Nurse to midwife?

[LowanBehold]

Hello,

I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm due to finish my adult Nursing degree in 8 months time and I've realised its not for me. I have loved my training but am struggling with where I would want to work.
For the duration of my course I've worked on the NHS bank, and the last year solely taken midwifery shifts. I love it, ive worked all over but have been too to ask any of the staff it would be really silly to try and go on a pgdip course straight off the back off my BSc training.

Has anyone been a nurse and become a midwife or vice-vesa?

Thanks

[2old2beamum]

Yes I did many years ago, first did paediatrics, then adults not my cup of tea and then did midwifery, it was ok but went back to paeds (neonatal ICU). In my day it was encouraged to get a couple of certificates.
And no you are not silly, no training is a waste of time. Good luck!

[UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter]

Check if it is still available as I did hear that they were stopping the 18 month course and everyone would have to do the three year course. Also funding has stopped this year I believe so would be a grant or if you were working for a trust they may second you.

I used to be a midwife but stopped working a few years ago now. Shifts just didn’t work fir us as a family.

[Lj8893]

Think there is only 1 or 2 university's that still offer the 18 month conversion (it may have stopped altogether now!).

I am a 3rd year student midwife, one of my friends trained as a nurse, practiced for one year and then went back to uni to retrain as a midwife (she is also in her 3rd year of the degree). She could have done the pgdip (still 3 years) but chose to just do the Bsc as she didn't want the added pressure of the pgdip. And it would make no difference to her job entitlement.

[LowanBehold]

Thank you for reassuring me I'm not totally crazy!

I'm lucky to be in a pet of the country where the PgDip for nurses is available, and I'm not too worried yet about funding.

I was thinking of working for a year and maybe going for it.

Just wondered if I'd look silly!

[Lj8893]

I don't think you would look silly, lots of midwives are dual trained.

[Blastandtroph]

Being dual trained will be beneficial with the increasingly higher risk women we care for. You'll have been exposed to the realities of working in the maternity system by being on the bank but assume this is as a MSW/MCA? Interested as to why it is you think nursing is not for you?

[LowanBehold]

The truth is I always wanted to become a midwife but, I was rejected twice getting in. I ended up getting a place on the nursing degree and was advised at the time to take the place and if I wanted to convert the conversion would be shorter as at the time it was harder for midwives to go back the other way.
I hope that makes sense, I've always been that I never got onto the course.

[Blastandtroph]

Then you'll bring a wealth of experience to the role when you finally achieve your dream. As far as I can see, the only issues are the funding and time not earning at band 5.

[Lj8893]

I would work for a year as a nurse, do your preceptorship. Then get a place on the bank so you have the option of earning casually whilst you train as a mw. Also means you keep your nurse registration open.

[Blastandtroph]

Good advice from Lj8893. You could then earn Band 5 pay via bank work whilst retraining.

[LowanBehold]

Exactly what I'm thinking @Lj8893, thank you :-)

[negomi90]

Definitely get yourself in a position to do nursing bank shifts while training for midwifery and then go for it.
One of the weaknesses about the current system is that midwives don't have general nursing experience and struggle with to manage common medical problems which lots of women having babies may have (eg diabetes, complicated wounds etc).
Midwives with nursing experience are highly valued.

[Joanne123]

Hi I trained as a RGN in 1983-1986. I did not do much staffing, the responsibility of it gave me anxiety and sleepless nights. I went away for a while and worked elsewhere, and in1988 I did my midwifery, and I loved it. Yes you have more or equal responsibility but it was quite different, I felt like I knew what I was doing, I had more support and I really enjoyed my job. I was a midwife for 8 years then a job came up at my local surgery where I knew the doctors and nurse and I have been there for 24 years, quite happily. I would say that happiness is the most important thing in life and to go for the midwifery as soon as you can as I know it was worlds away from nursing for me and I would not go back and change anything. Pay into your pension as well- the years fly by. Good luck, Joanne

[LowanBehold]

Thank you so much for sharing Joanne x