When do we have to take blood etc?

I am only at college at the moment, but i was just wondering at what stage of being a student midwife (i.e year 1,2,or 3) do you have to train to put the needles into the womans veins and take blood. And when do we have to give the injection to help the placenta come out, is it all once we are quallified?

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Applying to Bristol UWE and Worcester university in 2009!!

We take blood very early on Naomi, we spend a few weeks in uni, then go out onto community placement and watch a few, then we get started.

We take blood on our own by the time we get to second year if we are happy to and the veins are good.

We can give Syntometrine too (or syntocinon) from our first hospital placement, we have had the theory by then but must be under supervision according to the NMC

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Hi, yeah at our uni we get stuck straight in with taking bloods etc, i think there was a girl in my cohort who took blood on her first ever day of placement.

I think as long as you fell confident and so does your mentor then have a go. If you feel you need to observe more then let your mentor know and they should be fine with that.

XXXX

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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)

Hi naomi, it's fairly quick as said above, you just kind of 'get stuck in' but, it's not as scary as you think, and its soooooo satisfying when you see the blood hit the inside of the bottle (well, it is for me anyway).

Now i'm in hospital I just get handed the bottles- was a bit of a shock the first time but it actually gives you confidence in you abilities. Good luck naomi!!! xxx

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"With my hands, i have felt the strength it takes to grow, and release new spirit......."
"All the best births are the ones where you only have time to record times on a paper towel..."- a midwife, somewhere in the middle

it's so scary though, i flinch when i see it on tv. i will just probably just take a little more time to get used to it. lol!! im so excited about starting at uni, college isnt really that fun because its just general maths english ect... i cant wait for uni wooohooo aww and i cant wait to make new friends..

xxx

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Applying to Bristol UWE and Worcester university in 2009!!

I guess it is different for everyone then, as I still haven't taken blood yet, and the only injections I have given so far have been the Vit K ones to babies.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

You will get used to it soon enough Naomi!

We all get nervous at the start, I still sweat a lot before doing it, you'll be amazed how quickly you get the hang of things though!

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Naomi, I was a bit worried about this, so I decided to go and give blood. It's not exactly the same process but you can atleast ask the nurse's whats going on etc.

If you're interested go to www.blood.co.uk/

You'll also be helping someone else!

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Middlesex Student Midwife September 2008
SM.Net Middlesex University Student Midwife Rep!

hehe i thought i'd go and have this done when i first turned 17, didn't bat an eyelid but after it had been in for 10 minutes my heart started going really fast and when i stood up to go i collapsed. My mum still calls me a wuss, but i honestly think it was a physical reaction, I don't mind needles or blood at all and i take it regularly off people all the time!

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"With my hands, i have felt the strength it takes to grow, and release new spirit......."
"All the best births are the ones where you only have time to record times on a paper towel..."- a midwife, somewhere in the middle

hey, Missy. There's time yet, though I don't know why they haven't let you take blood yet? strange? is this what they do with your cohort then?

you should be allowed to give syntometrine too?

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