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Hi Girls,
Here is our new thread so we can stop gatecrashing Lianas thread about becoming a midwife.
Anyone who is studying Nursing and/or Midwifery and all those people who are thinking about studying it this is the place to post your ideas, advice, exam stresses etc....
Lisa xxx
Trish...You said that you have done Cert 3 in Nursing, Are you going to do Cert 4 and become an enrolled nurse? I have heard that it is quite easy for ENs to get into Uni to do the Registered Nursing degree and you wouldnt have to sit the STAT. Lots of the people in my classes are ENs and I think that they do get to bypass some subjects for RPL.
I only just realised the other week that you could go to TAFE and become an EN. If I had of known that I might have chosen to do it before going to Uni. My local TAFE is a 5 minute walk from home and Uni is over an hour away by train (Makes it a little difficult with 4 kids)
Haha Lisa, people can gatecrash all they want - the more the merrier, I say. But this is a great idea you have. One question I've thought of recently, in regards to doing a midwifery degree is: what choices are available as far as hospitals/birth centres/independent midwifery goes? I think I'd hate to work in a regular hospital labour ward, as my desire to be a midwife stems from my belief of supporting a woman, not enforcing hospital policies on her (I'd feel so bad to have to hook a woman up to a fetal monitor, when she just really wants to move, and really doesn't need intervention or want it). Basically, I believe it is a midwives place to be there when a woman births her child, not a doctors place, and I don't want to answer to doctors....but my husband reminded me that I'd probably have to be a part of that environment initially, to gain experience before becoming an independant midwife. It's not even a matter of being true to myself, really - if I become a midwife, I'm dedicated to being true to the women I support. Will I have the freedom to practice as a real midwife?
Liana, there are some birthing centres like that in VIC (don't ask where though 'cause Idon't really remember - just remember someone at work telling me). And your DH is correct, you will need to work in hospitals first to get some of that experience behind you then you can probably branch out. But my advice is to look at the hospital policies and find one that suits you.
Lisa - have you thought about jumping over to external? It's not difficult to arrange and will give you more freedom. I think you can do it for just a few of your subjects if you want to keep some accountability to lecturers.
Tips for exams? DON'T DO THEM! LOL! No, ah, don't leave prep to the last minute?
Well, if anyone wants to do an assignment for me that was due three days ago, give me a yell - would be happy to offload it!
MG
Here in Qld if you have done your Dip Nursing (EN) then you can RPL 1 year off your Bachelor of Nursing course.
Qld cut off dates for uni application are usually Sept 30 every year.
My tip for exams.... -
- start your study at least 2 weeks before the exam,
- write out/answer all of the learning objectives in your notebook.
- revise them over and over in the few days before the exam.
You'd be surprised what your short term memory can handle! ;)
oh yeah Ambah! I say don't leave it to the last minute but I know that for me I don't retain the info unless I cram! LOL!
RPL at UniSA for EN's is pretty limited. They get NC1 off, don't do the NC2 placement (from memory), don't have to do sociology. But I think they have to do the rest. Not a lot when you think about it...
Mother Goose...I too have an assignment past due date. If i dont get it in soon I may fail it so im going to try and get it done this weekend. Its for Society and Culture....did you have to do that? What a crappy subject, I can see its relevance to Nursing but it is so boring, mostly due to the boring tutor and the lecturer is a Sociology FREAK.
I was thinking of maybe picking up an extra subject externally next year, I just don't know that I would have to motivation to actually do it without the lecturer pushing it down my throat, and I have so much going on at home that I would probably end up doing washing instead of studying. I might give it a go with an easy subject, I think a subject like biosciences would be hard to do externally though, I get quite a lot out of going to the lectures.
Oh what a great thread to have started!
I'm so wanting to become a Midwife. Firstly though, i'm going to train to be a birth attendent, starting in Jan-Feb next year. Do that for a few years and then do the course for midwifery. I can't wait!
Oh Lisa! I know exactly what you're talking about! I HATED that subject! Which essay is it? If you email me I am more than happy to email you my essay if it's the same topic and you can use it for inspiration. I really hated that subject. Almost as much as I hate nursing research!
