though is defiantly the worst. You are adjusting to being at uni as well as understanding course requirements. Not ro mention the fact that you attempt to do everything uni suggests you do as opposed to the most you know you can do and pass. :-). Stick with it. By next semester you will be more savy and it won't be such a shock.

Our of interest what uni are you at?

[It'sallgood]

Only you know what you really want in life.
Of course doing a BNursing is going to be a lot harder then doing an EN course...being an RN is a much bigger role and tons more responsibility then being an EN.
I have done both. I was an EN before RN.

I DO know this though, in general, first year of ANY uni degree is harder. NOt because the work is more "high falutin" but simply because like anything in life, you get better at it as you gain more experience.

I found first year of my degree hardest by far...by 3rd year, I knew how to study best, I could "pick out" what sort of information they'd be more likely to focus on in exams and like most of us I'd "learned to play the game" better...I was quicker at researching, quicker at writing essays and just better at the entire "tertiary study" shebang

My marks got better consistently, yet I did far less "time" studying by 3rd yr then 1st year.

REmember, going to university is not ONLY about learning content, it's about "learning to learn well" too. Learning to prioritise, write academically and research and sort out what is rubbish content and science vs what is quality and so on.

I CAN see why you'd be quite overwhelmed at this point though. I would never have been able to do tertiary study with a 5 month old baby to care for!!

I suggest you contact your course coordinator or contact person you have been allocated, explaiin to them how you are feelign and seek advice.

Maybe dropping back to 1 subject at a time until your bub is older would be better?

I would also suggest, that you have bub cared for 1-2 days a week to allow you quiet time to really focus and make yourself a study schedule /planner and try to stick to it.

It CAN be done, I had fellow students who had small children, jobs etc, but all who managed were very organised and self-disciplined about their study time.

All the best.

Tamm

This post has been edited by TammIam: 19/03/2012, 04:38 PM

[It'sallgood]

Oh - I would encourage you, esp if you are still fairl young? To stick it out and become an RN. YOu will not only have a TON more job opportunities and career choices open to you, but you will be much better paid as well.

Tamm