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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to wonder why you have to be a registered nurse or midwife to become

20 replies

Chocamochalatte · 02/05/2011 21:05

a health visitor? I can't see why this couldn't be one by someone with Childcare qualifications ie NNEB that has experience with 0-5s.

I would love to be a Health Visitor (although I hated mine!) but I have a phobia of needles and therefore couldn't become a nurse!

OP posts:

HellNoSayItAintSo · 02/05/2011 21:08

The clue is in the word HEALTH.

TheVisitor · 02/05/2011 21:08

Because they deal with health as well, and not just under 5s.

onepieceofcremeegg · 02/05/2011 21:10

I think it is partly because a Health Visitor doesn't work solely with children 0-5.
They also work with the elderly and in order to do the whole role effectively I think it is beneficial that they have a lot of general nursing experience.
I think that a phobia of needles may be a drawback even if you were able to become a Health Visitor without fulfilling the usual criteria.

Hardhatonamission · 02/05/2011 21:12

Because they are able to prescribe medication (purple prescriptions) so need to be a nurse practicioner.

onepieceofcremeegg · 02/05/2011 21:12

This explains the role further

www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=807

onepieceofcremeegg · 02/05/2011 21:12

Oh and according to the link in many areas they are actively involved in the immunisation programme.

piprabbit · 02/05/2011 21:14

Our health visitors work alongside Nursery Nurses, who help run things like the clinic etc.

Shakirasma · 02/05/2011 21:15

All. Childhood vavvinations round here are done by health visitors

Sidge · 02/05/2011 21:19

Child health teams do employ nursery nurses as well in some areas.

heliumballoons · 02/05/2011 21:28

We have child health teams that are nursery nurses here to support health visitors. Just like piprabbit descibed.

KaraStarbuckThrace · 02/05/2011 21:35

Fear of needles doesn't mean you can't have a career in health! My MW confessed to me that she hates needles, she does use them when she has to but she really doesn't like it and gets round it by sending mums to the local path lab to get bloods

bigbumum · 02/05/2011 21:39

i hate needles (on me) but ive been a nurse for 22 years!

reallytired · 02/05/2011 22:28

Health visitors look after the health of the entire family not just the baby. A lot of their work is dealing with postnatal depression. Their role is promoting good public health rather than being the baby police. They are experienced nurses with a postgraduate qualification.

I think its a pity that there isn't direct entry training like midwifery as many nursery nurses are excellent and would make good health visitors.

onceamai · 02/05/2011 22:35

I know what they are supposed to do, but mine couldn't answer any health related questions whatsoever, couldn't provide any sensible information about anything whatsoever and couldn't complete any of the paperwork accurately. If she had been remotely competent she would have been more use cleaning the bathroom for me and seeing to the laundry but as she had dirty shoes and dirty hair I don't think she was interested in cleanliness either.

Ishani · 02/05/2011 22:41

I used to be terrified of needles as a teenager, i hid in the toilets rather than have my TB but injected my stomach daily to produce DS through IVF, all i can say is it's not as bad as you might think injecting, i can't believe i did it but it was fine.

littleducks · 02/05/2011 22:51

I was disapointed by this, I wouldnt want to be a student nurse working on wards so will never by a HV.

I must admit there are some HVs who i wonder how the hell they could possibly have qualified as nurses as their ideas relating to 'health' are bizarre. But there was a team who worked at one of the first surestart centres who were all great and superqualified, were MWs and HVs and did all kinds of alternative therapies and stuff too (like instruct an aerobics class/refleology to encourage the start of labour etc)

I have had a prescription from a HV though, they have at times recommended I go to GP for specific items though. Even my MWs sent me to GP for prescriptions (gaviscon in end of pregnancy so not dangerous stuff). Never had a injection or blood test from health vistor either.

littleducks · 02/05/2011 22:55

sorry that was unclear, were working as both MWs and HVs at the same time, so would run a clinic and work on labour ward

FessaEst · 02/05/2011 22:56

It is also to do with accountability. There are registered to the Nursing and Midwifery council (on extra parts of the register) so can be held accountable in a way other members of staff would not be.

(HV give immunisations in some areas, and often do the later Vit K injections)

moominmarvellous · 02/05/2011 23:10

So strange to see this post as i am looking into this as a possible career change. I too thought there would be something more direct as the idea of training as a nurse seems so daunting, but the responses on here confirm that it is the only route.

beaconhouse · 02/05/2011 23:21

Hi, youmight be surprised and find that the nurse training isnt as bad as you think- you may even enjoy it...yes there are injections but they really are easy and thats only a very small part of the job. learning to communicate well with people enough to meet their needs is just as much a part of it...and a part the medical prof dont always get right. I started my nurse training thinking i would use it as a way to get into another field but 12 years later i am an a&e sister and wouldnt do anything else...whatever you think please dont give up on something you want to do just because of the nursing bit..really.its not that bad x

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