Just thought I'd reassure you students and would be students that you are not alone in learning new skills.

I've been struggling with cannulation (inserting a cannula or venflon into a vein for a drip to run through). I did the training package a year ago. But it's taken me ages to get the clinical practice and to become competent.

Well, the last few times I've sited a cannula it's gone well and today I really felt that I knew what I was doing and sited one very smoothly and with minimal effort! So, I am well pleased.

I have one more to do and get signed off, then I shall be deemed "competent" and be able to site them unsupervised.

So, we are all learning. Some of us are just a bit further down the line.

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Shoshana, you make a very good point, as always

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Josie
StudentMidwife.NET Co-founder & Director

Thanks Josie - it's good to share.

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What about suturing? Hows that going? Are you doing/have you done a preceptorship package? Just wondered if they prefer/insist on you having these skills??

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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)

Suturing I started at the end of my training and completed the package very early on in my career. It may sound odd, but I actually quite enjoy doing it!

The trust where I work are very supportive with regards to training midwives to suture and there are always lots of experienced midwives happy to give advise, which was a great help.

I am mentoring, but have not yet done the course. I am booked onto this in September. So, in the short term I can only do a certain amount of the paperwork for my student. She has a second mentor who is more experienced than me and can support me, as well as do more documentation for my student and attend tripartites etc.

The other "extended skill" that I need to do is IV drugs. I did book onto the course, but there are not enough staff in the unit that week to enable me to attend, due to annual leave. I will do it, one day.

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It's very reassuring to hear that even qualified midwives have to carry on learning, and that it's not just us students and students to be.

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I'm in, thanks & 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)

Even when qualified learning never stops. There are always expanded roles or things are always changing, new medications, changes in paperwork, new iv pumps being introduced.

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misscurious x

My mentor is just finishing her degree, she originally did the diploma, and is topping that up to a degree level.

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I'm in, thanks & 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)

i did my IV additives and SP catheters as an RN. mentorship was part of our RN undergraduate course and we just needed to attend an update but as of this year there is a change and it can only be undertaken post reg as it is in england... so im glad i got mine done and out the way.

i have just completed my cervical cytology module although still have my reflection to write up but have achieved all my smears. hoping to a counselling course which will be useful for termination counselling and help me develop my skills.

have done lots of wee courses (eg breastfeeding update, child protection level 2, weaning, assessor of Family planning students) during the past year on top of mandatory training.

hope to do some post graduate study at some point too.

Gosh Lulu! You've been busy since qualifying. I'm a plodder, but I'm happy with that. It takes me a bit longer than some, but I get there in the end.

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