I want to train to be a Learning Disability Nurse, I'm 34 and wondering if I need to do an Access Course.?

I did a City & Guilds in Beauty Therapy when I was 19 and have got some GCSE's but the grades aren't great as I had no interest in studying or exams at the time. I live near Guildford, Surrey and I know that the University of Surrey does Nursing Courses but it doesn't seem to do Learning Disability Nursing. Does anyone know which University does and is near Guildford? A friend thinks that I may be able to apply to University straight away (its the Nursing Diploma I'm interested in rather than the Degree) as I've already done some further education and I'd be a mature student, this would be great as its 2 years to do the Access Course. Also, if, when you are training, you relocate is it easy enough to transfer to another University? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from Nurses who had a fear of giving blood (fainted once or twice doing this during pregnancy with my daughter now 7) as I have but I'm prepared to get over it. Thanks in advance for any help

have a look on ucas web site it tells you about uni's near you and what courses they do

Re: Access Course
I know a few people who have taken these, which really helped them as they had been out of the academic circle for so long, and needed to learn how to write thesis etc.

Another relative went to Uni at the age of 27, as he had experience in the field, and did not need Access. Ring up your chosen Uni and speak to the Course Tutor for advice.
Good on you!

you can research this in Nurse training courses. Your local university might have an advice shop. The best option might be to go to the Open University and have an interview with a Nurse advisor, since the OU is taking over much of the UK training schemes including learning diabilities.
The OU would be flexible, you could take it part-time and you can change courses yet still work to a degree as your interests develop.
Look for OPen university online in the UK.

I would recommend that you go an access course as this will give you the time to get into academic thinking, writing, planning and research, this course can be done over one year or two. When it comes to applying to university for your chosen coursse you will have help with the application process and help with your personal statement as weel as the other forms that you will fill in.
I completed the access course last year and I am now at university doing a social work degree and I am 49 if i can do it you can.
Good luck

Hi there. I'm 34 too and am in my 2nd year ol LD nursing. I did not need to do my access course as i got in with my NVQ 3 and GCSE's in math and english, but these have to be 5 years old or less so i had to resit i also had 14 years of experience in care including working in LD. If u have neither of this you will have to do the access course, which i would reccomend anyway as the first year is a foundation year and you need to know anatomy and physiology. You sit an exam for this and a math exam at end of 1st year. I'm at Northampton University and not sure where you could go. The course is full on and hard work but it's so worth it. I hope you get to do it. Hope this helps?