What job can I do instead? Devastated

[treetea]

I have been working towards a midwifery degree since 2019 and I now cannot continue due to a health issue that doesn't affect me day-to-day, but that they feel makes me unsafe to practice.

It is my dream, I have never wanted to do anything else. I was going to use the degree to set up my own business.

I am now at a loss? I have a 4 year old DS and live alone with him.

I am generally quite intelligent, but not a fan of mathematics.

I'd ideally like something with high (ish) earning potential, but I'd settle for less if I loved it.

I don't want to be in healthcare anymore.

I just can't see myself starting from scratch, I'm absolutely gutted.

If it is in fact the uni saying you can't be signed off as fit to practice see if you can transfer some credits to e.g health promotion. But do try and get the use of all your credits so far whatever you do. Do contact eastend too, she sounds like the perfect person to advise you with her role.

As someone who had to drop out of a nursing degree as a single parent of a young child, please please do whatever you can and ask for support for whoever you can to finish the last hurdle and qualify. People say a degree is not important. It’s limited my career prospects and earning potential significantly and it’s hard to climb out of the benefit trap and minimum wage jobs. That piece of paper is worth so much and gives you (and your child) so much more security and options.

you are so close to the finishing line. No need to be a midwife after but so many graduate schemes will be open to you.

If you’ve had a significant number of hospital placements is it possible for you to request community ones if that would support your health more? Or alternative placements I.e perinatal mental health team /health visitor/mother and baby unit / childrens outpatients/ general practice?

How about NHS procurement? (Purchasing). I used to work in an NHS procurement department and several of the team had nursing or other clinical/medical experience. Their clinical skills were highly valued as they understood the technical requirements of the purchases which needed to be made on behalf of NHS Trusts. Some of them still kept up their nursing qualification by doing the basic amount of practical work each year, others had completely finished working in clinical roles. They were all on good money, probably more than they would have earned doing the hands on nursing/clinical work itself! (Typically Band 7 or Band 8.)

Have you already started the degree, or is it the case that you can't get onto the degree because of your health issues?

If so, what about applying for another healthcare degree such as Speech and Language Therapy or Occupational Health? They aren't as physically demanding, but still using all of the qualifications and experience you've gained while working towards getting onto the midwifery degree.

They also have better hours on the degree for a single parent. Midwifery is 24/7 while on placement, earlies, nights and weekends are the norm, but SaLT and OH are closer to Monday to Friday 9-5.

Family Support Worker / Intensive Worker for Children’s Services?

Have a look at "Workplace Coach" jobs in universities. They're basically mentors for apprentices, offering pastoral advice, checking on progress of skills etc. Salary around £40k.

Hi @treetea I would perhaps first speak to a disability charity or Citizens Advice Bureau.

Have they got evidence /proof you would be unsafe to practice? Should /could they make reasonable adjustments to enable you to carry on working?

If definitely not, then could you look at something like social care/psychologist/social worker?

I had to give up my midwifery degree only 3 months into it- after working really hard to complete an Access course as my degree wasn’t relevant enough.

I was devastated but seeing the state of the NHS now, I would definitely never go back into it!

This happened to me too. It sucks. Still not found a replacement career.

If OP has health issues I would not ever be recommending her teaching. Ever.

Can you still graduate with a degree. I’d really be pushing for this then you could do any graduate job.
If you fancied desk based work then law firms specialising in clinical negligence want people with your skills to review notes, take instructions etc and you could always work up from a paralegal position if law was for you.

You could run private antenatal classses

Sign up for RCN and give them a call, make sure all procedures have been followed by uni. Even if it is not an option for you to get PIN can you get your degree or switchijg to a more generic degree in healthcare? What about becoming an IBCLC? You wouldn't be able to advertise that you were a practicing midwife but you could say that you had a degree in midwifery.
An alternative is to look for a job in clinical skills, I know a doctor who did not complete FY1 but now is a facilitator of clinical skills at his medical school. He wouldn't be able to assess them but can set up and support the teaching.

Finish your degree anyway and then maybe something in education? I know a mw who became a school health advisor and a nurse who did the same. It isn't super well paid but the school holidays are a good bonus when you have a small dc

OP is unlikely to come back to this thread...

How far through the degree are you? I presume things haven’t gone to plan as starting in 2019 you should have finished last year? Do you only have 5 years to do it over and can’t finish the course? I think what people can advise really depends on whether you can finish the degree as your options will be significantly different

Thank you so much everyone, you've given me much to think about.

Just to clarify: I can't finish the degree as it is 50% placement and I am deemed unfit to do so.

What about a breastfeeding consultant?

Sonographer?

5 minutes later lol....

If the health issue doesn't impact you day to day are you sure it can't be accommodated in a school placement? There are many health care professionals with all kinds of health conditions. Obviously you do have to be fit to practice and not be a risk in any way to your patients and maybe you agree that your health condition could potentially jeopardize your patient's wellbeing, but if not, have you looked into some human rights advice?

Lactation consultant and doula are both great ideas and paths to explore and very much in life with midwifery.

I am really sorry that you aren’t being supported. As others have advised speak to your union if you haven’t already.
I know it’s healthcare related and another degree but occupational therapy may be something to look into - there are lots of areas to work in including paediatrics/children’s therapy, perinatal mental health and even some roles now on neonatal units.
it would be same pay progression as midwifery.
There are placements to complete but hours are usually 9-5 and generally OTs with disabilities can be supported on placement and at work.

Good luck.

Can you transfer to physio degree? A lot of money to be made as a womens health physio privately, you can also do pilates qualification as a physio and teach classes to pregnant ladies and new mums. Lota of options. Good luck

I’d definitely push to have credits for what you’ve done and see if you can move across to another degree course. If need be take it further with the University. Presumably you’ve paid fees for 2 years.

Ten years ago I was a nurse who had trained in a highly specialised field. Just after I qualified I was in horrible accident and the resulting injuries meant I couldn't work in health care anymore. (It was truly a shit time as my partner dumped me, ran off with my savings and my best mate)

I had only ever wanted to be a nurse and it was what I had worked towards through school and uni. I was very adrift and thought I didn't have any transferable skills. It turns out having a thick skin and being able to talk to anyone is a great skill to have!

The first place I worked was in a unit arranging emergency medical repatriation. You didn't need to be fully qualified and it was medically adjacent enough to make me feel like I was still in medicine. I really enjoyed that job and it showed.... so I was picked up for promotion. Much to my shock I was earning more than my best mate (who have just been promoted to junior ward sister) and only doing 9 - 5 M/F.

I then went into complaint handling in the same company and worked my way up. I was then headhunted to become the Customer Relations Manager of a big, very well known, company.

I've never looked back (and my ward sister mate now works on my team)

Healthcare assessor? Work from home teach level 3 courses, and help healthcare assistants get ready to be accepted for TNA programs? Was called nvq assessor?