Mother Goose.... The work that I am behind on are the Journal Entries, did you have to do those? Each journal entry is 250 words which may not sound like a lot but my first lot of jounal entries he pulled to pieces....so I have to take extra care (he is a harsh harsh man)
My essay topic was "How is stratification by socioeconomic status in society implicated in health inequalities in Australia?" (3000 words) needles to say that was NOT much fun at all !!!
Tegan...What do you have to do to become a birth attendant, I have never heard of that in SA, is that the same as a doula. It was only the other day that I heard of doulas for the first time.
OMG Lisa! We didn't have to do journal entries and our essay was actuallt nursing related! You poor thing!
Lisa - Yeah i think a birth attendent is the same as a Doula. They do the same thing anyway. I'm going to be doing a course via correspondence. It's located in Sydney and i'm in Newcastle, so it was the only way. It goes for 20 weeks and they send out books and work for you to do and you send your 'homework' back to them. In that 20 weeks you also have to attend 3 births as a trainee birth attendent(which is free for the couple that hire you) I have to find these people myself, which shouldn't be too hard with BB available! I have to write an account of these 3 births and also of the labour and birth of one of my own children and send it to them.
Actually Lisa, I think I did do that essay.... do you want me to find it for you? or have you completed it?
i have completed it ....Thank God. Did you get a good score for yours?
I think I got a Credit from memory. I have the hard copy filed and the electronic copy should be on hubby's computer. How did you do? I HATED that essay. Thankfully there aren't too many as bad as that! Although I believe the whole degree structure is changing next year so who knows what will be in store after that? But feel free to check with me about assignments, I kept everything.
Tegan that is great that you are doing a birth attendants course... I hope you find it really fulfilling, and do really well, all the best sweetie! :)
A great doula course is through Optimum Birth..it's "top notch". There are four modules that you can do in your own time (if you don't live in QLD- as I don't - you can do it distance), and you attend three birthing women before registering. It is a very comprehensive course, run by Dr. Christine Vose (an independent midwife and doula herself, who told me that if she had her time again, she'd have been a doula all along). She is a brilliant mentor, who has personally marked all my exams, even though there are other people to do that, also...and she gives fabulous feedback!
Liana, I just had a look at that site and it looks great. I take it you have finished the course ?? How was it, do you think it's as good as a class as such?? Have you done your 3 births yet??
Sorry, I know, always full of questions :)
Tegan,
Good on you for doing a Doula course first! I think it's the best way to do it, to go in with a view of normal birth - lots of people who I know who did Rhea's course in previous years have gone on to do midwifery have been disappointed that it goes into medical birth right away and that is the focus - I think all midwifery and medical (obstetric / doctor) degrees should begin with the same normal birth course - they should do the course we do!
I did lots of research before choosing to do Rhea's course, she is very well regarded in the industry and is lucky enough to rub shoulders with the like of Sheila Kitzinger and Janet Balaskas, so we were all very jealous. I hope one day I will get to meet them too!
I looked at online options which are great for those in more remote places or if you are unable to get to classes, some of the Doulas I asked about the whole thing found the online aspect great for them, others found it harder to be more disciplined and not get distracted. Personally I loved having a class to go to, as I made a whole heap of friends with the same passion and interest I had, I had instant back-ups to work with, I had access to lots of pregnant women when attending Rhea's pain workshop classes which is a course requirement (I had two couples ask me to attend their birth in one class!) and you have access to all Rhea's books and resources which saved me stacks of money having to buy books. Plus I loved my child-free days and no distraction during the learning ;)
There aren't a huge amount of courses and options at the moment, I am sure more will immerge as it gets busier / bigger and there will be more options available. At the end of the day, we all have what it takes to become a Doula or Birth Attendant, it's just tapping into that and getting out there and exposed to birth. My first birth was so much different to what I do now, although the first mum I supported did a brilliant job of letting herself take over and do her thing, so I didn't feel that there was a huge amount I could do - just reassure, be there and get her drinks and all the practical things. *aaah the memories*. It also is a good stepping stone to mid, this year three out of three of Rhea's students got accepted into mid, but I am not sure this is what I want to do. At first I wanted to, but now, being there and seeing it all, I would much rather be with a mother from start to finish one on one, not get involved with the medical aspects, not have to deal with policies and paperwork etc. I love what I do because I love talking to a mother after her birth and hearing that she had a fantastic experience - might not have gone the way she hoped - but she felt held, supported and that she had the best outcome possible.
