Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Midwifery Placement woes

40 replies

DilemmaOfCourse · 11/04/2022 18:05

DN has received communication that she’s being investigated for potentially unsafe practices on placement.

Is this something that happens regularly or is it a case of ‘if it’s got this far, it’s a done deal’?

I know nothing about the field so would welcome any insight please. How can we support her?

OP posts:
BlueDuckBlue · 11/04/2022 18:24

Hi , is DN a student midwife on placement ?

BathshebaAndGabriel · 11/04/2022 18:25

Can you give a bit more detail?
What are her university saying? Was the communication from them?
What stage in her training is she at?
Is she a student member of the Royal College of Midwives?

BathshebaAndGabriel · 11/04/2022 18:25

Apologies, lots of Qs!

Original poster
DilemmaOfCourse · 11/04/2022 18:26

@BlueDuckBlue

Hi , is DN a student midwife on placement ?
Sorry, yes she is. Her final year.
OP posts:
BlueDuckBlue · 11/04/2022 18:28

Was the concern raised by the university or placement ? Has DN given any information what it might be connected with ?

RoomOfRequirement · 11/04/2022 18:29

What were the unsafe practices? She should always be under supervision of a registered midwife but it is definitely possible (I would say probable) that they've witnessed her act in a manor that means they don't feel she's safe to practice alone in a few months. The registered midwives have a duty to report that.

Depending on what they say she did, it could mean her having to resit that placement, resit the year or leave the course.

Original poster
DilemmaOfCourse · 11/04/2022 18:30

@BathshebaAndGabriel

Can you give a bit more detail? What are her university saying? Was the communication from them? What stage in her training is she at? Is she a student member of the Royal College of Midwives?
I need the help so mo problem at all with questions!

DN had some feedback on requiring improving in some areas while on placement.
To her, she’d been working hard on these to improve.
However, she’s been contacted to be informed she is now being investigated for unsafe practices. She’s not been given details yet and has said she cannot imagine what she’s done that could br unsafe.
She’s always had glowing recommendations from patients in previous years so this has come as a shock.
She’s in final year but I’ll have to ask whether she’s a member of the royal college of midwives?
Would they send someone to advocate for her?

OP posts:
Original poster
DilemmaOfCourse · 11/04/2022 18:32

@RoomOfRequirement

What were the unsafe practices? She should always be under supervision of a registered midwife but it is definitely possible (I would say probable) that they've witnessed her act in a manor that means they don't feel she's safe to practice alone in a few months. The registered midwives have a duty to report that.

Depending on what they say she did, it could mean her having to resit that placement, resit the year or leave the course.

It’s looking like that’s what they think will happen, that she’ll have to resist the year. She’s distraught but I’ve spoken to her about understanding they have to err on the side of caution. So it’s for both her benefit and her patients’ to double check.
OP posts:
Iwouldlikesomecake · 11/04/2022 18:32

It’s not a totally ‘done deal’ but she should contact her Union if she is a member and if she has meetings with placement/uni it’s a good idea for her to take someone with her as support and so she can make notes/adequately represent herself.

It’s rare to get to third year and this be a total surprise if it happens - if nobody has ever raised concerns before either they have signed her off as competent when she wasn’t or something has happened specifically in her 3rd year.

If she shows insight and willingness to learn and put a plan in place she may still be able to qualify but it rather depends on what it is. Students have been struck off before, even before qualifying. Nobody wants that though.

Original poster
DilemmaOfCourse · 11/04/2022 18:36

@Iwouldlikesomecake

It’s not a totally ‘done deal’ but she should contact her Union if she is a member and if she has meetings with placement/uni it’s a good idea for her to take someone with her as support and so she can make notes/adequately represent herself.

It’s rare to get to third year and this be a total surprise if it happens - if nobody has ever raised concerns before either they have signed her off as competent when she wasn’t or something has happened specifically in her 3rd year.

If she shows insight and willingness to learn and put a plan in place she may still be able to qualify but it rather depends on what it is. Students have been struck off before, even before qualifying. Nobody wants that though.

Thank you. She’s waiting for more details so I’ll be back when we know more.

I’ll speak to her about the points you’ve raised too.

OP posts:
Unlove · 11/04/2022 18:36

It’s hard to say without more detail about what the concerns are and who has raised them.

Sometimes students are involved in very serious incidents but more as a witness, or whilst working under the direct supervision of their mentor. I wouldn’t be overly concerned about this as a student. It would be a learning experience and she may be offered a debrief or one to one with the uni or with the practice placement manager.

If it’s more a case of a student falsifying documentation, giving drugs without telling their mentor, carrying out procedures without consent or knowingly practicing outside of their remit, then it’s more worrying and may well result in her being asked to leave the course, depending on the severity of the issue and whether it’s a one off or repeated behaviour

MonkeyBeard · 11/04/2022 18:39

She would also be wise to contact her students' union's support service - they will be experienced in supporting students through this.

Unlove · 11/04/2022 18:40

Just read your other posts…if it’s a case of gaps in her knowledge and clinical skills, meaning she isn’t safe to qualify yet, then that is likely to be a resit.

The word ‘investigated’ is usually used for the sort of things I mentioned in my first post though, rather than competency issues.

