Student Nurse Not Allowed A Grant

[chrissa1]

My daughter has just taken up a place at Surrey University to study Child Nursing.
She has applied for a Grant, as a great deal of her bursary is taken up by paying for her rent in Student Halls of Accommodation. She was told that she was expected, as a student, to earn £1600.00 per year while she is studying. This would not be a problem for her, but as she will be given a placement in a hospital in January with evening shifts etc, she will not be able to hold down a job such as working in a bar. She has already been turned down for one job for this very reason.

My question: Is there a facility to help Student Nurses?

As some of you might know her Dad died in February and so I can't help her as much as I/we could have done. Thanks

[lcg]

chrissa - your daughter needs to go to her student support centre and see if there is a fund for students on low incomes. in certain circumstances, there is money available to help top-up student's income if bursaries and grants etc. are not enough to cover the basics.

also, it's not worth her getting a job in a bar - her shift work and placements will make regular hours impossible and it is a profession which will not add anything in the slightest to her employment portfolio/cv. she should either apply to nhsp (the nhs agency nursing company), her local health trust as a bank worker or another agency where she can get work as a healthcare assistant in her relevant field of nursing and local hospitals - this will provide a good income (nhsp weekend shifts earn you around £120 for a 14 hour day) and relevant experience for her too.

when i was a student nurse, i had to work at least 4 bank shifts (28 hours) a week (as well as study or placement) in order to keep my family, pay all my bills and survive as a student. i worked ruddy hard and got a 1st in my degree - if she wants it that badly, she can do it!

also, you don't have to help her financially (i know that it would be nice and you would feel better), but you have your own issues to sort out and are trying to maintain your home for when she is not at uni and living with you (so in a sense you are helping her!). in return, she should be working hard to support herself at uni and thinking about the best ways to be doing this. it is possible - but very, very hard work. best wishes, chrissa x

[chrissa1]

Just checked back in here and saw the latest replies. Thanks guys. I'll get my daughter to read these.