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Student Midwives: Born into debt and delivered to the dole

Discussion in 'Midwifery News' started by Fairydust, Nov 26, 2009.

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  1. faloola Member

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    Re: Student Midwives: Born into debt and graduating to the dole

    Interesting reading, I would like to add that I felt quite reassure at the RCM student midwife conference as so many NHS trusts were there 'wooing' us students. I was also chatting to a lovely consultant midwife, who said that student midwives are in such demand and are like 'gold-dust' as so many are retiring in the next 10 years so lets feel reassured by this ;)
    faloola, Nov 28, 2009
    #11

  2. Butterfly Senior Manager and Midwifery Survivor!

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    Re: Student Midwives: Born into debt and graduating to the dole

    I get where they're coming from, I'm 8 months off qualification and the job situation in my area is not looking good, although saying that, i'm not up for applying there anyway and am prepared to be very flexible (ie. move halfway down the country) to get a job, so fingers crossed I won't have too much trouble!

    Can totally see the thing about finances however, it gets me down and i'm not even in anywhere near as much trouble as some of the students I know. The bursary should be double what it is, it's not realistic to live on what they currently give us, particularly if you have a family too!

    As for short staffing, sometimes I feel utterly on my own, particulalrly when you take a woman off the ward round to labour ward and end up staying to catch her baby because there are literally no midwives to take her (not that I minded getting 'hands on' but it was just the fact that I was down the corridor, with no allocated mentor or midwife and I jut had to pull the buzzer when I could see the head :(). That kind of situation, luckily, is not continual and the majority of the time you have got the people there that you need.

    It will get better (I hope); more students=more midwives= more mentors to mentor students and given them a positive experience.

    xx
    Butterfly, Nov 28, 2009
    #12

  3. guest2928 New Member

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    Re: Student Midwives: Born into debt and graduating to the dole

    What is interesting is that there are many graduates with lots of debts - exactly why should nhs students be treated differently? more pressue on nhs for burserys will perhaps lead to worse working conditions.

    Me? im thank full what little we get reduces what debt we would of had! and of course we dont have fees either.

    After all its is one of the better paying jobs - midwifery is the 6th highest paid gradute profession, and we can pratice worldwide - nearly, so what debt we have is manageable once we have a job. At my interview the midwife did confirm that the funding for midwifes was coming through from the government and their case loads have halfed in size, and they have not yet got all the funding promissed.

    Be thanks full you dont want to do something like english or psychology IF you can get a job you will be earning around £12k- now dont all apply at once!
    guest2928, Nov 29, 2009
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  4. AngelinDisguise New Member

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    Re: Student Midwives: Born into debt and graduating to the dole

    Well said! :clap:

    I think we live in a dependency culture whereby everyone thinks that society owes them a living. HOWEVER, where else do you get paid to go to university and do something you love? Yes okay, you are doing placements and working shifts, which makes it hard to find other work, BUT that is why you have the loans and such like available. If you add it all up, the benefits your entitled to, the childcare, the bursury, the free travel, the reduced study fees etc...i'll bet you fare much better than if you were working full time at minimum wage and you're getting trained at the same time!
    AngelinDisguise, Nov 29, 2009
    #14

  5. bf3107 Active Member

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    bf3107, Dec 15, 2011
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  6. bf3107 Active Member

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    Ooooopps sorry fairydust, I just reposted this article didn't see yours **hides in shame**
    bf3107, Dec 15, 2011
    #16
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