Ways to approach your midwife to get your CAD signed off..?

Hey student midwives!

Is anyone else struggling with getting there CAD's (clinical assessment documents) signed off by there mentors in placements? I'm finding that the moment it even gets mentioned to a mentor they either shake it off or suddenly declare it's not in there remit to be doing interviews or signing off assessments! I'm well aware that mentors are 'supposed' to set aside some time every week with you, be that on labour ward or in the community,but this rarely happens as there just isn't ever the time. Anyone else had this problem? How is everyone tackling this without coming across as a pest, chasing your midwife down the halls with your CAD in hand!

While waiting for handover to finish, and our woman was on the phone, I cornered my named sign off mentor (bearing in mind I had only two weeks to get everything signed off at this point) and asked her about it and said I was worried about getting things signed off.
She'd been telling me all along, oh it's fine, you're well on track to acheive everything... but never actually signed anything off. Still only have two things signed off, but she's promised that we'll sit down on our last couple of shifts and go through everything one by one and get them signed off finally!!
Do you a have a single named mentor? It is hard to just put yourself out there and stand up to them so to speak, but it does need to be done,and I'm sure you'll find someone willing to sit down with you and sort it out

Have had a man sign off mentor for my last lot of placement and eventually got it all signed off when she realised that there was literally no other time to do it and would face my link lecturer if it wasn't signed! I'm normally very proactive and forward when I need to be but I'm struggling to put my foot down as I don't want to make things difficult for myself next time I'm back on that allocation! I'm just not understanding how the majority of sign off mentors don't seem to think that going through our CAD's is part of their role and then palm it off in the hope of it going away! It's very difficult!!

I know you're worried about future allocations.. But it really is something that needs doing. Do you have an email for your mentor? could you email her between shifts and ask if you can arrange a time to sit down and go through it?
You might find that easier than saying anything face to face.

It isn't easy but it is why you are there. I had this problem a fair few times. I would have.my book ready to go by my first day and explain that I have to do it and say can we do it bit by bit as we go along. In small doses over a few shifts, it's easier. If things are getting tight you need to just politely ask can we sit down at some point this week and do it, it needs to be done by such a date. If you keep meeting resistance can you talk to your link lecturer or clinical facilitator? Their roles are there to help you arrange a date or help to arrange cover so you can sit down together and do it.

I personally identified one or two things each shift and got her to quickly sign and make a comment. That way there is less to do at the end.


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I do the same as with woman.. i.e., "So today I've handed over that woman to the group and worked with a couple who had communication difficulties, could you write something here and here please" They're usually fine with a couple of boxes, it's being faced with an entire book that freaks people out!!

I kind of just say most shifts, if we get free time can we please have alook at my doccument? now she knows when its quiet we get it done x