Monr0e · 11/04/2022 18:47

If she has been passed on all other placements with different mentors, could it be a case of issues with just one mentor? Is it the same mentor who has raised concerns previously about areas requiring improvement? It could be that rather than resitting a whole year, she will need to extend her placement in a specific area to be deemed competent eg on delivery suite for a few more weeks. She should also be getting support from uni who will have practice teachers linked to the hospital setting, and as a student she should be a member of the nmc

Monr0e · 11/04/2022 18:52

Also, don't mean to cause any extra worry. Buy the ones I have known to fail due to competency issues were having concerns raised since their first year.

The only one I know who was investigated in 3rd year was investigated due to falsifying records, had had no previous concerns raised with her practice previously. She had had issues with the mentor who reported her. It does happen unfortunately. She did go on to qualify and secure a job

Original poster
DilemmaOfCourse · 11/04/2022 18:54

Thank you so much for your help, everyone. Each one is so helpful and has made me feel hopeful about supporting and helping her, no matter the outcome.

She’s always wanted to do this for as long as I can remember. She’s not the strongest academically but has fought so hard to make her dream come true.

I’m still waiting for her to send me more detail and will report back as soon as anything is sent through. She says nothing has come through yet.

On previous placements, she’s had glowing recommendations from both mentors and patients.

@Monr0e, yes it’s the same mentor.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 11/04/2022 19:50

I've known a few students fail their last placement. In almost all cases it was 'failure to fail' in previous placements. I think by doing another placement most of them passed. If there have genuinely been no issues previously, she must have done something fairly major.

FelicityBeedle · 11/04/2022 20:00

Has she definitely done nothing at all a little dodgy? There are sneaky little bad habits that can easily slip into your practice if you aren’t careful.

Springhassprung86 · 11/04/2022 20:02

Agreed with @Toddlerteaplease
Failure to fail can be an issue, then it comes to third year and people are a bit “yikes-this person will qualify soon and be flying solo”.
It’s not always a bad thing, she may have to repeat a placement but if it’s necessary it will definitely benefit her. Definitely better to deal with her shortcomings as a student rather than a NQM.

MakeMineALarge1 · 11/04/2022 20:10

It's very unusual for things like this to come from nowhere in third year, normally its failure to fail, no one likes to fail a student so they pass, then all of a sudden the realisation hits that within the next 12 months they will be practicing on their own!
I am not saying this is the case with your daughter, but its something to think about.
Now in relation to her, she needs to contact her uni asap, she needs to fully understand what she is being investigated, or what is being looked into, she will need support but its better to sort things out now whilst she has uni behind her than when she is NQM

Toddlerteaplease · 11/04/2022 20:19

@Springhassprung86 yes. It suddenly dawns on people that they may well be on shift with that person when they are qualified, and they suddenly realise that they are not safe enough.

Original poster
DilemmaOfCourse · 15/05/2022 21:20

So, I found out that DN didn’t turn up for a shift. She didn’t ring or make any excuses. She just didn’t turn up. Inside, we’re both seething that she could be so unprofessional but outwardly, we’re showing support and trying to help her through this.

Does she have a chance at all?

Something happened during her shift that made her really upset but is anything really upsetting enough to to pick up a phone to ring, email or text?

Does she have a chance at all?

She’s part of a union and has asked for help from them.

I’m very worried for her because this is her dream and she’s brilliant with patients.

OP posts:
choosername1234 · 15/05/2022 21:26

Ok, firstly I am a nurse not a midwife but I am an experienced mentor and "sign off" mentor.
This is not career ending. Enough to fail the placement which would require another placement before registration could happen. How did she react when the incident happened? Did she run from the ward, tell her mentor she was upset or just not turn up the next day?

Springhassprung86 · 15/05/2022 21:28

Sorry OP but I don’t think your niece is telling you the whole truth.
She wouldn’t be investigated for unsafe practices for that alone. She’d maybe get a bit of a telling off from uni, but that’s about it. In the grand scheme of things, it wouldn’t be a huge deal.
There is definitely more to this than she is letting on.

00deed1988 · 15/05/2022 21:46

DilemmaOfCourse · 15/05/2022 21:20

So, I found out that DN didn’t turn up for a shift. She didn’t ring or make any excuses. She just didn’t turn up. Inside, we’re both seething that she could be so unprofessional but outwardly, we’re showing support and trying to help her through this.

Does she have a chance at all?

Something happened during her shift that made her really upset but is anything really upsetting enough to to pick up a phone to ring, email or text?

Does she have a chance at all?

She’s part of a union and has asked for help from them.

I’m very worried for her because this is her dream and she’s brilliant with patients.

I am a midwife and students often don't turn up with no warning. As far as I know they get told they should call by the CPF but that's it. Maybe if it were reoccurring and affecting their competencies being signed ect.

It isn't really unsafe practice as they have not made anything unsafe. They are supernumerary and them being there or not makes no difference to the women's health. Obviously if they are qualified then it would be unsafe?

If that is what it is, then she needs to apologise and reassure them it won't happen again, she has the union to help but seems very extreme for not turning up as a student. Did they try and call her to find out where she was or anything. If they didn't then they probably wouldn't get anywhere with it.