What do you think?

Should placement/working hours stop you from pursuing a dream career?

I’ve always wanted to be a midwife, but still haven’t taken the route. I’m a teacher, and decided to go down this route as my children were very young when I returned to education plus I had other issues.

Those issues are resolved, and I really really want to pursue my midwifery dream, but I’m scared about the placement hours.

I’ve tried to stop myself from thinking about midwifery, but I can’t shake it off

Should placement/working hours stop you from pursuing a dream career?

I’ve always wanted to be a midwife, but still haven’t taken the route. I’m a teacher, and decided to go down this route as my children were very young when I returned to education plus I had other issues.

Those issues are resolved, and I really really want to pursue my midwifery dream, but I’m scared about the placement hours.

I’ve tried to stop myself from thinking about midwifery, but I can’t shake it off

Hi

I'm going to echo what BCU Student Rep said in post #2.

Don't worry about the hours you'll be doing on placemats because you're probably already working long hours as a teacher both at school and home. You'll be doing at least a 12.5/13 hour shift over 3 days per week with 4 days off. You'll certainly get use to working those hours and the different shift patterns ( weekend, Nightshift and dayshift) but worth it at the end of your degree. You have to work a average 37.5 hours per week for both university studying block weeks and also when doing your placement either at hospital or the community.
Just to say community working is different from the hospital as you normally work between Monday and Friday with a day of in the week plus free weekends unlike hospital maternity units you'll be working long hours.

If you are 110% sure about jumping into being a midwife then don't hesitate in going for it as if you don't do it now you'll never do it..... Just remember when you apply for the midwife degree you'll be up against thousands upon thousands of other candidates for such limited amount of places available at each university in the UK because of the intensity of the training. In my country of the UK we only have 3 universities for midwife degree courses and they only take in around 250 potential students between them each year and this makes it very highly competitive. You may have to apply a few times but don't give up on becoming a midwife if this is your dream. I could suggest to you that you could apply for a job position as a MCA (maternity care assistant) as you'll be basically trained in every aspect of the midwife job roles working alongside the qualified midwives but you'll not be able to do any births as this is midwives place only if you don't get into university next year. Then you can always apply for university using your maternity care assistant role as your experience.


I always wanted to do adult nursing first and then eventually go down the 18/20 months shortened midwife top-up degree course but I eventually got offered a midwife place at university which saved me going back to university. I'm now just over 4 years qualified.


NHS registered midwife

This is amazing. Thank you for the detailed response. I want to apply with University of Bolton, and luckily they have a January and April intake. I went to the open day and they were pleased I’ve got many transferable skills as a teacher. I want to apply to the January intake. I’m hoping that it won’t be as competitive for January and April. If I don’t get January, I will surely apply again but I’m trying to remain confident that I will.

I applied to an MSW role, but I was told it would be better I apply to train as a midwife instead. I don’t know if this is because of the qualifications I already hold. No idea. I’ve wanted this since I was 18.

I’d also like to add, as I have a mental health condition and I take evening medication which does cause drowsiness, will I still be expected to do nights? I don’t want this to be a downer. I’m sure occupational health will look into it.

Any particular advice for personal statements and interviews?

Thank you

Concentrate your personal statement on why you want to be a midwife. Remember that you only have a certain amount of words that you have to write about it.

Interviews are unpredictable as you don't know what you'll be asked about but some examples:-

1) why do you want to be a midwife
2) why have you chosen this particular university to study midwifery at
3) understand the NMC code of practice
4) the 6 C's of nursing
5) read your personal statement over just incase you get asked anything about what you wrote in it
6) how would you cope with stress while you are on shift
7) how will you cope with a bereavement while you are on shift and still be professional as a midwife as this is part of your job.

Hopefully this helps you

Hi, thank you so much for this information.

I’ve been away and didn’t get the chance to reply.

I went ahead and sent my application either for January or April, but the sooner the better.

Luckily there’s some spaces for January as I was told some people didn’t meet the requirements. Makes me a little nervous but hoping the experiences I have will by enough.

Thank you once again for all the support

Hi
No worries about trying to assist you with some kind of information. Don't worry about late reply as you had other things to do and hope you enjoyed time away.

That's good news that you applied for both intakes for January and April and hopefully you'll get a opportunity sooner rather than later.

The requirements are generally very high as they set what is required for entry into midwifery at universal because it's a very hard course that you'll be doing over the next three years.
Don't get all nervous as keep calm and when you get a opportunity for a interview remember you need to keep hold of yourself but you are allowed to have a bit of nervous about yourself.

You have good communication skills
Hopefully you'll have good technology skills

Those are two of the most expensive ones I would say that you need more as you are taking to patients all day and guiding them through the process of what you are doing. Technology skills as you need to input patients information.

Just be prepared for what lies ahead for you.

I'm here if need more information okay and you are always welcome to PM me anytime. I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Keep me posted how you doing.

Any particular advice for personal statements and interviews?

Thank you

Thank you - I was told they're sorting out interview dates and should hear back in around two weeks.

I appreciate the support. With technology, I know how to use this well especially with lesson planning and I also do online tutoring, Zoom, etc.

It's been a long time coming. I hope this is my opportunity. I will definitely keep you posted - most likely through a PM.

Have a good weekend!

I hope it’s sooner rather than later - I hate the waiting!

Yes I have transferable skills which I hope will work in my favour.

Thank you again - will let you know as soon as I do!

I contacted the uni today just to find out how long it will take as January is around the corner!

They couldn’t find my application first and it gave me a panic. I called back a little later and the lady said the uni is currently updating something with ucas and as soon as that’s complete they’ll pull the applications from ucas and start the process. She said it could be 1-2 weeks but they’re aware of the time. I hope it’s sooner rather than later!