Kelly, Rhea's course is great if you live in Victoria, but I don't. I emailed the one in Sydney (can't think of the name now) and they never responded to me. Is there any that you recommend up here.
Sorry I was just replying generally!
I have some resources here. NSW there are a couple of places, one Life Options run by Denise Love (I think she is now a doctor - Dr Love hehe!) but she is one of the long term Doula women in Australia who used to do something like 3 births a week!). She doesn't do birth support now but trains Doulas and other things. She also started up the other Doula training place in NSW, Birth Central. The links are all in the article.
Do you mean is Jan Robinson still practicing?
Sorry Kel, didn't mean for it to sound rude. Umm Jan Robinson is a midwife not a doula, I realised this after I posted which is why I removed it :)
Birth Central was the place I emailed but got no response from :(
LOL @ Dr Love. I will have a look at the links, Thank you for them.
Yep I know Jan, lots of women I know have her there :) As far as I know she is still active but who knows - the birth world changes so quick! Denise Love used to run Birth Central and I don't know when you emailed but there was a while where the online side of it was very disorganised - perhaps call? I can't recommend Denise enough - women love her and she's very mother figure like...
When I was living in Sydney, I tried to get in touch with Denise Love, but her business is now run by another woman (who's name I forget, and who was going to be my doula w/ my daughter but then said she'd be out of town)....I think many are missing Denise Love being on the scene...I believe she is still working as a doula...but perhaps is just not into the business side of things any more....anyway, I couldn't find her anywhere.
Trish...I'm just about completed...the first half of the course is all about pregnancy/birth, etc, and then I'm onto the 'starting up your business/legalieties', etc stuff. It's wonderful...as bellybelly said, it depends on the person, as some people don't like distance due to having limited motivation, but I'm so passionate about the course that it's just FUN! :) I truly love it, and it's structured in a very concise, intelligent way. With each module, you recieve books, lectures, an exam, and a C.D rom or two with various lectures, demonstrations, and presentations - all by Dr. Vose. So, if you think you'd thrive by distance, I can't recommend it enough. Also, it comes at a fairly good price for what you get - $220 per module, which you can pay as you go. (and the course includes about six-eight books to add to your "doula library". I have added to my doula library over time, mainly buying fantastic books from Capers Bookstore, online. Capers is full of great things for doulas, childbirth educators and midwives (as well as parents and parents-to-be), and I'm going to be getting a model pelvis and baby and such in time (these things all cost a great deal). As well as that, I just keep my eye open for good quality books and pregnancy yoga DVD's, etc when they're on sale, to add to by lending doula library. But yes, it does cost a bit, and I'm having to do it gradually. I've also gone through just about every book on any pregnancy/birth related subject in a couple of libraries and photo-copied relevant articles as a resource for parents....so there are a whole heap of options. Online articles are good too....just make sure you reference everything!
I haven't done my births yet for a few reasons....recently moved and been busy with the house; only started my course when my daughter was a new-born (and now 8 months) so I've been busy with her....but I'm now getting a bit of a nudge by Dr. Vose, telling me to "go go go" as I'm well and truly ready....I can't wait! So, I've just started to advertise my services on this site...and will be leaving a calling card all around town within a couple of weeks. I've attended a birth (other than my own two) in the past, as I've always wanted to be a midwife, so I'm just looking forward to it all.
Feel free to ask any questions, Trish...I'm happy to answer them! :)
I chat with Denise all the time via email, she runs Life Options, Doula course is in Waterloo, they also do HypnoDoulas. Capers is VERY expensive, get it stacks cheaper from Seek Books and eBay. One book was $20 cheaper on Seek.
Thanks for the info girls. Kelly I had Jan there when Tehya was born. She was only as a support/backup midwife and I found her to be a very calming person. There were a few times I didn't agree with her but that was soon sorted out :)
I will have a look a both Life Options and Birth Central again. I do like the idea of Optimum Birth too as I like the idea of being able to pay as I go.
