Becoming a Midwife: A Student Guide

Description

'A must have for all aspiring and current student midwives and Newly Qualified Midwives.' – Carinna Griffiths, lecturer in Midwifery Written in a friendly and uplifting tone, Becoming a Midwife provides students and newly-qualified midwives with the tools and support they need to thrive on their course, on placement and in the early stages of their careers. The first part of the book focuses on core academic skills, including chapters on time management, writing essays and reflections, delivering presentations and preparing for exams. The book then establishes the fundamentals of clinical practice, and presents tried-and-tested strategies for developing clinical skills alongside guidance on managing workplace relationships and challenges. The final chapters help students make the transition to newly-qualified, with guidance on job applications, advocacy and career options. Acknowledging that midwifery can be a challenging and emotionally-demanding profession, this book has a strong focus on self-care and seeking support, as well as managing stress, avoiding burnout and juggling work, study and life. Chapters are enriched with insights from students and practising midwives, practical tips, worksheets to promote reflective practice and suggestions for further reading. Accompanying online resources for this title can be found at midwifediaries.com, including videos, blogs and interviews with practising midwives. Cover Contents Introduction 1 Time Management Introduction Time management tips from students and midwives 80/20 – How to prioritize as a student midwife My to-do list method Big picture time management tools Help with concentration Jess’ to-do list To conclude 2 Essays Introduction Why essays exist An overview Your process Assess the question Finding and reading material Choose points Critique material Structure outline Write To conclude 3 Exams Introduction How we learn What to learn Before you use a revision technique Active learning revision techniques Strategies for specific types of exam To conclude 4 Presentations Introduction Getting started Group presentations Delivery and nervousness Other types of presentation To conclude 5 Reflections Introduction Forms of reflective cycle Why we resist reflections Example reflective assignment [1] Example of a reflective assignment [2] To conclude 6 Engaging with Research Introduction Research guides Getting started How research is presentedHow research is presented Types of research Quantitative research Qualitative research Study types that can be both quantitative and qualitative Components of research Influences on research Tables, graphs and charts Statistics Overall To conclude 7 Your First Midwifery Placements Introduction Uniform/work clothes A list of items for placement Initial placements Rapid learning Further information on midwifery skills Further placements To conclude 8 Developing Your Clinical Skills Introduction Documentation Your handover sheet An underestimated skill: anticipating what could happen next Other important clinical skills The skills you should have by the end of your training 9 Advocacy, Activism and other Workplace Challenges Introduction Our history and where our challenges come from Modern midwifery and why it’s hard to make headway Advocacy Activism Bullying in midwifery Whistle-blowing Failure Grief Mental well-being To conclude 10 Job Applications and Interviews Introduction Written application skills Examples of written applications Writing an application using a CV and cover letter Interviews To conclude 11 Being a Newly Qualified Midwife Introduction Your first shifts as a qualified midwife Time management and prioritization Preceptorship sign-off books and other requirements Your A–Z book Delegating Constructive criticism Reporting poor care Breaks and holidays Celebrating and the emotions that come with the transition to newly qualified To conclude Conclusion Appendix Bibliography Index