to jack it all in and become a midwife?

[Khaleasy]

I'm 21 (22 next week, if that makes a difference ) and I don't have a set career path.
Very jealous of my bf who has done a degree in Marine Biology, a masters in Marine Biology and is now a...Marine Biologist. She has always wanted this and I am envious of her certainty.
I've always been interested in Midwifery and think i would enjoy it and be good at it; but never considered it as a career choice because - rather stupidly - I hadn't researched the options as someone told me you have to be a nurse first (not true).
I'm currently doing a very slow part time degree in psychology with the OU with the vague view of going into counselling but have no real passion behind it.
As a trainee midwife though I would have to train for three years on a very small grant (about £5,000-£6000 a year) to then be on a starting salary of £22,000. My salary in my current role is £21,000 (Qualifications Admin) though I'm not really interested in admin.
AIBU to seriously consider going back to being a poor student for 3 years (I live with OH and a dog) to persue midwifery?

Well, I wouldn't be applying until next years intake so Sept 2014. That gives me another year of OU study (which is fully funded - at least for the next year it will be, doubtful after that) which would be useful anyway. I can always come back to complete the psychology degree.

Yes, funnily enough it isn't the babies that attract me to the job. Don't get me wrong, I like them but its the support/advice element for the mothers/families that fuels my desire (oo-er)

Is there anyway you can make your part finished into a something? An HND or HNC or something? Just thinking it would sound good to be saying "and I have a XYZ in psychology" even though the XYZ isn't a degree.

Possibly a HNC actually, never thought of that!

Sorry, a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) is the appropriate term just looked it up!

I am 25 and live with DP and a dog (and a cat) so am quite similar to you. My DP also has a set career path that he has wanted to do for ever. I began my teaching degree at 21 and I would do it all over again, even though people are correct in saying that midwifery places are highly sought after!

I say go for it, OP. You only live once.

I am trying to get into midwifery, I have applied twice already over the course of about 9 years and hope this year will be the one for me, you will need to get some relevant experience and do a lot of reading. I work as a HCA and am moving into maternity when I get back from my holiday in 3 weeks. I also do breastfeeding support and work for a project set up to support vulnerable women. I have a psychology degree and am doing an access course. I say go for it, just be prepared the competition is insane, at my local uni last year there were 1500 applicants for 43 places. Good luck.

oh and I am 40 next year, wish I had this revelation a little earlier in life.

Go for it :) its bloody hard work but the most wonderful job in the world for the most part.

Just as a heads up though, check out NHS student bursaries for an estimate on what you will receive. If you're under 25 then your bursary is means tested against your parents wages. My mum & dad work full time and part time respectively and I received less than half of what you estimate. This was regardless of the fact that I didnt live with them and had my own life to pay for with no assistance from them. I managed to get through it but I'm still paying off my credit cards!

What?! What do my parents wages have to do with anything? I left home when I was 17 and have supported myself since then!

Go for it now while you can!

In previous years, there have been very few places for student midwives, with extremely high competition and post grads/more mature women being favoured. Due to dwindling numbers of midwives in recent years, there have been a lot more opportunities open for prospective midwives, and a lot more younger students getting places.

I was looked after while pregnant and in labour by two lovely newly qualified midwifes

You can always do what I did and apply for midwifery and nursing at the same time. I didn't get my midwifery place (there were only five places!) but I got on my nursing place. I intended to do the post grad midwifery top up, as that was readily available when I trained.

Well, I started my first placement and changed my mind! I am now a ward sister on an incredible ward.

I don't know if it's nationwide, but in my particular trust, they are advertising post grad health visitor courses and putting lots of new young nurses through the training to become a health visitor. Thats a really family orientated job. Have you thought about that?]

I'm classed as independant, thank goodness, because I have supported myself for more than 36 months!

You might not be on a salary of £22,000 when you qualify. If you are in London (or can re-locate to there), midwives start on band 6 which with London weighting is over £30,000. Also you will get unsocial/on-call payments on top which is probably at least an extra £300-£500 per month.

MamaChubbyLegs - Nursing really wouldn't be my thing at all sure I would love Midwifery though!

DO NOT underestimate the competition and as others have mentioned there is no short course for graduates, only a conversion course for degree qualified nurses which is just as competitive to gain entry on. Our local trusts and unis are also phasing out this conversion course, it's too expensive. There's a website for student midwives/hopeful student midwives- studentmidwife.net I believe. I haven't been on it for a long while (Not a midwife but work with them IYSWIM) but it should outline the quals you will need and also the kind of experience that they are looking for to go along with them. It may be a bit of an eye opener. You've got a massive slog ahead of you even to get on the course but why not?! Just do the research about the job, decide if it's what you really want and do what you need to do to get on the course. It wont be easy but it is doable. Good luck!

