options if I leave in 3rd year of degree

kasperk xx

Hi all, I really hope someone can give me some advice. I am currently in 3rd year of a midwifery degree, I should be starting internship in September but not longer feel midwifery is for me i like the social aspects of the course and helping people but do not enjoy the clinical placements and do not feel i can complete the internship or work as a midwife. I really don't know what to do I feel like I have wasted 3 years for nothing. I'm wondering has anyone here had a similar experience and what my career options will be if I leave at the end of the year. It's so hard to know what to do for the best but I am struggling through the year at the moment as my heart is just not in it.

ronivek

Roughly what age are you?

Is there something else you've been considering doing or it's purely based on how you feel about being a midwife?

Have you contacted any of the student support services in your institution?

kasperk xx

I'm early 40's so no spring chicken, and really thought midwifery was for me but as much as I try to force myself to continue I'm really struggling. I would like to work in social care but don't think that's an option now as I could not afford to do another degree

Moomat

kasperk xx wrote: »

I'm early 40's so no spring chicken

Another way to look at is that you still have another 30 years of work left so plenty of time to change direction, even numerous times. I would say you should try to keep it up, that is if your are just finding it a pain in the ass. You could always go on to further education once you graduate that complements your degree, not necessarily another degree but something that makes you an attractive potential candidate for roles outside midwifery.
If it's more than just a pain in the ass, if you feel you will not be able to act appropriately on placement, then you should speak to someone with experience in the field.

kasperk xx

Thanks ronivek and Moonmat, its not that im finding it a pain I just do not enjoy the clinical midwifery placements, I've have some external social placements which were so much better. I'm wondering is there anyone on boards that has left midwifery or nursing after year three as I think it is possible to withdraw from course with an ordinary degree (I read this in my college handbook) but I am not sure if I would be able to get a job in social care with this, or could I apply for advanced entry into a social care course. I'm really hoping someone may be able to answer this for me.

ronivek

I left my degree a year early with a level 7 degree although admittedly it was due to health reasons as opposed to deciding it wasn't for me. It hasn't held me back as such up to this point; but there are some occasions where companies and institutions differentiate between a level 7 and level 8 degree where it can be an issue. So yes; it is usually possible to leave a course after 3 years with an ordinary degree, but you should verify that with your institution.

What is it about the clinical placements you don't like? Is there a possibility you could just accept the fact you probably won't be a midwife but still make a good go of completing the full degree and internship? Personally I regret withdrawing early even though I was struggling; but again our situations were a bit different.

I think it's probably important to start a dialogue with the student support services in your institution also; I'm sure you're not the first person to struggle or decide you don't want to finish your degree and they'll probably have a much better idea what kind of options are open to you and whether maybe there are additional supports that could help you finish out your degree should you choose to.

kasperk xx

Thanks again ronivek, I will contact support services which can hopefully be done confidentially without my lectures finding out! I've a background in healthcare and I love supporting women through pregnancy especially those who are disadvantaged and in need of extra support which is why I have enjoyed my specialist placements out in the community or working with women with addictions ect. I do not like the clinical aspect especially delivery and after 3 years my feelings have not changed (perhaps I should have considered leaving sooner) but I have a family, mortgage ect and thought i had made a good secure career choice (although now there are not many full time jobs for midwives) that would eventually give my family security. Financially we are also struggling and I really need to start contributing to this. Ideally I need to be working this plus the fact that I do not see myself working as a midwife has made me realize it would be best to finish the year and opt out but I need to be sure my ordinary degree will lead to a job of some sort which is were I'm confused. I tried asking in college but perhaps I asked the wrong person as they told it would be best just to complete the course and I am wary of telling them my plans as I still have to complete the rest of the year.

frillyleaf

Hi there OP.

Sorry to hear that you are in a sticky situation.

You could talk to people in the field and see if there are alternative careers that you could go down that doesn't actually involve working in a clinical setting?
I don't know much about midwifery but perhaps the skills you have learned could be used in some sort of community setting? Or perhaps there are nurses that call out to homes to monitor Mother / baby well being? Is that an area you would rather?

As for withdrawing from the programme, just be aware of fee / grant implications if you choose to do so. I *think* these are wiped clean after 5 years if you were undertake another degree. Also if you were to complete this degree funding another degree would be very expensive IMO as once you complete a degree you could be liable to registration fees and tuition fees. I think you are doing the right thing reflecting on this.

On a positive note if you completed your nursing degree
there are colleges who have introduced a post graduate course in applied social care- I think these are one year add on " conversion" courses to level 8 holders.

They can be done part time and there is a large element of work placement throughout the year but as far as I know you would qualify as a social care worker😊

It's *really* important to pick a course that will give you a license to work as a social care worker so make sure you pick a course that gives you this outcome. IMO some courses can be misleading in their wording.... --- it's very important you check with relevant body to make sure course is approved to qualify as an actual social care worker---

I think carlow IT offers it part time and also the campus in Wicklow- again you will need to check if this is approved by what ever body regulates social care workers. It would be similar to nursing. Ie you need to be registered as social care worker.

Would be good to start looking there so you can make informed decision.

You DEFINATELY have options if the midwifery isn't for you and I do think skills you've learned would give you an advantage if you chose the post grad route😊

I hope the above has given you some help as its stressful when you realise you're in an area that you don't enjoy, I understand because it happened to me😊

All the best x

Chickentown

Find 1-2 year graduate programs you are interested in, find the criteria for getting onto said course(s), complete your current degree, then jump straight into a graduate degree.

maude6868

Hope it's ok to be jumping in with this question so late. My daughter is in third year midwifery but has now decided she would love to be a Public Health Nurse. I'm assuming she would be better off to get her degree now she has come this far but what then. I know general nurses can convert to midwifery but what about midwives. Surely their 4 years of study must account for something, is there not a way she could do a post grad in public health nursing as a registered midwife or does she have to be a registered general nurse. Thanks for any help.

GaGa21

maude6868 wrote:

Hope it's ok to be jumping in with this question so late. My daughter is in third year midwifery but has now decided she would love to be a Public Health Nurse. I'm assuming she would be better off to get her degree now she has come this far but what then. I know general nurses can convert to midwifery but what about midwives. Surely their 4 years of study must account for something, is there not a way she could do a post grad in public health nursing as a registered midwife or does she have to be a registered general nurse. Thanks for any help.

As far as I know, midwives can do post grad to become a public health nurse. She should check with her college.

maude6868

Thanks for the reply. I've checked the Public Health Nursing post grad courses and they all want a registered nurse as an entry requirement, those without midwifery have to do some add on course. There doesn't seem to be any option for midwives as far as I can see.

maude6868

kasperk xx wrote: »

Hi all, I really hope someone can give me some advice. I am currently in 3rd year of a midwifery degree, I should be starting internship in September but not longer feel midwifery is for me i like the social aspects of the course and helping people but do not enjoy the clinical placements and do not feel i can complete the internship or work as a midwife. I really don't know what to do I feel like I have wasted 3 years for nothing. I'm wondering has anyone here had a similar experience and what my career options will be if I leave at the end of the year. It's so hard to know what to do for the best but I am struggling through the year at the moment as my heart is just not in it.

My daughter is in the exact same position as you kasperk, can you provide an update on what you did since please.