Anyone keen to become a Midwife will already have the passion to work in this field, but passion isn’t enough to work professionally in this role. There are a range of qualifications that you need to obtain to give you the skills and knowledge required to perform as a Midwife. As well as having qualifications, many individuals like to gain work experience to get them prepared.
There is no doubt that gaining work experience in any sector is beneficial if you are pursuing a professional career, but how do you go about getting it when it comes to midwifery? Continue reading to learn the steps you can take to gain midwifery work experience, and how studying a midwifery course online can help you achieve your dream role!
What is Involved in Midwifery?
Many people consider bringing new life into the world one of the most rewarding experiences, and if you fall into this bracket, then you can be part of these special moments for hundreds of expectant parents over the course of your career. This is because a Midwife is usually the first point of contact for the mother during their pregnancy and labour.
Not only that, but a Midwife plays a significant role in the early stages of the postnatal period, ensuring that the mother knows how to provide the right level of care for their baby. A Midwife also helps new mums adjust to the big changes in their life.
While these are the primary motivations of a Midwife, to become a Midwife, UK learners need to understand that there are various roles and responsibilities involved, including:
- Providing support and care to the expectant mother
- Helping mothers make informed decisions during the pregnancy and birthing process
- Carrying out clinical examinations
- Supporting the expectant mother’s family during the childbearing process
- Working with other health and social care services
When you become a Midwife, you will be responsible for meeting requirements related to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Every Midwife needs to complete a certain number of CPD hours over a stated time period to stay registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
There are various Midwife courses that will satisfy verifiable CPD hours, with the main aim being to stay updated with all current legislation and practices, as well as expand your skillset. Most midwives work within the National Health Service (NHS) alongside a team of other midwives and healthcare professionals, while some work in private practices. There are various settings in which a Midwife can work, including:
- Hospital maternity units
- Private maternity hospitals
- Group practices
- Birth centres
How to Get into Midwifery
There are many professions that require individuals to have a degree, and midwifery is one of them. To become a Midwife, you must be registered with the NMC. To be accepted, you will need to have completed a degree in midwifery.
It is important to enrol on a midwifery course that is approved by the NMC, so make sure you do your research before embarking on higher education. Entry requirements are set by each individual university, but they will generally ask for the following from their applicants:
- At least five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, preferably in English and a Science subject
- At least two A Levels or Level 3 equivalent qualifications
If you are starting this career from scratch and do not possess the above qualifications, hope is not lost. You can still enrol on a degree-level midwifery course with the help of Stonebridge Associated Colleges.
This is because we deliver a range of GCSEs and A Levels, all of which are delivered online, with most of our packages including exams. So, rather than go back to college and take years to achieve these qualifications, you can study them from the comfort of your own home and learn around your existing commitments. Our distance learning solutions are ideal for full-time workers and parents.
While almost all universities accept GCSEs and A Levels as part of their entry requirements, many accept the equivalent alternatives of Functional Skills and Access to Higher Education Diplomas, of which we will explore later on.
What Experience is Needed to be a Midwife?
When it comes to becoming a Midwife, UK learners can achieve their goal without needing to gain prior experience. This is because during your degree, you will be undertaking a practical element. Prior to this, though, it is encouraged to gain some form of work experience before embarking on your midwifery course.
If you are keen to gain work experience before beginning your studies, then one of the most effective ways to arrange it is to contact the Head of Midwifery Services at the maternity ward of your local hospital. If you explain that you are keen to become a Midwife, and you a pursuing a degree in the subject, then you may be able to secure a placement or an opportunity to shadow a professional Midwife.
With regards to placements, there is no set structure or time, as some might be a few days, while others could last a week or longer. This will depend on the availability of the professionals in the hospital unit.
Alternatively, if you want to demonstrate your communication skills and ability to work with others, then it might be worth arranging a placement in another setting. This will enable you to prove that you have the people skills to succeed in a role as a Midwife.
How Long is a Midwifery Course?
The answer to this question is dependent on the type of Midwife course you enrol on. For example, a degree that is approved by the NMC can be completed in three years if you opt to study it full-time. However, part time midwifery courses can run for five or six years, depending on the university you choose.
