Attn: Mears and Leese! Can you reveal some student midwifery selection secrets?

[ScummyMummy]

Hi there Mears, Leese, any other midwives and/or other experts! My sister is attending a "Selection Day" in a couple of days in the hope of being picked to study midwifery. Any pointers on what will help/hinder her and what the day will involve? She mentioned a group interview but seems a bit unclear as to how they go about the selection process. Very grateful for any info/advice. I promised to post on her behalf and have talked you guys up as the experts of experts, for such I believe you to be.

Hi ScummyMummy - I am not familiar with this type of process. Are you in England? In Scotland would be student midwives apply to a central office and then the universities carry out the interview process locally following the application being accepted. One or two midwives from the hospital are also on the panel. I am not aware of group interviews but perhaps that has started now.
I think the main thing is showing maturity and common sense. Good communication skills are essential. Also being able to answer the question 'why do you want to become a midwife?'.
Leese will probably be more help than me. Good luck to your sister.

Hmmm, not quite sure about a selection day as such, but doesn't sound that dissimilar to my midwifery interview.
I applied directly to colleges/schools of midwifery, who had (at that time) yearly intakes - I must stress I followed a 'direct entry' pathway, also termed 'pre-registration' ie - I wasn't a qualified nurse first, so if your sister is a nurse ScummyMummy, her process may be a bit different. anyway, I was selected for 'interview', which sounds similar to your sisters 'selection day'. There was a group of about 20 of us as I recall. We had a talk from a few of the midwifery lecturers, then had to do a few group activities - nothing too taxing, just the sort of stuff that makes you want to cringe had slide down in your chair - instead you find yourself taking the lead! As I remember, I think we were portioned into smaller groups, and had to find out as much as we could about the person next to us, then relay this to the rest of the group. I recall one of the 'exercises' was to write an advert about yourself - ie, to sell yourself to the panel. The whole thing felt fairly informal, but I guess they knew what they were looking for. Funnily enough, those of us who got through (not all from same interview as myself) were all very different - some quiet and didn't 'lead' as such in activities, and others more gregarious - natural leaders. Tell your sister just to be herself, but to remain as enthusiastic and motivated as she can thru the day - they love this! I don't think they go for a specific 'type' as such - my midwifery panel included midwifery tutors and someone from personnel.
In the afternoon, we all had separate interviews, along the lines of what Mears said - why do you want to be a midwife, what are the qualities of a midwife ets. Basically, they are looking for women who want to care for other women (not someone who says 'I love babies' thru the ante natal, intra partum and post natal period. Feel free to ask for my e-mail address from the team at mumsnet ScummyMummy - would be happy to go thru some pointers/key words etc with your sister - just get her to drop me a line.

Mears and Leese, just wondering, but what qualifications do you need to become a midwife? And how do you go about training?

In Scotland you need a minimum 5 standard grades, one of which must be English. I have to say that a number of students drop out as it is a diploma course ( takes 3 years) that can carry on to degree and the course work proves to be very difficult for some.
You can also do an entry exam as a mature student without the above qualifications.
The NMC ( Nursing& Midwifery Council) website gives info regarding the centres to apply to, as do various university sites. These courses are for direct entry midwifery. There is another course ( 18 months) for general nurses to train to become midwives which is the route I had to take because in 1983 there was no direct entry training in Scotland.

Willow2 - just to echo what mears has said really. In England you need a minimum of five O' levels/GCSE's, which should include maths and english. If you are applying via the 'direct entry' route (ie, not already a qualified nurse), the course takes three years, and most courses in this area educate to degree standard, so you emerge as a registered midwife, with a midwifery degree. Some however, still offer diploma level training. Regardless, as Mears pointed out, the dropout rate is significant as it is hard, both intellectually and physically wearing.
When I applied for midwifery in 1992, the direct entry course was relatively new, and only twelve students commenced every year. Currently in our area, the intake for direct entry students is fifty, twice a year - so your chances of getting accepted have improved considerably!
Should also mention that, although the minimum requirement academically is five O' levels, it is seen as beneficial to your application if you have A' levels (or Scottish equivalent), and everyone must be able to give examples of recent study of some sort. Lots of those in my midwifery group already had degrees in one subject or another (usually totally unrelated to midwifery), and this probably helped some stay the course. HTH

Don't forget to tell us how she got on Scummy. Please tell her there are lots of vacancies down in SE London and we are very nice clients!

