To think about retraining as a.....

[StillAsAStatue]

...........Health Visitor?

I know everyone on MN hates theirs, and they are seen by many as completely pointless at best, and dangerous at worst. However, I feel quite tempted to reply to the recent recruitment drive that has been mailed out to all nurses.

I have many reasons for being interested:

I have recent experience of being a new parent & would love to be in a position to help others.
Recent work experience has shown me that there is so much to the job that most people don't see.
I like the idea of studying again and gaining a further qualification, with all the associated opportunities for career progression etc.
It's a good time in my life to make changes.

Is it the MN equivalent of becoming a traffic warden? Will I be ostracised by all?

I only ever saw one once so I can't comment other than to say that they obviously need more!

I had two good ones. One who kept me calm and breastfeeding when ds slipt down the centiles convincing me he was healthy and happy and just doing his own thing. One who got me counselling when I needed it.

We need more good ones. Go for it.

Good point BOE

I love my HV, she is a lovely, lovely woman and I always enjoy seeing her (although not so much when she has to stick pins in my DD but she's in good company there and at least has the decency to look like she feels a bit bad about it). Just for the record. This is pure luck however as the other one at the clinic is quite possibly from another planet where kindness and empathy are either a neurochemical impossibility or seen as a mortal sin in their religion. I haven't figured out which yet.

Thanks MM. I read so many threads/meet so many Mums where I feel that a bit of real support from their HV could make such a difference. It would be great to be able to provide that.

(Have a suspicion that like most jobs, you won't have the time/resources to give as much support as you'd like).

My health visitor was lovely and when I had a problem breastfeeding she came straight round, literally arriving within the hour, to provide emotional support as well as practical advice. Apart from that, we had little contact beyond seeing her when I went in for baby jabs but I was happy to know she would be there if needed. A very important job for the right person.

Just please, please please promise me you will educate yourself well about breastfeeding and how to properly read and use growth charts.

I dont think becoming a parent is reason enough tbh. Parenting is so different and diverse for so many people it would be impossible to empathise purely because you are a parent yourself and want to help others.
You need to have a comitment to child protection and be able to present a watertight case, as you will be one of the main professionals to be in contact with a child and their family, if you miss something or overlook something it could be catastrophic. Its a small amount of weighing and measuring babies and a huge amount of child protection, paperwork and bureacracy (sp).
That said I would love to become a HV for the hours...

Hated mine

I've seen 3 health visitors and they are all wonderful, kind professional ladies

Only if you promise to be a good one and stick to fact over opinion.

Do HV even do the weighing any more I thought it was a nursery nurse ?

My HV was amazing, I suffered very bad post natal depression & she really helped me through it. Do it!

My health visitor made me do controlled crying with my son as I looked so desperately tired. It took 1 hour the first night, 20 minutes the second and on the third night he lay down giggling (his sister shared his room and was also in bed) and that was it. Never had another minute's problem about his sleep. I love her for that alone!

So long as you can understand why "well, we like to see all our babies on the 50th centile" is... erm, an erroneous ambition, go ahead!

Oh TheBigJessie dh spits feathers over that. Has mentioned putting all hv on a course about understanding statistics before now!

As somebody who has recently trained from an adult nurse to a school nurse, I would say go for it.

You would have to undertake the SCPHN degree, which could lead to any other type of public health role if you wanted. You have to do six modules at degree level with 50/50 theory/practice, so you have to work closely with a mentor/practice teacher on your competences. It is quite full on depending if you are doing it over a year / two years, and can take over your life when assign,ends/practice is due in.

I was lucky as I had a band 6 post waiti for me, but I should think once qualified you'd have any trouble getting a job.

I prefer school nursing as its working with a wider range of ages, and you tend to also work with the children and parents more, rather than just the parents.

Also be aware, a major part of the role is safeguarding, which can be quite difficult at first when you've got children of your own.

madmouse I've always looked forward to an HV saying it to me, but although I heard that my HV's team said it to other mothers, they never said it to me or the husband.

Statue what's wrong with Traffic Wardens?

Disclaimer: I am not a TW, but going to pick up my DD in the rain and seeing how parents park on double yellow lines, on corners, double park, on yellow zigzags-just to get a bit nearer the gates and put childrens life in danger, not to mention people trying to get buggies along the pavements when there's a ruddy great car on it.....

Has strengthened my resolve to do this P/T when my DD leaves this school (so she doesn't get set on my the DC of the parents I will ticket) .

Bit off piste there but YKWIM...

70 - nowt wrong with traffic wardens, they just don't have the best public image do they? I saw a documentary on something where traffic wardens talked of how they don't like to admit what they do to friends, and are subject to random abuse in the street. It was just my first thought when trying to select a profession not commonly liked or appreciated by the public.

Proud

Whale - I don't for a second think that being a parent is all the experience I need. More that, having recently experienced the public health service as a parent instead of a HCP, I have a different and, I think, useful, additional perspective. I understand what you mean about understanding that it is a role that goes far beyond a quick weigh & a chat,, which may be the public perception.

I have been involved in safeguarding etc in a previous job and think I will find it much harder now I have my own children Rhino. How much do the SCPHN courses have in common between SN & HV? Do you feel you could do under 5 work as well or is it very segregated? I know it will be a massive commtiment to get the study done, but DH and family are supportive.

Good to hear nice HV stories as well as the bad! (I understand statistics luckily, and have already done some BF training so that's a couple of ticks hopefully!)

I had one HV who was awful and one who was marvellous. The more people who go into the profession the better, as it should raise standards. Go for it!

If people think they are crsp then they need new ones so why not.

Would it be good for the OP (and all potential and active HV) for posters to list what they want/don't want in a HV?

I had 2, one was very warm and chatty. One was a bit more restrained and 'stern' (not the right word but YKWIM).

IMO, the main thing I found was : a HV will have a 1000 babies on their caseload but I've got 2. My PFB was obviously the most wonderful creature on this earth, and obviously I am the only woman to have ever given birth.
A mum wants to be treated like she's the only one in the world.
Disclaimer: I know it's not how it works in the Real World. It's Baby Brain.