I am thankful for this thread, as I have completed my psychology degree (hated it and got a 2:2) and it hasn't really helped my employment prospects. I work as a carer (palliative home care) now and love it, but its an agency and I want more security and thinking that I want to take a different route and go into mental health nursing. Don't know where to start or if it will be manageable as I have 2 children (partner is sahp) and I can't survive on 6k or whatever figure has veen thrown around. have struggled to find a really clear helpful advice page for the financial info.

If you changed your mind about completing the degree, I had a woman join my degree group in the last year after doing the majority with the OU and completed it with us.

Oh and these days apparently, and definitely in the 3/4 local unis, applying for midwifery and another course (say nursing) means your application quite literally goes straight in the bin. I've been told by the 'decider'. Don't do it! You need to demonstrate your commitment to midwifery and midwifery alone. They can be as picky as they like and don't want people who are half arsed.

Beats me khaleasy, but thems the bonkers rules they come up with. I moved out at 18 and worked part time with a supportive fiancé working full time whilst I studied, and it still went off my parents wages when I started and for the full three years. I appealed and appealed against this but they don't give a toss. Several of my cohort left at various points due to financial issues, as it's difficult to work part time alongside working 37.5 hours per week as a student midwife on shifts that you have no say over. I only managed to stay in study thanks to a very flexible part time employer and my fiancé's help.

I think you can get round it if you have supported yourself for 3 years (and can prove it) but my part time wages didn't qualify even though I was living on them fairly well! I'm not sure what the cut off amount is though.

If you visit the website you can obtain an estimate amount for the bursary and you're also entitled to half the student maintinence loan which is around £1200 a year.

My friend is about to start the midwifery course and she is getting quite a good deal as it is an nhs funded courses. Obviously it's still not enough to run a family on by itself, but I remember thinking its much better than what I got! I don't suppose your in Wales by any chance? I got grants for having been a resident here for 3/5 years (can't remember which!)

This used to be my job! Recruiting and interviewing candidates for Nursing and Midwifery courses. I left 4 years ago so this may not be current info but...What A'levels do you have? Do you already have what it takes to get on a Midwifery course. If not its an Access course first. You cannot do a PGDip to transfer with a psychology degree. The competition is HUGE. We would get about 300 applicants for every 1 place. If you apply for nursing too your app will be binned from both nursing and midwifery - they want dedication and commitment to their subject not someone who would settle for either.

The bursary is about £7k per year. You don't start getting installments till about 6 weeks in, so you will need some money to keep you going. The hours are long. 9-5ish every day in the first year, then shifts from the second year, plus evening/weekend time for assignments (part time jobs are not encouraged). You don't get holidays like other degree courses - about 4-6 weeks a year (spread over xmas, easter and a few weeks in the summer). If you are sick you have to make up the time in your holidays as you need your community hours to qualify. Choose a uni which has a community of practice you are willing to work in and travel very early and late to and from.

Katykuns - You may be able to do a PGdip in MH nursing if they are still running Dips in Nursing - i know the NMC are wanting to phase them out to only degrees but you may get the last chance to do it this Sept if you go thru clearing. Depends on where you live and the unis availability. You are eligible to other benefits which may help too.

katykuns- don't give up, it's probably more double than you think! First I would advise doing the nursing undergrad degree (they're all degrees now at undergrad level) rather than a shortened postgrad course (PGDip or MSc) because while the undergrad and postgrad are eligible for the same level of NHS bursary, only the undergrad courses are eligible for a reduced rate student loan (this is in England only, apologies if you are elsewhere! I think Scottish students just get a bursary, but it's more than the equivalent English one. Not sure about Wales or NI.) If your partner isn't working you'll get full funding (about £7.7k outside London for the bursary and student loan combined) PLUS dependents allowance for your partner and children and maybe more. You may be surprised by how much you can actually get. If you are in England, the NHS Bursaries website has a fab calculator that is pretty accurate.

sorry, hijack over!

doable, not double! gah.

Do it.

Go out and get as much experience as you can now so you are sure you are doing the right/have evidence of commitment to course.

Like you, I dithered around but for far too long. I did have some sort of career but I didn't enjoy it. I'm 42 now and on a different career path but pretty much on the bottom rung. Don't make my mistake!

My A-Levels are in English, Psychology and Biology (ABB) which seems to fit the bill on the courses I have looked at.

Best uni's for me would be DeMontFord or Coventry - though I haven't heard good things about Coventry Uni...

Your title makes it sound like you think that Midwifery would be an easy option but then reading it I see that you are doing your research.

The competition for places for midwives is tough, so your heart needs to be in and once qualified there is no guarantee of a position near to where you currently live. However if you want to do this, then do. The country is desperately short of Midwives.