Hi i'm thinking about going to university and studying midwifery. I'd have to do an access course first though but i need to be 100% sure before i make my decision, so i'm wondering if anyone else is, or has recently studied nursing or midwifery.
I've done a little research on the net but would like to hear about peoples experiences and how difficult the work load is.
The thing that worries me is that i have a 2yr old daughter (well she's almost 2) so i don't know how difficult it will be to juggle, and i also have post natal depression (i'm over the worst now) but if i have a really bad day i can't concentrate at all.

Hi Elise,

I am a Student adult nurse, Semester 4. When I started my little boy was about 10 months, he is now 2 and half.

It can be hard to juggle, you need a lot of support and be prepared for late nights.

I am currently catching up before hitting the books as I have just put him to bed. It helps that we have a routine.

Try the RCN website it has a lot of useful links on it and advice. I was going to do Midwifery, but due to my age and family I was advised to do adult, as no jobs in Scotland and I don't want to travel any more.

If like me nursing is something you really want to do, go for it!

Let me know if I can help further

Thanx julie!

I spoke to learn direct today and was told there was 3 options.
1) Higher education diploma in midwifery for 2 years full time.
2) Degree in midwifery for 3 years full time.
Which would both require me to complete a 1 year access course, or
3) Diploma in nursing for 2 years full time and them a comversion to midwifery course which would be 1 year and would not require any access course.

There are so many options and i'm being flooded with information but i think option 3 sounds good because it means i'll have more options at the end of the course. Because as you know midwife jobs can be hard to come by!!

How difficult is the work? Do they give you so much information at one time that it's hard to take in??
Do you have lots of different assignments at once?
I'm worried that i might not be able to cope with the work load, I'm not worried that the work will be hard for me to understand i know i have the ability to do the work to a high standard. I've always been a good learner but in the past i didn't have a home and family to deal with.

Sorry i'm bombarding you with questions!!

No worries, happy to help.

It may be best to contact your local Uni, as I had three uni options and all three do the qualification slightly different.

My course is three years (some people also do an additional access course at local college).

The first year is a common foundation course (midwife/adult and mental health) which everyone does.

The second year is when you split in to your branch.

Depending on your grades, the third year is either the diploma or degree route.

I would recommend doing Adult if you are not 100% set on midwifery and then doing an access course at the end if you still wish to go in to midwifery.

I am currently doing 5 week blocks (5 weeks college, then 5 weeks placement). You do get a lot of information, the way I cope, is to use your study time wisely. I get one day a week at college off, and use it to catch up on work, you also get free-time throughout the timetable.

I have 4 essays to do at the moment and I am a little stressed, but I always manage to get the work done at the end.

You do get used to the work load and the lecturers are always happy to help.

Here here debs!!

And there are so many fully qualified midwives out there but they aren't employed as midwives. Something needs to be done about the situation as obviously there are not enough midwives in our hospitals!!

i was studying an acsess course last year im wanting to do midwifery as well. The work load is full on and very heavy so be prepared to have no life for a year,  I had to quit due to children , juggling the work load and 2 kids + housework was  realy hard. Im going back in september for another shot im more prepared now and know what i must do it wont be any easier but i must do this.   Its worth doing if this is what you want to do but be prepared for the work load, tiredness and lots of  presentations :( .  best of luck hope  it works for you.

Hi

 I have been qualified for 3 yrs now as a nurse, I did a 2 yr access course then 3 yrs at uni. My children where 6 months and 3 1/2 when i started my access course. I have also a speacil needs child. If you have yr heart set on nursing as long as you are organised and have good time management you will be fine.Start your revision and essays as soon as you get them. You also need good child care for nights, week ends as the wards dont agree with excuses off children as they say you have to do various hours when u qualify.

 Good luck