Most of them do have a payment plan - so it's best to call around and chat. You usually pay a deposit and then pay in installments, I think they all do that? All up my course was $2000 which I paid throughout the year. It's so worth it though, for me it wasn't just learning about birth but myself too, it was an amazing journey. I've found more nurturing in myself that I never thought I had and it makes a difference with how I interact with family too - especially when there is pain involved ROFL! e.g. my daughter got badly scratched by the cat the other night and was howling in pain, and all the birth stuff came flooding in on coping with pain - I am long gone!!!
Kelly, I just checked out the info on Denise Love...yes, she's obviously around now! lol. I believe during the time I was finding a doula for my daughters birth, she was selling a large portion of her business to Renee Adair (the one who was going to be my doula), but Denise seems to be running more of the show now. Good! :)
Yeah, Capers is very expensive, but I do like it...I love recieving my catelogue...and I've got that 10% discount thing going, so it has its perks. I hadn't heard of Seek books, shall check it out, thanks. Have given up on ebay, as every time I've looked in their book section, they've only had very general pregnancy/birth books (the good ones probably go very quickly and I don't get in fast enough).
Trish...no prob. Yes, it's great to pay as you go..and there is no deposit, I just payed on-line and recieved all my stuff for the first module within days :) So, all up, the course is $880, or a one-off of $800 if you choose to pay that way. It's great, as I've worked at my own pace, which has allowed me to study even w/ a new baby...and during our move, I had a two-month break to concentrate on everything else, which was great. Also, there are tutors available by phone and on-line (in fact, the founder of the Melbourne Doula Network (which is very new) is a tutor for Optimum Birth, so it's a well-known and respected course (I don't trust courses until I look into them, of course...and after asking a million questions, and talking w/ Dr. Vose, it all sounded great). Dr. Vose is a brilliant woman, who is more than happy to have in-depth discussions about anything you bring up...and I love to write, so email is ideal for me. So, yeah....give her an email (and tell her I sent you.lol), and if you choose to go w/ Optimum Birth, as I said, you'd be starting immediatly, which is very exciting!! :D
Trish - I emailed Birth Central and got a reply, so maybe the email never made it? I have the info pack, if you want me to email it to you?
I wish there was a course in Newcastle, because i'd love to go to a class to do it.
when it comes time to go to the births that you need to before completing the course, where do you find the pregnant women? The only place i know is bellybelly, lol. But is there any other place i can find them?
WOW.... all this stuff is great.
Tegan...I would love a copy of the brochure as well if you wouldn't mind. You could email me at nixon_6@bigpond.net.au
Liana....What does starting your own doula business involve. I had honestly never heard of a doula until i joined bellybelly so I am wondering if there are any in SA. If there are they must all be hiding as I have had 4 babies I would have thought if there were any around that I would have heard of them. What does a doula actually do and area there any insurance nightmares, If a person hires a doula do they still have a midwife and have baby in hospital, does a doula work with the hospital, are they employed by the hospital???? Ohhh now im all confused :eek:
Tegan, Iwould a copy of that if you don't mind. Thanks heaps for that hun :)
Liana, that sounds fantastic. I like the idea of being able to study at home and fingers crossed I would be able to find ample time for it. My only worry is that after doing it, is there enough work out there. I mean are Doula's really used that much in the general community. I don't want to spend the time and of course the money if there is no work available to me. Maybe thats just my partner talking. I have spoken to him abbout it and he doesn't think there is a real need for Doula's out there. But then again he didn't see the need for a private midwife or a homebirth when we could have one in hospital for nothing.. Men!! LOL.
Trish....I have the same worry, would there be any work out there for doulas. I just looked up the doulas in SA and there is only ONE!!! i have just emailed her to ask about her experience of being a doula. Being a doula sounds fantastic but one income and 4 children just isn't working for us so I need to be in a paying job.
Kelly....I hear what your saying about kid free days. I have 3 days a week at Uni and I love the contact with other people in the same position as me and being kid free for a while. I love my kids but every parent needs a bit of time out.
Are there any particular doula courses that you recommend? I have looked up birthcentral but its not good as I live in SA and I looked up otimumbirth and their course sounds perfect for me. Are any of the courses better than others or any to avoid?
