To be worried about my DD wanting a career in the NHS

[Icouldwriteabookonmydisastrouslife]

She’s 18 and going to uni in September to do midwifery . I was so excited for her , really proud that she just wants this . She’s already a Community care assistant which she loves but she wants to work with babies . It’s all she talks about .

Then the bubble was burst for me reading posts on here about the sheer numbers of burnt out NHS workers who are leaving . Post after post I’m seeing how unhappy people are in their jobs . Comments on news articles online anytime the NHS is mentioned . Midwives leaving for new jobs in other fields due to the burnout and the lack of support .

I’ve mentioned this to her and She says she already knows what shes getting herself into and new people joining the NHS will hopefully change things and make a new NHS apparently . She’s a very positive person and so head strong when it comes to going into midwifery. She’s just so good with caring for people and she’s absolutely smashing her health and social care course . She’s so passionate.

I’m trying to ignore the negativity and focus on the fact that she will make a bloody good midwife and the NHS does need new passionate people to join . Is it all gloom for anyone joining the NHS ? Am I right to be worried ?

My DD is 21 and finishing her midwifery degree soon. She is fully aware of the state of the NHS but also sees that some trusts are much better than others and is targeting the ones she prefers for jobs afterwards. I don't think it's a disaster, but good to have ones eyes open.
BTW, midwifery isn't really 'working with babies', it's much more about the mothers.

Sorry obviously she doesn’t just want to work with the babies , that would be more paediatric care , she’s obviously choosing the midwifery for the Mum like she enjoys being a care assistant so she can care for them.

All we can hope is fresh new eyes going into the system help to change it .

All the best to your DD :)

Is her choice, her career. Keep your concerns to yourself, and let her follow her own path.

I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. After 10 years of bullying, being treated like shit and thrown under the bus I quit and have never looked back. I’d honestly rather work in McDonald’s - pay cut and all.

I was a registered nurse in the NHS for 16 years.
1 year after qualifying I realised my mistake. Not to toot my own horn, I was a great nurse, good at what I did and more than capable of climbing the ladder. But it took all of me and it got to a point that I realised it was not a forever career, it wasn't sustainable and if we wanted a family, I'd be forever missing out on key moments in our lives.
My best friends are still nurses now and love what they do, but they have had to carefully find roles, seek further qualifications and degrees, to secure roles that offer life balance, pay-responsibility balance and a decent living wage. Its taken them 10+ years to do this. I know MANY nurses and midwives who hate their job, but are trapped like i was, because your registration and qualification is very specific. Once a nurse/ midwife, getting out is hard.

16 years in, I finally escaped, but i had to retrain in something I love first, but had to accept a major wage drop to do so. Only made possible as my DH has a good paying job!

She needs to think carefully!