I went on shift this morning for an early, my usual mentor is off this week so gave me a rota this week to follow a certain midwife, only I got in this morning and she wasn't in, and then I found out that another student is actually allocated to her already anyway.
I was put with someone today who I enjoyed woking with, but I can't follow her shifts all this week, she just told me to turn up to the shifts I have been given and they will sort me out when I arrive. But I somehow think they will be unhappy about this. So I might be asking a stupid question, but should I do as she says, or should I call before my late shift tomorrow to make sure someone will be available to have me tomorrow and Thursday.
Feel really angry with my mentor for not checking that the person she put as a backup for me already had a student who was starting wth her today.

We usually have a main mentor and a deputy, and they share us between other students, its often not up to the mentors to sort out, perhaps she didn't know the other student was working.
We just got used being passed from pillar to post in the end I gave up caring, I did my own off duty (as we all do at my trust now) and put myself on with people who didn't have a student that day.
Its harder in the 1st year, but after 4 years now, no-one seems to mind x

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Forum Buddy


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)

Hi

Sorry that you have been messed about a bit. Maybe the other midwife agreed to have two students??? Your original mentor surely wouldn't have just assumed someone else would mentor you without checking first.

I would suggest that you do as you have been told and turn up for the shifts that you were allocated. I know it doesn't feel right but if you try and change things they might make assumptions about you.

Do what you feel is right and I hope it works out for you.

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Coffeebean xx


Student Midwife

This sounds all too familiar to me, I had the same problem on my last placement, it is so annoying and puts you off going in each day.

I would go in for the shifts you have been given and see what happens, it is far from ideal, but they will have to find you someone to work with. Hope it works out ok for you.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

Thanks.
I will turn in as usual tomorrow then. My mentor did put me with this other midwife before speaking to her, she told me she would 'tell' her (rather than ask), and this was on my last shift with her last week, so I have no idea if she was informed or not.
I seriously doubt she would have 2 students, shift leader also said that was a definite no no. I just hate feeling like its my fault, when it clearly isn't. I should have an allocated back up mentor, and I haven't. Oh well, I will plod along as usual. Thing is, I am discovering after working with different midwives, that I don't want to go back to original mentor (shes OK, but others are better ...oops)... would be nice to stick with someone who knows where I'm upto instead of explaining all the time ..lol.

That is exactly what happened to me, i worked with so many different midwives during my last placement I lost count. It is so annoying to have to keep saying...yes i have done that...no don't know how to do that grrrr.

Just keep in mind it isn't your fault, although I agree it does feel like it at the time.

I have sorted things out for my next placement on there, and now feel able to go back, which I didn't when I finished.

I didn't have a back up mentor either, but I am going to ask about it on Monday when I am back out on placement.
Good louck hun, hope it gets sorted. xx

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

Sorry to hear about the time you're having FF, mentorship makes all the difference, not just to what you learn, but also your confidence I think. Drives me mad - where I work we have students having similar experiences, or being allocated several mentors for each placement and not working enough shifts with any of them for the mentors to feel able to form a real assessment of the student, or being allocated to work with newly qualified staff who haven't done the mentorship module so can't sign paperwork off.. Meanwhile there are people like me, on nights, who have done the training and are more than happy to have a student, but they don;t allocate students to us as they say students don't like nights.

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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)

Have you been behind me on placement Dory???? If it meant I could have worked with a mentor for more than two days, then I would happily have done nights, but it wasn't an option I was given.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

Its amazing just how much feeling like a spare part can zap your confidence. This was familiar on my Year 2 del placement...

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It's the same in our trust - I only have a set mentor for Community, everywhere else it's work with whoever.

It's been ok though, I have seen things done in so many ways I now practice my way no matter who I'm with. And echoing Tracyb, we, now in year three rota ourselves.

Don't worry freefall look upon it as a positive experience, working with a different person each shift you may learn something you may never have learnt.