Another nurse to Doctor

[Polldoll]

Hey! Well I thought I would start one of these here blogs to chart my journey from nursing degree to medicine!

My name is Pauline and I am from Glasgow and am 29. I have a place at Aberdeen uni for medicine 2008 and the countdown is on...

I have neen a student for 10 years since leaving school already (oops) so deciding to apply for medicine was quite a big thing! I had always wanted to be a doctor, from about 5 years old, but hit the teenage rebelion stage at 17 and announced to my parents I was going to be a classical musician instead. You can imagine how well they took that! So at 17 I embarked on 7 years of music degree and postgraduates in French Horn. Unfortunately I developed TMJ which slowly stopped me playing until I ended up with fixed braces and could not play at all. Once the braces came off I made the decision not to return to music as my jaw would not hold up long enough to be a professional horn player. At this point I briefly thought of medicine, but my higher grades were not good enough and I thought I was too old, so I never even looked into it. I decided on nursing instead, I would get fully funded, met the requirements and would be close enough to medicine that I would be happy! So I started my degree. As time went on, I became frustrated with nursing, I wanted more, was always asking things and was told I didnt need to know that, I was a nurse not a doctor. I also realised I wasn't as stupid as I thought, I finally learned how to work with my dyslexia and was doing very well academically. With encouragement from several people (friends, mentors and doctors) I started to look into the possibility of doing medicine. Went to nightschool to complete higher chemistry, I got a B, and sat UKCAT. I did extra work experience along side my clinical nursing placements and finally sent off ucas form!
Got 2 interviews and one offer, omg I got into med school!!

Accepting the place in Aberdeen also comes with its own set of problems. Financially its going to be very tough, I have to give up my wee flat and move into halls, I have to give up my car, rehome my pet rabbits and take out lots of loans. The money I will owe at the end will be horrific, but I'm hoping that it will be worth it. I have to leave my friends and family in Glasgow (Im older and set in my ways lol) and start again in a new city. I worry about fitting in with 17/18 year olds and in particular living in halls. Of course I also worry about my academic capabilities of completing a medicine degree. But even with all these issuses, I have to try. I can't not take up this place, and if the worst comes to the worst, and Im not capable, or I fail, then I leave. At least I will be happy knowing that at least I tried!

Funnily enough, I dont regret the long journey, and the music and nursing degrees. I think both have made me the person I am today and will help make me a better doctor.

So 12 years later than expected I am finally off to realise my dream of becoming a Doctor..

[Polldoll]

Who would of thought that accepting my place and preparing to move to Aberdeen could throw up so many problems.
Several things have happened recently which have really tested my commitment to Aberdeen.
They make me wonder if it is fate testing me, or signs suggesting that I shouldn't be going.

Firstly the bank loan that I had been told was the best option turned out not to be suitable. This left me with the question of how to find my fees. Once I had done more research however, and got advice from people here, I discovered the professional loans from Natwest, and have an appointment to apply for this. Problem solved you would think.. well there is still an option that my application may be rejected as I am not in 2nd year. Although the lady from the bank said my status as a mature student means it very likely that they may grant me the money from first year.

Secondly I accidently ticked the wrong box when I was applying for my student loan, so rather than £4500 they awarded me £590!! Simple mistake easily corrected, phew! However when I was on the phone to SAAS they changed their story regarding my fees. Initially I was to pay £1255 per year as SAAS would pay the difference, but they said on the phone that since I was going straight from nursing to medicine with no break that would not be the case. I now have to pay almost £3000 per year. Obviously this impacts on my overall debt from doing this degree. Including my current debt from previous degrees I will owe £40000 on graduation.

This is a very scary figure and in the current climate a huge commitment. I am hoping that it will be managable to pay back, but all the uncertainty about ST jobs etc really doesnt help. What if I take out these loans, make it through med school and FY1 and 2 then get no further. Im then left with all this debt and no way to pay it back. It definately wouldnt be worth it in that case.

Oh and the third thing that happened recently, a nuring job was advertised in the ITU unit that Iv just finished 8 weeks in. I loved my placement there, the staff and the patients, and was encouraged by the staff to consider applying for a job there. Is it a sign that I should just give up on medicine, avoid the debt and take a job in ITU?

It feels like there has just been so much thrown at me that I cant think straight. My friends and family have all been so supportive but no one can make this decision for me. So I have decided if my loan application is accepted I will go to Aberdeen, if not, then I will stick to nursing for just now.

Will keep you posted!
Px

[Polldoll]

Hi
Well have major news.. Have decided to turn down my place at Aberdeen. Basically since the previous posts were made I applied to Natwest and was succesfull in my request. I could borrow up to £20000 over the next 5 years. So all was fine.. BUT as I was signing the papers she mentioned her concerns over me making the repayments. She then stated that these would be nearer £800 per month, not the £500 that she previously quoted. So I went away having signed for the loan with this sick feeling in my stomach. Id already figured out the repayments from my student loans would kick in on qualifying and would be around £240 per month. So it was possible that I would be paying back just over £1000 per month! Now if I only got a basic unbanded FY1 job, how was I to live on £200 per month? Rent, council tax, bills, travel, food.. Id be 36 I couldnt expect my parents to keep supporting me.

Anyway after alot of worry and soul searching I decided the best thing for me to do is to turn down place. I will work for 2 years as a nurse, hence reducing the medicine course fees, and allow me to save up enough to cover them. I will then reapply. I got a place once and if its meant to be, then I will do it again.

Obviously upset about having worked so hard for nothing, but it feels like the right decision for me. It also means that I will be able to continue working as a nurse if I do go on to medicine, something which was also not going to be possible if I had gone straight in. Oh and I might be able to actually afford a holiday or something too!!
So I will be around over the next few years, giving nursing opinions and advice to anyone that asks on applications etc.

Big thanks to everyone for all your support!
Px

[Polldoll]

Hi
Iv not got kids and not sure if I want them.. But have to keep an open mind! If I stay in nursing, and get a boyfriend/husband then I guess so, but if I do go on to do medicine, then I cant see it happening. But I guess it depends on the speciality you want to work in.

I have got a job in nursing, in neurology, which is exciting, still got a couple more interviews for HDU.. but at least its a start. Although every time I see a doctor in a ward, I think that could of been me.. and when I hear about people starting the course next week then I feel sad. (which is why I have been very quiet on this forum!!)

I havent applied for 2009 entry.. got to give nursing a chance, but hopefully going for 2010 entry at Glasgow. Who knows, maybe they will have started a grad course by then!
Px

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