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FAO star11-midwifery
Thought i'd start a new topic as you seemed to have an interest in becoming a midwife! The simple answer to your Q is 'no', you don't have to be a nurse first before being a midwife. I didn't do my nurse training and so completed a 3yr 'direct entry' (ie not nurse qualified first) course to qualify as a midwife. It is a full time course (1day a week theory lessons and 3days a week practical placements in hospital or the community, with about 8weeks holiday split over each year), giving you a BSc Hons degree upon completing. You don't have to pay uni fees and can apply for a bursary/funding. I did my training 8yrs ago but i got ??3000 a yr back then. It is hard work, and i had no children then, but if you really want to do it-go for it! If you haven't completed any other higher education course (eg A levels or degree) then you can do an 'Access' course, 1yr full time or 2yrs part time, to give you the qualifications to enter your midwifery degree. It's abig commitment but we don't do it for the money-lol! Any more Q's just ask x
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i love the thought of doing it but im not sure about working shifts... never had to and god knows what id do bout childcare etc... how do others manage it? also 3 years training is obviously needed but thats a long time with no wages.... mmm im liking thought of being hv, id love to be one of the NICE ones!!!! how would you do that and what do you need to be trained in???
sorry all these questions!
xx
How do some of them get there!!
sorry just in shock my hv is totally crap!!!
xx
if any of you are seriously interested in training as a nurse or midwife, i suggest you get on with it quickly, as we need more of you!!!! i do also worry what will happen with funding with the way so many trusts (including mine!!!) are financially in the red!
as for training with kids - i cant comment from experience - i was already a nurse and midwife before a mum, but i did do my degree part time being preg twice, then with new babies. it wasnt easy with work, study, kids but i made it! you really need a good support network - & a bit of money saved up!!!
mummynicola - congrats on starting your nursing in sept - just to warn you, and maybe mummaJ knows more in her area - there is talk of pulling the plug on the midwifery training post nurse qualification. this could be just around the Manchester area or even just talk full stop, but i know of some student nurses who are quite worried they will have to go back to the bursary (no idea how much this is, sorry) after they are qualified nurses, and train for the full 3 years over again! is it worth you applying direct to the Midwifery course? (almost sure nowhere does HV direct). also in Mcr area, the HV training is only 9-10 months full time but a degree course and i have heard very intense.
mummaJ - also worked night shift last night so sympathise with you totally - i managed about 3 1/2hrs sleep this morning, interrupted by my usual 11am wee stop!! fortunately had a gorgeous delivery of a 6th baby, who's parents were so chuffed, you'd have thought he was the first!! - now i remember why i do it.....!!!!
xxxxx
when i did my general nursing, i found i loved surgery, A&E etc - i found medicine monotonous (not that ia ma saying everyone will!). i did get a job in theatre when i qualified (no job scenario - take what you can!!) which i hated with a passion (to be fair i think i got with an odd bunch of staff!). i was only there 6 days before i got a job on gynae (early preg, female bit surgery!) and absolutely loved it!!
however, i always knew i wanted to do midwifery, but at the time (long time ago!!) there was no direct entry MW courses locally.
was a staff nurse for one year before midwifery training and have never looked back!!
i get the drama (not always welcome i can assure you!!), theatre - scrubbing etc, the excitement of women having their babes, but - as you can tell!!! - i love talking to people, and doing everything i can to help (cheesy too!!)
if you want to know anything else, let me know.........
[Modified by: ollier2001 on June 04, 2008 07:34 PM]
we have also had the prob of girls qualifying, yet not starting in post as much as 6 months later! the government are well & truly letting everyone down - girls who have qualified and women using maternity services!! muppets!!
have a nice shift, mummaJ!