SEN,RGN??

Posts: 1 · Joined: 05 Oct 2007 Posts: 1 Location: North Wales

hi all,
does any one know if a SEN is the same grade as RGN, or is one higher?

Thank You

Posts: 2 · Joined: 11 Oct 2007 Posts: 2 Location: brighton, uk

Hi from what I gather the SEN (state enrolled nurses) was a 2 yr programme compared to the 3 yr RGN training and tended to miss out on critical care training such as ICU. I worked with many SENs back in the early 90s but hardly at all since. They were generally C grades although I came across some working as Ds and very rarely as Es. Hope that helps.

Posts: 4 · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 4 Location: north-east

Hi, this might answer your question.
I trained as an SEN in 1977/79, for two years in the nurse training school based in the local general hospital. It was a bit like an apprentiship, you had a few weeks in "school" followed by 2/3 months on the wards.
After each ward placement the ward sister signed your"shedual" to confirm that you had attained your competancies, ie could do practical tasks such as removal of sutures, bed-bath etc and there were 1st and 2nd year hospital exams, if you failed your 2nd year exam you couldn't sit your "state finals" and become a " state enrolled nurse"
I think around about this time most qualified nurses were SEN's. There a still quite a few SEN's around today but they tend to be in the 40+ age group. SEN's are on part 2 of the NMC register. The RGN training was for 3 years and
You have always been able to "convert" or upgrade to RGN or "staff nurse" and several employers encourage this. I "converted 2 years ago and did my diploma in the intergrated course and am on part one of the NMC register. As far as I know all nurses on the register are known as RN's now ( Registered Nurse) I've still got my schedual from 1979 and today's students think it's hilarious ! ( The RGN,s were the "higher" nurse because their training covered mamngement etc )

Posts: 2 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 2 Location: E Yorkshire

brocky wrote:

Hi, this might answer your question.
I trained as an SEN in 1977/79, for two years in the nurse training school based in the local general hospital. It was a bit like an apprentiship, you had a few weeks in "school" followed by 2/3 months on the wards.
After each ward placement the ward sister signed your"shedual" to confirm that you had attained your competancies, ie could do practical tasks such as removal of sutures, bed-bath etc and there were 1st and 2nd year hospital exams, if you failed your 2nd year exam you couldn't sit your "state finals" and become a " state enrolled nurse"
I think around about this time most qualified nurses were SEN's. There a still quite a few SEN's around today but they tend to be in the 40+ age group. SEN's are on part 2 of the NMC register. The RGN training was for 3 years and
You have always been able to "convert" or upgrade to RGN or "staff nurse" and several employers encourage this. I "converted 2 years ago and did my diploma in the intergrated course and am on part one of the NMC register. As far as I know all nurses on the register are known as RN's now ( Registered Nurse) I've still got my schedual from 1979 and today's students think it's hilarious ! ( The RGN,s were the "higher" nurse because their training covered mamngement etc )

Hiya brocky,
Im an enrolled nurse and have just moved up to yorkshire, was wondering if you could tell me where you did your conversion course, how long it took and cost etc???
Id be grateful for any help or advice,
Thanks Ange.

Posts: 4 · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 4 Location: north-east

I did the course at University of Northumbria at Newcastle, part-time over about a year to 18 months I think. It didn't cost me anythig at all, my employer paid for it all and I also had paid study days. I would contact your local university to see if they provide this course and ask your employer for the funding. If you're out of work try the job centre and tell them what you want to do. A few of the students on the course were self-funded but I don't know how much it cost them. Good luck !

Posts: 2 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 2 Location: E Yorkshire

Many thanks, have since heard that they have stopped doing the conversion courses completely.. hope not, but will try the uni's as suggested.

Posts: 1 · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 1 Location: North East

hi brocky

im new to this im thinking about doing my nurse training but i am a single parent with children when doing your training do you have to do night shift as this would be a problem and people i have spoke to have told me you have to do night shift for the experience