Thanks a lot, Mears and Leese and Marina. My sister was v grateful for the advice and good wishes. She said she had to grin to herself a bit Leese, as about 4 or 5 of the candidates gave "loving babies" as their reason for wanting to enter the profession and she was so glad that you had warned her against such an answer! Am feeling a bit nervy for her tho, as it transpires that during the group interview she became involved in a verbal altercation with a few of the other candidates when they professed to believe that teenage mothers got pregnant just so they could jump the housing queue! Naturally, I am very proud of her for disagreeing strongly with this- but I hope she hasn't harmed her selection chances by being bolshy... I'm sure she'll have argued her case well though so maybe it will have done no harm?
I think her area may well cover some of SE London if she makes it, Marina, so you may have to look out for her!

I think she'' have done herself a MASSIVE favour by defending teenage mums ScummyMummy - even if the interviewers didn't agree with her pov (tho' I'm sure they would), the fact she was willing to speak up, and not go with the majority view shows the makings of a good bolshy midwife!
Seriously tho', midwives should remain non judgemental in order to provide unbiased care to ALL women. These teenagers are far more likely to confide in their midwife, than say someone from social services, as they see the midwife as a friend - on their side if you like. Most of them are in desperate need of a chat and reassurance, and if we find ourselves unable to provide that because we cannot overcome our negative beliefs about their situation, we help noone. Tell your sister she did a good thing, and will undoubedly have impressed the panel, and the others will have lost brownie points. Keep us posted

Agree with Leese here - she probably gained brownie points! Midwives need to be lippy to leep the medical staff in line Looking forward to hearing if she was successful.

A relative of Scummy's standing up for vulnerable individuals in society? And being unafraid to say what she thinks? This has to be the least surprising thing I have read on Mumsnet in weeks . Sure she will be a great asset to the profession!

Having never considered being a midwife, I am having had my first. I am currently a primary teacher - and love the job apart from the teaching side of it. Can you tell me what are the worst bits of the job (bar the hours and money) and is it better to do a diploma or a degree

I absolutely love my job - always have done and left school with the aim of training to be a midwife.
I would do the degree rather than stop short at the diploma. I recently completed my degree on a part-time basis which was pretty hard going working and looking after a family of 4 children.

The job is not always joyful and there can be some very sad times. Women still lose babies at all stages of pregnancy which is hard to deal with. It can be very stressful during emergency situations and there can be some very distressing outcomes such as a very sick baby being delivered or a mother needing a life saving hysterectomy. These are not common but are situations that midwives are involved with more often than you would probably imagine.
Dealing with women who are abused or drug abusers is a harsh reality of life. You certainly see all walks of life as a midwife but you are in a position to offer some support and help if it will be received.
It is a job that you cannot really describe to anyone - it is much more than just delivering babies. Perhaps you could arrange to shadow a midwife at your local hospital to see what you might think of midwifery as a career.

