its a long road!!!!

am feeling a bit disheartened today... I am doing an open uni course to get recent quals (completed my degree 7 years ago. the grades so far are ok, averaging at about 75-80. But its the experience that's worrying me.
I am now a lone parent, and really want to go back to work just 2 days a week, just to get LO into nursery and give me a break. I am applying to all the HCA roles (no MCA available) at the hospital, as well as anything related to maternity care and have applied for voluntary work... but nothing. I have a lot of informal care experience, as well as managerial experience and working in public services. but nothing. what have I got to do to get a break!??!
I am applying for another role today - I again meet all the person specs and have done a killer of a personal statement... but I am so worried that if I cant impress enough on something like this - how I am ever going to impress the uni?! I can only apply for the one too, its close by and I cant uproot my daughter from here. I dont expect it to be easy, far from it, I am just worrying!
any tips on how to get experience?!?! it justs seems like a really long road to travel, but one that I wont give up on! no way.
sorry to whine, had a rubbish day to boot :-(

Hi Amanda...!

Experience is not the huge deal that people make it out to be... I have NO care experience whatsoever and got accepted first year of applying. Of course, experience is a good to have, it shows commitment, passion etc... but it is not a deal-breaker. I would suggest that you ring your local hospital and GP surgery to see if they are able to help you and stick with the HCA applications.

Being accepted onto a midwifery degree is not the same as being accepted for a HCA post so don't get yourself worked up about that... In my limited experience it is passion, determination, willingness to learn and being aware of a midwives role in every aspect of care, amongst other things, that gets you an interview for the midwifery degree. You obviously have the passion and determination to make it and I'm sure you will! There are lots of fantastic people here on this site that will do all they can to help you, myself included, so any problems then just yell!

Please don't be disheartened re: job applications. You'll get your break soon!!

Best of luck to you.

xx

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StudentMidwife.NET Administrator (aka The Welsh One )
PAB Support Worker

ah thanks Kate - really helpful! I think I should try and remember that it is totally different from a job application... for a start, the course I am applying to is very child friendly - the theory hours are actually set to be more accommodating for parents, and perhaps when applying for a job I could be seen as not being flexible enough as I could literally only do those set days. Of course, by the time the course starts in September 2009, my daughter will be much older and able to stay at other houses without missing me too much.
I will keep trying for the experience - my thought is that if I am returning to work, why not make it relevant? every little helps and all that...
thanks again!
A x

Very true! Stick with it, you'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish!

You could also try contacting NCT, I'm sure they do courses in antenatal care etc... Worth finding out about!

xx

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StudentMidwife.NET Administrator (aka The Welsh One )
PAB Support Worker

Hiya, and welcome to the site.

I am another one who was accepted without any maternity care (or any type of hospital type) experience. Options you could explore given that there are no MCA positions available locally could be to contact the NCT and ask if they would let you sit in on a parent ed course as a learning experience, and also try phoning your local maternity unit as some units have volunteer helpers on the wards.

Worth a try...

Another thing you could do is to start reading some midwifery journals - a good one to get a flavour of midwifery is the practising midwife. They do a student rate which is good (I can't remember how much but I'm sure someone here will know, I managed to get the student rate before I had a place on the course by explaining I was at the application stage and wanted to read the journal to gain an insight into the current issues on midwifery.

Good luck!

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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)

thanks Dory - I subscribe to the PM (its £20, which is an absolute bargain!) and am learning so much just from that. Thanks for the other tips - I am awaiting the NCT to come back to me, at the moment its a bit tricky as I dont have a car so getting to the groups is awkward, but its something that can be resolved (I'm thinking pushbike!).
Good to hear that students are taken on without experience, makes me feel a little more positive. And anyway, I have almost 18 months until I start (assuming I get a place), so its plenty of time to get some insight tucked under my belt.
Thanks again ladies - Kate, will def look into possible course with NCT.
A xx

Stay positive!! I too have no care based experience. I didn't work for a few years before applying and then it was only retail or office. They just need to know you are passionate about the course and have researched it thoroughly. You could also put in your ps something along the lines of " I have been in contact with the NCT and am currently waiting for a response from them.... blah blah blah" You get the idea. Show them you haven't been sitting on your backside and am trying to get experience. They do understand there is a lack of opportunities within the maternity units.

brilliant - feeling much more postive today! I guess I should have applied for this year, I thought at the time that nextyear would be a better option due to the ageof my daughter... but now she has turned one she is asseting her independence and loves to be at groups etc and not that fussed to be away from me! still, like I say, gives me time to research it, talk to midwives (and you guys!) and really know my stuff.
Congrats on your being accepted!!! that'll be me next year...
:-)

Hi there! I tried to get some experience before I applied also, even though I had worked as a HCA ,that was years before. I couldn't get anything and it was really worring me so when I went along to uni open day I spoke to someone about it and they told me life experince is just as valuable and it sounds like you have plently of that. I did get my place, as others have said its definatly not essential. I do know some of the other girls starting with me did sure start, had you thought about that at all? but as I said I'm sure it won't affect your application. Good luck!! xx

Heya i also tried to get experience before i started the application process...its so difficult to find any though....i think data protection is a big issue with the maternity units....especially as what its dealing with....i think as long as you show enthusiasm that will go in your favour more than someone who has had experience but hasnt got the enthusiasm u seem to have....i agree with the others about NCT ...theres bound to be somewhere in your area that does the antenatal classes....good luck!!!!!! xoxoxoox

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*** Louise ***