Lea....If you are going to apply to sit the STAT test I have a couple of the sample question books. You could borrow them and have a look through if you like. It will help you to prepare.
Mother Goose....did you have to do a journal entry on Religion for Society and Culture? I am well and truly stuck. The question i have to answer is " What are the major sociological perspectives concerning religion as a social insitution?" WTF??? I can't find anything on sociological perspectives let alone the major ones, not even on wikipedia and EVERYTHING is in wikipedia???? :help:
Hi Lisa, nope didn't have to do it. But break the Q down.
Sociological perspectives
Religion as a Social institution
How does society perceive relgion? - sociological persperctives
What ARE sociological perspectives?
How is religion considered a social institution? - Religion as a Social institution
How does religion impact on society?
How do people intergrate religious society and "general" society?
Focus on things like homosexuality, contraception, marriage, sexual relations, abortion (all things relgion usually has a different opinion about than wider society)
Talk about the reaction of society to things like homosexuality (for example) compared to the reaction of the church.
I found the text books useless in this subject. Use the Uni database instead. Did a quick search using "social Perspectives" and "Religion" on academic search elite and these were some of the results. Included are some books you might be able to borrow at the library if you are able to get there. Also try your local library for stuff, I found they normally have a bit.
Page 35 of "Society and Culture: A sociological introduction to contemporary Australia 2nd Ed" has stuff on the theoretical perspectives which will help - I assume this is still the standard text? Can't believe I still have it!Chapter 20 of Sociology Australian Connections 2nd Ed (Jureidini and Poole) also covers religion in society.
Race, Religion, and Caste: Anthropological and Sociological Perspectives.
Source: Comparative Sociology (1569-1322); Volume: 1; Issue: 2; Date: 2002
CATHOLICS IN ENGLAND 1950-2000: HISTORICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES (Book). By: O'Leary, Richard. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Mar2001, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p138-139, 2p; (AN 14266507)
Religion in Australia: Sociological Perspectives (Book). By: Bouma, Gary D.; Bouma, Donald H.. Review of Religious Research, Sep93, Vol. 35 Issue 1, p86-87, 2p; (AN 11062113)
Religious Change and Continuity: Sociological Perspectives (Book). By: Roof, Wade Clark. Social Forces, Dec80, Vol. 59 Issue 2, p552-553, 2p; (AN 5281398)
PDF Full Text (124K)
Good luck! When's it due?
Not only are Seek Books cheaper, it is also an affiliate of BellyBelly, so if you make purchases via the link in the directory, we get a small percent of sales, but the main thing is they are cheap and have a massive range. :)
Renee did buy it from Denise I think.
If anyone is looking for a Doula, you can check out our Doula Locator - check the link at the top of these forums, or you can email me if you can't find anyone and I will get names through word of mouth.
There's never been a better time to become a Doula when the system is not great, plus lots of publicity is starting to prop up. Coles Baby interviewed me for their spring edition which is a 500 word story. Coles Baby is the most widely distributed parenting mag I think they said. Also I am doing an article of similar length for the Nappy Bag Book - so lots of publicity to come. I am working really hard to promote Birth Support in the industry... it WILL grow.
As one midwife confided in me, she felt that, 'the way things are going, if you want support during labour in hospitals, you'll have to pay for your own...' I also spoke to an influential person in the birth & MCH industry this week who also said even birth centres are turning into simply low-risk maternity units - she is seeing lots of changes with birth centres too.
We need to infiltrate the system full of people passionate to make change. Power in numbers.
