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.

OP said high earning. Not minimum wage.

Talk to uni about transfer to another degree using the credits gained so far, if it can't be clinical a generic health sciences/ public health/ biological sciences or similar because having put 4 years into study, it would be easier the earlier into the degree you are to transfer to another.

This. I know a fabulous Doula coach / mentor who could give you lots of info.

@treetea If you felt you could tell us the approx type of medical condition you have I think it might be important OP, as it might effect what people think are the best roles for you.

You should definitely be able to get credits for what you've done, maybe put them towards an OU degree in an area that you are interested in. Lots of jobs require a non-specific degree.

You have been in the program for four years. How much of it have you finished?

Oh OP, I’m so sorry, I was in a similar position a couple of year ago and it was really devastating. I trained as an occupational therapist and managed to finish my course, but health issues meant I couldn’t practice. I think it’s really important that you take some time to grieve what you thought your career path was going to be. I know I cried a lot!

I’m now in the civil service and I can’t say I am passionate about it as I was about OT but I enjoy it and there’s lots of benefits (working from home, flexi) that I wouldn’t have in the NHS and that make family life much easier. The pay also isn’t bad depending on department- I’m an EO which is a fairly entry level grade and get paid more than I would have starting out as a band 5.

What about Mizan Therapy? It is apparently really effective

In that case transfer credits from the part of the course you have done to a new course.

The university should support you on this, speak to student support urgently.

If you are unsure what to do even with advice then you could go for something not too vocational, just a subject you enjoyed at A-level or something and then look for a graduate job when you finish.

DO NOT DROP OUT

I would not go down without a fight. If you have already come this far and your ‘issue’ hasn’t been an issue, there must be something that can be done to accommodate you. Don’t give up!!

email the previous poster who offered advice, they know what they are talking about, good luck!

Can you do something with children's mental health? ADHD coaching/therapy something like that. Seems like there's a massive shortage of those skills.

Or- can you transfer to public health?
Are you able to gain anything from your study- ie certificate or diploma?

I agree with this.
Please finish your degree OP.
I needed 9 to 5 hours when I went back to work when my youngest was 1 year old.
I spent several years running clinical trials, a couple in obstetrics, wrote some papers and presented at an international conference. Did some teaching and clinical audits.
It was a really good way to use my qualifications and experience without the dreaded shift work.

How much of the placement work have you completed becuse if you have already done a large portion it, I would discss it in more detail with the university.

As them what accommodations can be made under the circumstances? Tell them that you are considering Oving jnto lecturing or advisory work so ned to finish the degree from creditibility perspective & to prevent you from doing so would limit your future earning potential etc.

Can you work in a teaching, advisory, resesrch, compliance role which is linked? I know a former nurse who know works with a large company in their HR capacity. She has been responsible for initiatives on parental leave, menopause, fertility treatment, carers, and also involved on the disability policy etc.

That sounds a little off.

They have said you cannot complete this because of a health concern?

So the decision to stop wasn’t yours? You had to?

She can't finish her degree, she has said clearly she is unable to complete the 50% practical component. OP what is the medical condition? This could be very important when advising what path to follow - eg if it is mental health related then advising high stress jobs like teaching isn't particularly helpful.

I'd be referring this to your union. Your university should be working with occupational health to put in reasonable adjustments to support you to do the job - or at least to get your qualification.

If you can’t complete your work placements due to illness, I wouldn’t touch teaching with a barge pole. What’s the medical need?

Health visitor? Sending big hugs. I'm at a career crossroads myself.

My midwife retrained as a Health Visitor and absolutely loves it. Midwifery nearly broke her (the hours, stress, lack of sleep, poor food as always grabbing what was easiest) so perhaps not a good job for someone with new health issues.

I also would take IAteAllTheTomatoes' advice and try and argue for accommodations just so you can continue and complete the degree.

Another voice saying DON’T drop out without proper advice on the reasonable adjustments that should be put in place to enable you to graduate, even if you cannot then practice.

@treetea can you tell us any more about the nature of the business you were planning to set up? That might help people with further suggestions. I know it requires midwifery, so you can't set it up without the degree, but there may be other elements which might provide pointers.