Horrible Health Visitors!!!

[Amanda3266]

Hello all,

I'm new to Mumsnet. I am mum to James who will be 2 on 20th December (I timed that well didn't I)
I am also (shock horror) a health visitor so thought I'd start a "horrible HV's" thread before anyone else does.
I'm looking forward to picking up tips from all the more experienced mums out there (both for work and home).
I'd also like to say that I'm not an over sensitive soul and won't be offended by any negative HV comments. Especially if they concern HV's like my colleague (terribly well meaning and kind hearted) who makes me cringe when she talks to parents at times. Naturally she knows best and is childless!
My own health visitor is lovely (thankfully) and supported me no end when I had rip roaring postnatal depression after the birth of James. An utterly horrendous time which, thankfully, I managed to get through.
James is the best thing I've ever done in my life and is now a lovely, cuddly, affectionate toddler with a dreadful temper (nothing to do with me ) His piece de resistance is banging his head on the floor if he doesn't get his own way. He's also a fabulous conversation piece for other shoppers in Tesco as he hangs over the edge of the trolley shrieking in temper if we're there too long. It's true love though - I can forgive him anything.

Looking forward to chatting with everyone

Mandy

Welcome Mandy
You'll find lots of threads on horrible Health Visitors but you sound nice so they can't all be bad!
Hope you enjoy mumsnet+

Hello Mandy, welcome

My own health visitor is an absolute darling, so no horrible health visitor comments from me

how do u become a HV?

my HV was very well meaning, but when I had my PND questionnaire at my 6 week check, told me, "you're borderline, you should see someone", but didn't take it further, like suggesting who I should see, or mentioning it to my GP! Great friend and dh got me through the worst 3 months of my life (ok, I wasn't as bad of some of you have been , but I needed help!).

Welcome Amanda- do join in on non-HV threads as well!

Hi Amanda - I'm fairly new here too but find it an amazing place with some equally amazing people!! My HV is wonderful so no bad words from me either Would also like to know how you go about becoming one

Hi there,

Thanks for all the nice welcome messages. For anyone interested in a career as a health visitor here's what you need to do.

1. Find a local university which offers a course (usually BScHons Public Health Nursing/Health Visiting). At one time you had to be a qualified nurse to do this course but a few universities are now offering a three year, direct entry course for non-nurses (not before time). I suspect that within five years the course will be offered countrywide.

2. Ideally find someone to sponsor you so that you are paid while studying - but if not become an all out student.

Personally, I think the practical, parent supporting side of the job could be done by most parents. The theory is all very well but no substitute for life experience.
Where the difficulty lies is in the more distressing aspects of the job, child protection for example where you need to be able to put your emotions aside and be a friendly and supportive face to parents who may be abusing their children in one form or another (often neglect through ignorance or other reasons - drugs and alcohol for instance).
At the moment the job is changing in other areas. I no longer deal exclusively with the under 5's but also with elderly people (just one on my books at the moment, an 85 year old, isolated lady who doesn't eat properly and is very underweight). I also offer support to parents with schoolage and teenage children who ask for help. My only experience here is my nieces and nephews and what I know in theory.
Other aspects of the job that different HV's in my area (Somerset) are involved with are visiting people following diagnosis of a heart attack and offering lifestyle change support, smoking cessation, healthy living groups and targeting mums with postnatal depression. One girl has a "swimming evening" twice a month for mums with postnatal depression where they can all get out together for an evening of swimming and coffee and gossip. The job is what you make it and changing all the time.
If you think this could be you then go for it - it's the best job I've ever had and I love it and enjoy it - my favourite bit is baby clinic - just lovely to see them all growing and developing - of course it's also a good excuse for lots of cuddles. It's really good catching up with the mums as well.
Don't let the three year course put you off - if you can't do it at the moment then just get the info and put it on hold until you can.

Hope that info is helpful for those who want it

Mandy