Anyone wishing to apply to study for a degree in nursing in the Isle of Man only has a few days left as the deadline for the 2017 intake looms.
Applications to study either mental health nursing or adult nursing must be submitted by Friday 3 February. Both degree programmes are full time, last for three years, and are taught entirely in the Isle of Man with the added opportunity for off-Island placements. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Nursing degree from the University of Chester.
This year the Department of Health and Social Care has highlighted the opportunity nursing offers for people considering a change of career.
A generous package of support is available for student nurses in the Isle of Man, especially compared to the UK, as the Island’s Chief Nurse, Linda Radcliffe, explained:
“Unlike in the UK our student nurses receive an annual bursary of £5,000 and there are no tuition fees, which in the UK is a minimum of £9,000 a year. And with a continued demand for nurses, getting a job after graduation here on the Island or further afield is practically guaranteed with nursing roles in the community, mental health, hospitals, and care homes.
“But it’s not just the financial support that’s important. We boast excellent learning facilities here on the Island, a wide range of placement opportunities, and small class sizes which means students are better supported and really get to know their tutors and vice versa. Our approach has paid off with our results speaking for themselves: many of our student nurses have achieved a first class honours degree and in recent years none had a result below a 2:1.”
Applicants must be resident in the Isle of Man and have a total of 280 UCAS points from GCE A Level or equivalent, as well as GCSEs of grade C or above in maths and English. Provided candidates meet these minimum requirements for entry, a career in nursing is open to everyone.
A total of 20 places are available for this year’s intake: 14 in adult nursing and 6 in mental health nursing. The course commences in September.
Sophie Merralls, a third year student nurse currently studying for her degree on-Island, said:
“My training and studying so far has been an amazing experience. Of course it’s been tough at times, but it’s extremely rewarding; I get a real buzz out of caring for people and helping them. I know this is the career for me, and it’s exciting that this is just the start – there are a wide range of opportunities in health and social care as well as the chance of further professional and academic development on the Island.
“I would encourage anyone who thinks they might be interested to get in touch with the team at Keyll Darree, the Island’s health and social care education centre, to find out more.”
Further information can be found at www.gov.im/nursetraining or by telephoning 642933.
