You will be back, Josie.. You're like a bad smell.. you don't drift too far away Everyone will help and support you when you return to year three, and if you expected to go back with rose-tints on, well you know yourself you'd be being completely unrealistic... Now... BREATHE!!!

God, sounds like some midwives are complete b*tches... But to be honest.. what else would you expect working with primarily women all day long every day... Sorry ladies.. its what we do best

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I would rather talk to no one than be bitchy about/to someone. As far as I am concerned, if you've got nothing nice or helpful/supportive to say....then say nothing!

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Bless you Mum & Dad x
Student Midwife 2007

Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

totally agree with missy 100% I can not stand bitcheness x x

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Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

Bless you guys I will definatley finish the course but its a case of where and so when. I LOVE midwifery, as you can tell by me having this site in the first place! its been my dream to care for women, babies and families for years and Im not going to let anyone take that away from me, but I wish I felt more comfortable with going back to where I was. Funnily enough since my original post I feel alot better for getting it off my chest IYKWIM and it still rings in my ears when I feel down about it when my course head insisted she would only let me have a year off if I promised Id go back as it would be a great loss to midwifery if I didnt......that always makes me smile

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director



MidwiferyWorld.NET our sister site for Senior Students and Midwives is now live, tell your mentors and tutors!

come work with me

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Love Dory xxx
Just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin'....

Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

...... thats kinda in my mind tbh D xx

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director



MidwiferyWorld.NET our sister site for Senior Students and Midwives is now live, tell your mentors and tutors!

bumping this thread up again. Anyone not voted please do and post your story!

Mine is now much more positive.

I bit the bullet and asked to change my mentor. It was the best thing I ever did. She is terrific, encouraging, humble (amazing as she is a very good midwife) for thefirst time ever she asks me if there is paperwork to be done and enthuses there is much to sign off (!!!)

She is very keen to help me overcome any practical tasks I am struggling with (VE'S, I am rubbish at them) and doesn't rip me to shreds when things go wrong.

I am enjoying a rest after being in clinical placement since Jan and am going back for two weeks afterwards, for the first time this year i am looking forward to it and looking forward to seeing my mentor.

My old mentor however is not talking to me...Oh well...

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Fortunately for me, most of my experience on placement with given mentors has been a positive one. Especially my community midwife, who is a fantastic midwife but able to teach me things, whilst remaining postive and supportive, she also has a great sense of humour! This helped us to hit it off right from the start. My mentor on delivery suite for the majority of my placement was also good, kind and patient. The only difficulty I've found was on a 4 week delivery suite placement, having 8 different mentors, no continuity. I find this hardest of all because each one wants things done a different way and you end up so confused and looking and feeling stupid. Not only that, each different mentor isn't aware of what you have learnt so far, what you can do and what you don't feel confident doing. Sometimes (due to the nature of midwifery) there isn't time to have this necessary discussion with them. I feel there needs to be one midwife whose role it is to allocate students to mentors, does it in such a way that constant chopping and changing doesn't occur. I also feel that the link tutor to the placement, needs to keep an eye on this (as ours does) and supports and promotes continuity. I really feel for all of you who have had difficulties, but find the courage if you can to speak up if things aren't going well, because it is so important. I'm sure our lecturers and tutors want us to have the optimum experience possible. Best wishes to all of you and I hope your next placement goes well.

We have a named student allocations midwife, she is very approachable and efficient. And very capable, she ensures we spend at least 50% of our placement working with our primary mentor, with the rest spent with associate mentors (we have two others)

I know what you mean though, I have had this as have most of my cohort. It is really difficult. Everyone does things differently. I ask each now how they do this and that and try to learn their way, as you say though there is not always time for that!

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Am I right in thinking that you are supposed to work a certain amount of time/shifts with your mentor during a placement?

What happens/is supposed to happen if you don't? I think I already know the answer, but will ask anyway.

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Bless you Mum & Dad x
Student Midwife 2007

Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)