It is important to note that a degree-level midwifery course will need to adhere to the NMC’s standards of education and training, but the course themselves can differ in structure and content. The same goes for the supervision you receive and the facilities you study in.
An approved midwifery degree is split in half, with one section being academic study and the other section consisting of practical experience that is supervised by experienced and approved midwifery professionals.
The standard route to becoming a Midwife, UK learners, is an NMC-approved degree, but you can also achieve your goal through degree apprenticeships. These consist of a blend of academic study and work in a role related to midwifery.
How to Get into Midwifery Without A Levels
As mentioned earlier, some universities accept alternatives to A Levels as part of their midwifery degree entry requirements. In fact, most will accept an applicant that has an Access to Higher Education Diploma, which is widely regarded as the equivalent to 3 A Levels.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma (Midwifery) is an accredited Level 3 qualification that contains a combination of industry-related knowledge and study skills. It is an online midwifery course that is designed to get you to university without A Levels.
With Stonebridge Associated Colleges, you can complete this nationally recognised midwifery course online and at your own pace. To help keep you on track of your studies, you will be issued with an Individual Learning Plan, which will outline the submission deadlines of your online assignments.
During this online midwifery course, you will cover a wealth of modules, including the following:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Cell Biology
- The History of the NHS
- Human Reproduction, Growth and Development
- Roles and Responsibilities of the Midwife
- Human Nutrition and the Digestive System
- Introduction to Psychology
- Human Muscular and Skeletal System
- Social Factors in Health and Social Care
You will also explore the following topics while studying your midwifery course online:
- Human Endocrine and Nervous System
- Mental Health and Illness
- Cell Metabolism (Health)
- Understanding Poverty
- Cell Division and Heredity (Health)
- Human Immunity
- Equality and Diversity within Healthcare
- Human Disease and Prevention
As well as being able to complete this midwifery course online, you will have the benefit of no exams! The course is assessed via a series of assignments, each of which is based on the modules that you cover. You will also have the benefit of feedback from experienced tutors, who will help guide you through your studies.
Achieving your Access to Higher Education Diploma will enable you to enrol on degree Midwife courses at most universities, but you must check with your chosen establishment beforehand. If you are deliberating over whether to enrol on an Access to HE Diploma course or retake your A Levels, keep in mind that an Access to Higher Education Diploma can be achieved much faster!
Usually, it takes up to two years to achieve two or three A Levels, but an Access to HE Diploma can be completed in 9-12 months, so you could be university ready within one year!
How to Prepare for a Midwifery Interview?
Once you have gained the qualifications you need, a significant step to becoming a Midwife, UK learners, is passing the interview! If you have reached this stage, then you are sure to be looking for some tips to impress in the interview.
Read through our blog to get an idea of the type of interview questions you could face in your interview. We have provided some sample answers to help you prepare.
What is the Nursing and Midwifery Council?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council is the professional regulator of nurses and midwives across the UK, amounting to around 745,000 professionals in this sector. There are three core principles that the governing body abides by, including:
- Promote professional standards for midwives and nurses
- Maintain the register of professional nurses and midwives so that they can continue to practice in the UK
- Investigate concerns that are raised by midwives, nurses, and nursing associates
As mentioned, to become a Midwife, you need to be registered with the NMC, and to maintain this registration you will have to complete verifiable CPD, with the requirements being outlined by the organisation body.
Start Your Career Journey Today!
So, what are your waiting for? If you want to become a Midwife and are keen to gain some work experience, our advice should be helpful. Once you decide to gain the qualifications you need to enter this profession, then Stonebridge Associated Colleges can help!
By studying our midwifery course online, you will be one step closer towards going to university and achieving your career goal. There are many reasons why we have become the UK’s leading distance learning provider, and they include:
- Flexible learning – With our Midwife courses being delivered online, you can tailor your study schedule around your existing commitments. As long as you meet assignment deadlines, you have control over your progress
- Study anywhere – Online learning means that you can complete your course from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a laptop/computer and a stable internet connection
- 24/7 access – For the duration of your studies, you will have 24/7 access to all of the course materials you need to achieve your qualification
- Online platform – Our industry-leading student portal will have everything you need to navigate through your studies with ease
To study our midwifery course online, then speak to one of our Course Executives today by calling 0121 392 8288 or contact us online. Take charge of your career today!
