Nursing & horses

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tetij

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Any nurses here who own/compete? Does salary/shift work allow it?

Considering going for grad-entry nursing but like to be able to have a horse in my life too (at least after qualifying)

Thanks in advance
 
I'm not a nurse but there are two nurses on my livery yard. They manage fine. If they are doing lates or long days they pay for bring ins / turn outs as required, and sort their horses DIY the rest. I would suggest you choose a yard where this is an option,or at least ensure you have access to help.

Salary wise they seem to manage - one has two horses, but I think she is a Sister / Senior Nurse. The RN has one horse and she seems to make it work.

Good luck with your application. And be prepared for all and sundry to ask you for medical and veterinary advice!!
 
Also considering the same so following with intrest! I currently work as an auxiliary in A&E so have a rough idea on timings etc.
I work 3/4 12 hour shifts 8-8.

Don't have any time other that a quick skip out in winter or a quick ride/groom in summer! Very lucky to now have them at home which is great as I can do as I please with regards to turnout etc.

I don't compete... Purely as we are rubbish and rather uncompetitive but I "should" get every second weekend off... Doesn't really happen that way but most wards and nursing areas have a request book so you could book the weekend of a show off without using annual leave.

My currently salary allows me to have my two boys but again we are at home now and I only had one before of livery. I cut my cloth to suit so to speak and I'm lucky I've two natives that don't require food at all really! RN earns over 6k than what I do initially and then their salary goes up in increments. A couple of the girls I work with have horses both are in full/part livery with their girls as they find it much easier as out shifts can be so erratic, especially in A&E. Neither of their husbands are mega rich and they have children ... Seem to lead a pretty normal life and for their horses in quite comfortably.

Its a great career to get into, I've applied for this year so fingers crossed.. I'm well aware of I get in it will be tough as I'll have to work bank shifts and study for the degree... And look after my boys... But if I don't do it soon I'll never do it... And if I don't I'll regret it.

Good luck OP :D

I should add.... ITS BLOOMING AMAZING SHIFT WORK.. I can have Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs OFF sometimes with the way my shifts work out and Its amazing shopping and hacking and horseying around generally when "normal" folks are at work ;)
 
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I'm a medical student and manage a horse on a student budget (with a sharer currently) and while I occasionally struggle for time it's worth it for the down /non-medicine time.
Before I came to uni I worked as a ward clerk and afforded my girl on about £14000 a year, nurses start in mid-20's per year I think. Whether you can afford it on your salary is going to depend a bit on whether you want full livery or happy to have part/DIY and your other committments.
When I qualify next year I'll regularly be working stupid long days so will have to have Roo somewhere I can have flexible part livery to help out when I have a long day but so long as you have a little help then it's more than doable even working shifts

Good luck to both of you getting in - I'm doing graduate medicine and it's full on but fun. Biggest thing tho is don't leave it too long as they're talking about scrapping GEM programmes and it's wouldn't surprise me if they look at doing the same with GEN's - makes it way more expensive to do because if you have a previous degree your funding for anything other than GEM/GEN programmes is practically non-existant.
 
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I'm a nurse. I work generally 3 long shifts a week, nights or days. There's always the opportunity to do over time too if I need extra cash.

There's absolutely no chance of sticking to a routine with the horses and I'm very lucky that I live with my parents and keep the horses at home. I think if I had to pay for livery , particularly with my current starting salary, I wouldn't be able to be bothered to afford it or put the time into it.

Winter is really grim as I'm out of the house 6-8:30 so have to just chuck hay in the field at night and get in to bed. Summer so far is proving to be ok, but I still reply on family to bring the horses in whilst I'm in work if it's really hot.

However having 4 days off a week is amazing to be able to fit in lessons and ride, and I'd struggle working 9-5 now. I manage to have lessons every couple of weeks and have about 1-2 weekends off a month which I could compete on if I could be bothered to. The best thing about nursing is that there are so many roles that can work so flexibly and there's always the chance to work extra shifts if you need more cash. (I do about 3 extra shifts a month as the money is not great for the work really).
 
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