Lisa76 - starting your own doula business means registering a business name (in most cases, probably.lol), and getting the word out there, by advertising in magazines, on the net, in bith centres/hospitals/family health clinics/libraries/wherever, really! You have to have all business stuff set up for tax purposes, etc, of course, and you must abide by the regulations of being a doula (I'm a bit scattered...just found out my sister is expecting her first child, and I'm all excited!! :) You find your own clients, and arrange for them to interview you, and then arrange pre-natal catch-ups, where you help them organise a birth plan and get to know them, as well as offer any informational support they may want (such as if they want a water birth, you could loan them books/D.V.D's on that). (ah, all jittery with excitement!!) where was I?..... A doula does not perform anything medical (it is completely against the law, as a doula has no medical training....also, even if she is otherwise trained asa midwife or other health-care-professional, she is only allowed to act as a doula if hired as such). So, yes, a doula is an extra support person, there to help the mother in any physical/emotional and informational way, without doing anything medical, and without offering personal opinion. It doesn't matter what the doulas beliefs are, she is there to help you achieve the birth YOU want, and to offe nothing but kind-hearted support. A doula is also there to help any other support people through the birth. Husbands/sisters/mothers/friend may fear the fact that their loved-one is in pain, and sway them into intervention they may not really want or need. A doula, understanding the reasons behind the pain of childbirth, and having whitnessed/and understanding the normal physiology of labour can help keep the room a calm, peaceful and happy place...and therefore aid the natural progression of labour, as the mother has that space to just "go within" and "go with the flow", and endorphins can do their thing, etc. Doulas are not employed by the hospitals, they are currently hired privetly by the individual. Any other questions, don't hesitate to ask! Oh, and insurance is not a worry, as doulas do not perform any medical task - they are purely there to assist the mother in natural ways, and as long as they don't cross the boundaries of their roll, all is good. To date, no doula has been taken to court.
Trish - lol! Is there a need - Yes! Just as much need as there is for independent midwives and home births....if we want to cut the terrible intervention rate (the casarean rate is 50% in some hospitals!!), women need access to people like doulas, who drop intervention rates dramatically....I could get the numbers for you, if you like...don't have them at hand. Having recently birthed in Sydney, I found doulas to be VERY popular there, but far less known of here in Melbourne (where the word is really beginning to get out there, though). As far as work goes, one must be extremely passionate about the work of the doula to become one, as one can't make a bucket-load from it, and most women just have 1-2 clients a month at most (or less if they are busy with a young family themselves). Due to the nature of the job, there is always the risk of women going into labour at the same time, or women needing you at their three-day birth journey (which, no doubt would leave anyone feeling drained). If you have the passion though, becoming a doula and having the honor to assist a woman during this time, must be one of the most rewarding roles there is! :)
Here's some more info and Doula stories: Answering an Ancient Call: Supporting Women in Labour.
Mother Goose.... THANKYOU so much for all your help. I have now finished all my work and posted it in. Phewww, I am so glad it is all finished and hopefully if i pass :crossfingers: I will never have to think about that subject again. Society and Culture has to be the worst of the lot, although having said that I can see it's relevance to nursing. Thanks again, you have been fantastic :hug:
Good for you Lisa! And not a problem. If you want to email me, my Uni ID is NITNL001 and my last name is Dewhurst - just look me up in the directory and flick me an email. I hope what I wrote actually helped you. I think I must have blocked that subject out of my mind!
I did my last exam today and am pretty nervous about it.... Hopefully I passed! But I got my NC5 results and got a C - 1 point off a D which really annoyed me but that's life!
Good luck with your results!
Lisa and Trish, i've just emailed you the info on Birth Central. Sorry it's taken a while! Let me know if there's any problems.
Hi everyone. Just wanted to say I did 2.5yrs of my Bach of N and stupid me didn't finish it. I have become very disillusioned by the industry lately and I am starting to look in other directions. The main subject I had problems with was Sociology. I had a lecturer who was Deaf in both ears and hence spoke in a mono tone and put me to sleep every lecture or tut without fail. Hence the reason I didn't pass the two times I attempted that course. Part of me wishes I had've finished as then I could have gone on to do Midwifery or something instead of being a sh*t kicker in a nursing home. My Dh is now pushing me to go back to work. he claims for financial reasons (we just bought a house but are coping well on just one wage). He doesn't understand that putting the kids in any type of care eats away any benefit from working...*GRR* Sorry bout the vent. Am almost to the point of leaving him atm and no-one in my family seems to want to hear it. They know how he treats me and they all say it's wrong, but it's up to me to fix it, yet how can I when he makes me feel so inferrior and worthless? When he cuts me off and won't let me finish? When my brain won't let me get what I feel out properly? Ok. Enough ranting and raving.
I'm not even sure I remember overly much from what I learnt at Uni. But maybe in time I will go back and finish it. Anyone else sick of the politics beind nursing institutions??