A week in the life of a student midwife

Friday
Instead of going to university today we had a directed study day based around the Morecambe Bay Investigation.  It didn’t make for very pleasant reading.  If you haven’t read it, I would encourage you to do so.  It would be a fantastic thing to discuss in any interviews you may have.  For me it reminded me of the importance of multidisciplinary working and effective communication.  Professional relationships can be a tricky thing to negotiate, especially in the high pressure environment of the labour ward.  The most important thing is to ensure the woman remains at the centre of everyone’s focus and this will hopefully ensure a positive outcome for everyone.

Saturday and Sunday
My weekend started with work; the final session of antenatal education.  It was brilliant once again.  I learnt so much about how a baby’s brain develops.  For example, I didn’t realise that a baby could recognise its mother by smell from birth, by sound at 10 days old and by sight at 3 months.
After this, I made my way to the outskirts of London to spend a couple of days with an old friend.  We watched some (terrible) films and drank lots of tea.  She is 6 months pregnant so she had lots of questions and I was able to share with her what I had learnt in the morning.  It was delightful.

Monday
Back to work, and I was in clinic all day.  Back-to-back appointments can be quite draining but it also gave me an opportunity to practice my clinical skills in abdominal palpation, fetal heart auscultation, blood pressure reading and taking blood.  I am getting to grips with planning care and what happens at each appointment, but there is a lot to remember.
I am so looking forward to the day that I have my own clinic.  I have always felt most comfortable working in the community; I enjoy seeing the women throughout their pregnancy and building a rapport with them.  It is also wonderful to have a cuddle with their new baby when they come home!

Tuesday
Another clinic today, but mostly for postnatal women which meant different clinical skills to practice.  Newborn blood spot tests, infant checks, weighing and breastfeeding support to name just a few.
After work, I rushed back home to get changed and then met a friend to go to the cinema.  We saw Will Smith’s new film- Focus.  I really enjoyed it, and not just because of the numerous topless scenes!

Wednesday
Although I was on a late shift, my morning was filled with a course meeting.  As I am set rep I have to go to various meetings from time to time.  Today’s meeting was a forum for the set reps to bring any concerns or questions to the teaching team.  It’s wonderful to have such an open interaction with the staff and to know they value our opinion so much.
The meeting ran a little late so I raced (whilst keeping to the speed limit of course) across town to meet my community mentor.  I had the most amazing shift and it was the perfect ending to my community placement.  I am looking forward to returning to delivery suite next week though, and getting my remaining 11 births!

Thursday
Finally, a day off!  After sleeping in and cleaning my bathroom, I sat down to work quite a lot later than I had hoped.  I am starting to make some headway with my dissertation but not enough to own up to my word count!  I was very grateful for the fantastic library resources available at UoB today.  My first literature search brought up over 6000 results!
This afternoon I popped into town to get a birthday card for my step-mum and have dinner with a friend before coming home and doing some revision for our interview preparation day tomorrow.

See you next week!

Where is the time going???

Hi All,

It's that time of week again when I say hello from a lovely sunny Sunday in Luton. Anyone would think it is summer?

I have had another busy week at the hospital, working a mixture of early and long shifts on the ward. The only work I still have to submit are my assessment booklet from this placement and my skills log, which needs to be completely signed off by the time I finish this placement so I am trying to get the last few sorted.

I received my grade back for my degree project yesterday-B+! Very happy with that I had been expecting maybe a C grade so still have the potential to get a First class degree with Honours (albeit a small chance...just have to keep everything crossed!).

I'm still awaiting a location for my job in September, as despite the job offer months ago, I still need to be allocated a hospital in the county. For all of those students who have applied to the Luton & Dunstable Hospital; they have all had interviews and have been told whether they have been offered a position. If it wasn't for my partner living in another part of the country I definitely would have stayed in the area as have found the hospital and the staff so facilitating, and it is a shame I cannot start my career there.

I may be writing a little earlier next week as have a very busy 8days planned. Will be working three early shifts and two long shifts Mon-Fri, then am away for the weekend to visit my other half before driving back to get to University to polish up my nursing portfolio. Then the week starts again! Potentially two weeks tomorrow I will be getting my assessment booklet signed off stating that they believe I am fit to be a nurse. Rather nerve-racking!

Right...best be off! Time really is flying by...never under estimate how quickly it can go!

Chat next week :)
Em x

Juggling student

Hello again!

I've titled this post 'juggling student' as you will find over time during your study that for any course which requires part work experience you will be required to multitask.

I have always been very much a give one thing 100% at any one time, but I have found (especially during year three) that you are expected to work on a number of things at once. As previously mentioned I am currently on my first placement of my final year, and am working three 12.5hr shifts each week-including night shifts. I previously worked full time prior to this course and shift work was not a new thing to me, but back then I had the luxury of being able to fill my days off with social life, duvet days and other activities; none of which included study.

This week for example, I got back on Monday from a long weekend away catching up with my partner and to watch a gig. On the Tuesday I had planned to sleep all day in preparation for a night shift...this did not happen (wide awake by 11am). Following my night shift I got home yesterday morning, had some food then attended a two hour lecture at uni before getting home and collapsing into bed after 27hrs conscious. I am on two long shifts over the weekend and am catching up on a bit of study today. Naturally I am drawn to sleeping through the whole of today, but as I have a degree project to work on and an essay due in January, I must convince myself to use any days off wisely, despite my body's attempts of rebelling.


Admittedly I only need to attend three short lectures throughout this 10week placement, and this taking place following a night shift is a rarity for me. Part of me has been tempted to write off a few days off to do absolutely nothing and catch up over Christmas leave, but then throughout January-March I will be having an exam, an OSCE and giving a presentation, so I will need to start prep for that also!

My motivation to keep going is that this time next year I will be graduating. In around six months time I will be applying for jobs ready for a September start. Everyone has their own motivations. But you also need to find your own ways of coping and own rewards. For some it is a holiday to Ibiza. Others a concert. For some students they are also mums and dads, and I cannot begin to understand how hard working they are...although from observation I feel they have adapted and are more able to multitask, but they deserve so much credit in my opinion. I have bite size rewards in place. I am not seeing my partner for another month, but instead he is my reward at the end of placement when Christmas begins. No matter how manic things get, remember to take time out and switch off! It will help keep you going!

Thanks for reading, will say hello next week for a catch up and hopefully post a video in the next few weeks if I can figure out how to use my webcam!

Emma x