cazzybabs - when I did my midwifery training, I had no choice but to do the diploma - given the choice now I'd probably opt for the degree (but if I'd taken the degree route initially not sure I would've passed!). Most of the colleges in my area just offer the degree course now, so you may not have a choice, dependant on where you train.
I too love the job, but more so now I'm part time. I work in the community now (after a good few years within the hospital), and I do find it difficult at times - for all of the sad reasons Mears has expressed, and more. Our area is chronically short of midwives (which is a common problem nationwide), and this in turn puts extra pressure on your shoulders, as you do the work of two (plus) midwives at times. Expectations amongst the ladies we care for has also risen, which is great, as women are now making informed choices for themselves - but it does mean we devote more time to giving out such information, so things can take longer (this is not a negative, it just means time constraints can be greater).
Drugs are also a major problem in our area, and the problems associated with this. Also poverty is rife, and house visits can be upsetting at times. There are other personal/social issues which we have to be involved in on a daily basis, and this can take you away from the core of your job - midwifery!
I also found staff shortages difficult within the hospital - in fact it was probably a bit more stressful there, as you couldn't always give the care you wanted to give. As Mears notes, babies do occasionally die, and this is one of the hardest aspects of the job for me - that. and looking after ladies having late terminations.
On the positive side, I always finish the day feeling like I've helped someone. I can answer questions and allay fears, and that really gives me a buzz - probably why Mears and I post on here so much! I know the ladies I look after, and enjoy getting to know them thru their pregnancy. Further, I enjoy the company of other midwife colleagues (much like teachers I guess), and those that we work with

Thanks for your advice...I think its something I'd really like to do. Its just a question of money to do the course.

My sister is in! She's just got to "pass" the medical. She must have been awarded brownie points just as you predicted, Leese and Mears! Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it. I think you're right that she will be an asset, Marina, as she is a bit of a superstar, to my biased eye at least.

btw, cazzybabs- there are grants for this and you get more the older you are. I'll ask my sister for more details but I know that her fees are being paid and she is also entitled to a living expenses grant.

Send all our congratulations to your sister Scummymummy - knew she'd wow them all!
cazzybabs - assuming you would take the 'direct entry' route to midwifery (and not train to be a nurse first), your course fees are paid. On top of this, you also get a small 'bursary' (about ten yrs ago it was £4,000 p/a). Go to the library and route out info on colleges of nursing/midwifery in your area - most are affiliated with university's, so UCAS will have info on midwifery courses too.

Yes I have..but thats why I was asking wether it is better to do a degree or a diploma, because with the degree you get a means tested bursery I think if about £3000 (I think i did check) where as the diploma you get a non-means tested bursery of £5000. And there isn't any courses in my area, so I'd have to move back home which in itself is not a bad thing because my dad has offered to childmind! But I have to wait for my boyfriend to finish his PhD...but I feel its something I really want to do and you both sound like you enjoy it which is good. So now its a question of waiting for my boyfriend to finish so we can move I guess. But I can look into getting "work experience".

Good news about your sister scummy, glad to hear that her views didn't make any difference. Quite right too.

Congratulations to ScummySister, that is great news. And good luck with your training, Cazzybabs. Hope you get the course option that's best for you.

Oh, well done! Makes me feel like having another baby now!!!

Congratulations to your sister scummymummy.Hope she enjoys training once she gets started.

My sister (43 and an SRN) started her midwifery training last month, she is absolutely loving it, She is having to work SO hard but it is so rewarding. She is now delivering babies herself and has a very mixed community to look after.

She has girl of 11(!!) as her case study plus another lady who claims she has never had penatrative sex and has been married for 10 years. She is also expecting twins, she won't be examined at all. they reckon she'll have to have a section.

The stories she tells us have us in fits, one lady whose husband interprets everything as she has no english was on her own one visit. My sis thought she was doing really well, drawing little diagrams and sign language, and drew an envelope asking for her notes, the woman went away and came back with the instructions for the washing machine!!

Good luck to anyone who decides to persue this career, particularly in light of our fast becoming litigious society. Two of Sis's friends have cases pending over mismanagement of labour, one has had two sucessful cases proven in her favour, but it makes for a stressful time.

It is very very hard work, but it is what my sister always wanted to do and I'm proud of her too!

alibubbles where does your sister work? it certainly sounds like a challenging job

Alibubbles - v.funny (although not the 11 year old - v frightening). However, don't put down where your sister works as, bearing in mind the confidentiality factor, I imagine there's a slight chance she could get in to trouble for telling you anything!!

Willow2, I am aware of the confidentiality so I wouldn't dream of revealing to bundle (no offence meant bundle!) she also doesn't live near me,as a few people on here know where I live!