CharLeila Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Hi, my wife is training to be a midwife. Currently doing a distance learning access course and has a date for an interview. One of the potential interview questions is 'Why do midwives need a degree?' Apparantly, interviewees in the past have been rejected a place at university for answering this question wrongly. Any help with an answer would be greatly appreciated. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 We do have - I'll bump up for you. Good luck to her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Ermm.............................. Because doing a degree tells you which hole they come out of.. Higher level of learning gives them the ability to critically analyse situations and make theoretical constructs for understanding the problems. Not delivered any babies since 1975 probably because I was a midwife without a degree no just no jobs around then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 I would imagine you would have all the underpinning knowledge that surrounds this.....theory etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 You know you could be right Plum - not sure if its what they are after mind Nurses with degrees have the theory but often not the practical and often no bedside manner - you can tell I trained long ago cant you - no doubt i will open a can of worms. Sorry cant help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Don't knock the old way of learning on the job. It has stood me in good stead.More so in the QARANC, while the NHS, well not quite the same. Never did a degree and always brought me trouble when the higher qualifed (because of degree ) had to come running for advice or to be shown how to do something , often to the shouts from the consultants," Get me a nurse who knows what they're doing" . And so Why do we need degrees?.... Research based led nursing, understanding the rationale of the role and able to make an educated decision based on what the situation dictates. Not sure how it relates to midwifery. ( The decision to do a degree was so we would be a professionally qualified profession and therefore we would be able to demand the same pay rise considerations as other professions..............yeah in whose dreams ..still over worked and underpaid.) But i am retired due to ill health now....but still helping friends who are studying for a degree.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Actually I prefer the old way - ward based - trained in 1980 - Flo Nightingales era You cant learn how to nurrse from a book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 I trained the 'old' way as well, and am very happy I did (by the way one of the girls I trained with reminded me we started 25 years ago, last week!! ), but I am also glad I went on to get a degree. We are told more and more to question decisions, not to just accept being told what to do, and that is where a degree comes in handy. Not because it teaches you the theory or practice, but it teaches you to question practice, how to judge the quality of existing research and how to research better methods, and implement changes. Very important when we are accountable for our own actions and each could potentially end up in court having to justify our actions. And don't forget, years ago, you could only be a midwife after completing 3 years of nurse training, followed by roughly two years of nurse practice before doing midwifery training. Now it is direct entry and midwives tend to practice more autonomously than nurses, so a degree should be the bare minimum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I've got a degree because there wasn't any choice and would say that they DON'T. !!!!My degree has absolutely nothing to do with how I work Not so sure that'll help much but since the degree focuses on teaching you to critically analyse situations you could argue that it's a critical analysis of the situation you find yourself in! This may well serve to indicate that she has a brain, which is all they are looking for! Making midwifery a degree-level job supposedly elevates status, as a midwife is a Professional in his/her own right and although that has always been the case I suppose it may serve to shut people up who think you are a manual worker (which you are, but a VERY specialised one). Seriously though, I am involved in interviewing potential midwifery students and am far more interested in what she has to bring to the profession, what her 'life experience is' (I have rejected students who are fresh out of college and think it's all about cuddling babies), and how she might handle a difficult situation (eg. get a superior if she can't manage herself - you'd be amazed how many people don't think of that). Midwives are, as others have said, autonnomous practitioners who have to be able to think for themselves and make important decisions referring to others only where necessary. They need to be good multi-taskers (i suppose all the study is good preparation for that) and as a wife an ?mum I expect she is well qualified already! Tell her NOT to say that she 'likes babies'. That's an instant dismissal! An interest in PEOPLE is welcome though, as it's a very varied job. Good luck to her Tell her good luck. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Actually I prefer the old way - ward based - trained in 1980 - Flo Nightingales era You cant learn how to nurrse from a book. me too got my degree & masters as an old bird In this day & age degrees get your proffession recognition, allow you to relate theory to practice and put a posh bit of paper on your wall I never fancied midwifery but all branches of nursing are now degree courses. I did prefer the old ward based learning & then go on to a degree later but you cant turn back time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Absolutely. PTS really drummed the basics into you and good spells of practical ward based work backed up with spells of study stood us well. I do think that the change that came in the late 70's to a more self directed method of learning is so much better than talk and chalk. As you say its the putting theory into practice that's the challenge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
