After spending '05, '06 & '07 in and out of three different courses; aimlessly studying with no real point more than to be able to say i have a degree, & five different jobs; working to 'save', though it never happened... giving birth has given me the most empowering & overwhelming feeling that i really want to a midwife.
I just don't know where to start... Study is sort of out of the question at the moment because I'm a SAHM, and DF will be going back to Uni before i do... and we can't really both be at Uni at the same time.
I know some universities will do Nursing by distance with a couple of weekend workshops for practical teaching and assessment (hmm, well maybe only the course offered by Open Universities does this), but I'm not sure if there is any that do for Midwifery... (someone please correct me if I'm wrong!)
I could do a nursing degree and then a grad dip in Midwifery, meaning i'd be able to study by distance now and then complete qualifications later? Does this qualify me as a nurse (I'd want to work as a children's nurse) and a midwife?
I also feel that if it's something i don't start working towards ASAP, i'll go back to having very little ambition and stop striving for all those things i want.
I know, it's silly... but not having a goal to work on all the time, makes reaching that goal so much harder...
So my question is, for the interim, do you think studying to be, and working as a doula would be a good start / experience? I thought maybe it would help with my entry to uni (what have you been doing with yourself for the last X amount of years?)
It's something i was already considering, but i wonder if many people would find me all too useful (so to speak) as I am young??
I know I was put off getting a doula myself because i didn't quite think i would gel with someone fifteen years older than me... does that apply with older mum's and younger doulas?
I hope this has made sense, but I'd really love to hear some opinions from you all.
Another option that might help you towards your aim is becoming an ABA counsellor. It's baby related and when you're a midwife it would be so valuable.
You could start by joining the ABA. You have to BF for a minimum period before you can be a counsellor.
Chloe, i had thought of that as well. I know it's a minumum of nine months though, so we have a fair way to go!! Guess it can't hurt to get in touch with my local ABA group now though. If only to keep me encouraged and motivated to keep BFing.
I'm not certain, but I thought you have to do nursing before specialising as a midwife? In which case, I'd just start on your nursing however and whenever you can, Ashlea.
IRT becoming a doula, I'm not certain about the age thing, but I do know that most of the mums in my MG are 10 or so years older than me and we wouldn't have known unless we'd asked each other how old we all were. I think you'd have lots to offer I think it is more a case of how you interact with people as to whether or not they'll feel comfortable, not how old or young you are. JMO, and I wish you all the very best!
Ash, you can study Mid through distance ed - UniSA offers it. And yes, if you do your nursing via distance ed now and then post grad mid later, you are a qualified nurse at the completion of that degree (usually 3 years). You can work in the children's hospital as a nurse without having to do a speciality in peadeatrics. Not sure about being a Maternal Child Health Nurse though - I think they like you to have your mid? Maybe someone else can help you with that bit - I've never looked into it...
Ash - the ABA requirement for counsellors has changed - you only need 6 months combined breastfeeding experience ie you can have b'fed two babies for 3 months each and still qualify.
Snacks - I thought that originally too, but I looked into it and the Bachelor of Midwifery is offered at a few different Uni's with standard pre-reqs such as a pass in year 12 maths and english. Thanks for you advice WRT doulas. I do think that's a very good point as i suppose age doesn't make all too much difference!
MG - Thanks for that info!! I had looked at Victorian Uni's but i sort of stopped there. MCHN's i think do require you to practise as a midwife - or so i have been informed by DS's. I will certainly look into uniSA.
& Willow! - Woohoo, i didn't even bother to look at the ABA website, it;s just something i read in a thread recently, maybe the thread was outdated or something. That's excellent. My next goal is six months so there's an extra incentive!
If you want to know rough times for placements etc, try to access the current info for the degree - they are usually at the same time every year. Talk to other students at the Uni doing the degree so they can get you "inside info".
It depends on which Uni you are studying at as to when you first get into the hospital setting - and again, this changes somewhat regularly considering the course structure changes every 3 years.
Sam - I knew you'd understand To be fair to nursing, Onc Pall is a pretty depressing area to work in (no offense to those in that area) and is pretty rough to work in as a first clinical. BUT, it does give people a realistic view of some of the less than pleasant areas of caring for someone. There are too many people who go into nursing, mid, and med with such romantic and unrealistic views (thanks to wonderful shows like All Saints and ER!). That's why there are such huge drop out rates after the first clinical.
I am in my first year of a nursing degree done by distance - I got in based on my year 12 results and the fact that I have done a Bachelor of Arts. I do want to go into midwifery down the track, but I didn't start nursing with the express intention of getting into midwifery - If I only wanted to do mid I would have applied to one of the local unis for their bachelor of mid. I am thinking in a few years (I am only going part time atm) I will apply to transfer to a double degree, Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery at QUT in Brisbane. I like the idea of having more than one qualification - gives me more options and broadens my horizons.
I want to be a...
Reply With Quote
I think it is more a case of how you interact with people as to whether or not they'll feel comfortable, not how old or young you are. JMO, and I wish you all the very best!
To be fair to nursing, Onc Pall is a pretty depressing area to work in (no offense to those in that area) and is pretty rough to work in as a first clinical. BUT, it does give people a realistic view of some of the less than pleasant areas of caring for someone. There are too many people who go into nursing, mid, and med with such romantic and unrealistic views (thanks to wonderful shows like All Saints and ER!). That's why there are such huge drop out rates after the first clinical.
Bookmarks