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Original poster

What job can I do instead? Devastated

254 replies

treetea · 12/05/2023 13:10

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 posts:
Gothambutnotahamster · 12/05/2023 18:14

LudicrouslyCapaciousBag · 12/05/2023 18:12

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.

Absolutely this!

Or transfer your credits to another degree. Do not give up on all those years of working hard towards your degree! All the best Op as it sounds truly shit for you.

Newusernameaug · 12/05/2023 18:16

With the current state of the NHS maternity provision and the absolute horror stories we see on here I’d be setting up my own birth society - one which helps and supports women to make I formed choices about their birth and supports women through labour with funded midwives / doulas / birth partners and work to find natural birth centres too, set in natural surroundings 😍

adriftinadenofvipers · 12/05/2023 18:20

treetea · 12/05/2023 16:09

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.

Have they considered any reasonable adjustments?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jobs
SimonsCow · 12/05/2023 18:28

Can you get your qualification and then move into health research? Speak to a nearby university with a health sciences department

EastEndQueen · 12/05/2023 18:29

Just coming back again to say - they (your university lead? The Trust you were based at? Has this been raised to your university student support and the NMC?) can’t just say it’s not safe for you to complete placement. Certainty not before the end of a very very very long road of reasonable adjustment (no nights, short days, fixed shifts etc) and a mutually agreed plan of what next (e.g. transfer of credits into another degree)

Please find the strength to question this OP - this isn’t a position you should be in

Hankunamatata · 12/05/2023 18:31

Can you finish your degree so you have the qualification? Then least you have a degree to then look for employment. You could try managerial role instead?

Batalax · 12/05/2023 18:35

Have you done enough to gain a level four qualification rather than the level five?

bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg · 12/05/2023 19:11

Have you asked your to uni do any of the following?

  • work with your placement provider to make reasonable adjustments so you can finish the course
  • support you in transferring to another programme of study
  • at the very least, issue an interim qualification such as Foundation Degree or DipHE, so that you have something to put on your CV

Who made the decision and can you appeal it?

Can you control your condition (e.g. with medication) sufficiently for it not to stop you from practicing?

You don't have to give your medical history here but it would help to know how your condition stops you from practicing, e.g. you can't come into contact with patients, or you can't do long hours, or you need to take very frequent breaks, or you've not got the needed mobility.

covilha · 12/05/2023 20:14

OP- something similar happened to a friend of mine in Nursing - one of the Clinical Practice Educators decided just before her final practice her health meant she was unsuitable and she could not complete final placement. she could have the degree but not the Registration . Well, my friend stuck to her guns, and after appealing via University then NMC, is now an accomplished , compassionate Registered Nurse.

Perhaps you can challenge their decision Lovely

amyds2104 · 12/05/2023 22:06

I’d seek proper support with this from a union or university to make sure there’s no reasonable adjustments to be made?

if not what about social work?

StrandedStarfish · 12/05/2023 22:13

One of my cohort couldn’t finish her midwifery degree but had enough credits for a diploma in public health. She now works for NHS England in quality and improvement

SarahSmith2023 · 12/05/2023 22:18

treetea · 12/05/2023 16:09

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.

@treetea did you see @EastEndQueen 's posts and very kind offer??

best wishes!

Marshatessa · 12/05/2023 22:30

Social work

Tippexy · 12/05/2023 22:33

Pegsandsunshine · 12/05/2023 16:12

5 minutes later lol....

Show quote history

Barely anything being said, no response to the many questions and suggestions…

Doodledeedum · 12/05/2023 23:01

Doulla? Breastfeeding specialist? Health visitor?

JRWM · 12/05/2023 23:04

Do you feel it makes you unsafe OP? Does your independent medical team? Are you being treated equitably under the 2010 Equality Act?

MissTrip82 · 13/05/2023 02:40

I guess it depends on the nature of the health concern. Your options will be different if it’s that you have something unpredictable (eg seizures or recurrent hypos) or if it’s that you can’t physically lift things or perform cpr, or if it’s a mental health issue.

Do you have a mentor or even previous supervisor or lecturer you trust you could approach for advice? They might be better able to help if they know what the issue is and work directly with you.

Goldie2021 · 13/05/2023 02:50

Doula, Lactation Consultant

MamblingOn · 13/05/2023 04:05

Lawyer? There are a few avenues into it now that allow you to earn whilst you train (e.g. apprenticeships) and that would maybe feel less like starting from scratch because you’re working day one? Your medical background would be really useful if you worked in healthcare law or clinical negligence.

HoppingPavlova · 13/05/2023 05:52

Hard to advise. Not being mosey but without understanding your limitations etc then who knows? Maybe teaching but maybe this would not be suitable either given your restrictions?

sashh · 13/05/2023 05:57

treetea · 12/05/2023 16:09

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.

Then your first step is to talk to your uni about transferring to another course or even to another university. You might need to do an extra year but you will leave with a degree. And that degree gives you choices.

You could also consider the OU, you can transfer credit to them.

I had to leave the NHS due to their crap way of treating me, I was able to work in the private sector for a while.

I taught health and social care in college, usually you get a job and do a part time teaching qualification over 2 years if you are working in FE.

I did lots of supply, there are a lot of health and social care teachers who cannot teach the 'anatomy and physiology' unit.

I have not taught now for a few years due to ill health but the agencies are still contacting me.

There are lots of graduate schemes that just require a degree in any subject.

All that work you have put in is not a waste, you probably feel it is at the moment, it's not, you are going to graduate.

Atone of my graduations (don't ask) the audience was greatly amused by a little boy loudly telling us all, "That's my mummy" as she walked across the stage to get her degree.

Pegsandsunshine · 13/05/2023 06:20

Tippexy · 12/05/2023 22:33

Barely anything being said, no response to the many questions and suggestions…

Show quote history

And did you expect OP to inform us of her medical details to satisfy your nosiness or maybe make a decision about a future on the spot? Weird, but ok.

Achwheesht · 13/05/2023 06:34

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Hayliebells · 13/05/2023 07:04

I find it astonishing that a university can terminate your degree course for a medical condition, without first exploring all the available options and adjustments that could be made for you. Have they looked into anything at all? Could you switch to a different, but related, course? I would be tempted to seek legal advice, you'll presumably now be in a lot of debt, with nothing much to show for it due to no fault of your own. Do you have legal cover with your house insurance, they can be used for employment related problems, so presumably could be used here too? Or maybe the students union could offer advice (that is if they work like employment unions, which I'm not sure about tbh)?

Gettingbysomehow · 13/05/2023 07:11

I had a break from nursing after a back injury and went to work for a specialist medical insurance company in their specialist claims unit. I worked for three of them over 5 years then wet back to retrain as a podiatrist.
The pay was good. I didn't wait for a job advert to come up I just wrote to the claims managers direct.