Hi BlueEyedGirl! You will still get a really good understanding of general healthcare by studying to be a midwife - and you will also work with lots of different people...every woman (and her family) will be unique and each day will be different. You will not only be working in the delivery suite but also on the neonatal and postnatal wards. If you wanted to change to nursing, you would have to apply to a specific branch - either child, adult, mental health or learning disabilities - so, in many ways, this is just as restrictive for 3 years as midwifery. A lot of universities do not allow you to swap branches - although you could do a conversion course after university if you wanted. Places on child nursing courses are rare in clearing as - like midwifery - it is just so competitive, but there may be places in clearing for adult, mental health and learning disabilities. Also, on your point about other applicants already having children, please don't feel intimidated by that!! My best friend did midwifery at 18 years old and she didn't have children of her own and she did great!! She is now a registered midwife and loves it. Lots of people won't have children! Have faith in yourself!
My advice would be to choose what you really want to do and then do that. If that is nursing, then go for that, but don't go for it because you're doubting your abilities or prospects in midwifery. If you really like the idea of midwifery, stick to that and forget about the applicants with children of their own, or the fact that nursing has different branches! Nursing does have different branches, but you are likely to have to commit yourself to one of those branches anyway - so you will have to choose and restrict yourself at some point. Ultimately, do what you would most enjoy!! You will be doing the job every day, so it has to be something you will enjoy! x