If I do Midwifery course?

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Hi all,

I am a staff nurse (2 years qualified)and have recently been offerred a place on the 2 year midwifey diploma course. I always wanted to do this course and i think i would really enjoy it. My question is, if i do this course (2 years/18 months) , will i lose my general nursing skills? For example , if i did decide to go back and do general nursing after my course, do ye think this would be possible? ANY help really appreciated! I am trying to decide if i should take this offer. I would love to do it, but i dont want to lose my nursing skills in case i really miss general nursing and want to go back to it after the course. Has anyone else been in this situation?

Thanks everyone in advacne :)

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Specializes in multispecialty ICU, SICU including CV.

What is a midwifery diploma course? I know a little bit about CNMs -- that's a Master's degree program that leads to licensure as a midwife (an APN). Is this the same thing or are you talking about something different?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Sounds like you are in the UK (if you are I will move this to the UK forum), If so I knew of a couple of midwives that worked gynae so they could do both (did rotation to obstetrics to maintain both parts of the register)

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Its in ireland. I would train as a midwife for 18 months. But im worried if i do it i will lose all my nursing skills if i did decide after wards to go back to general nursing , rather than practice as a midwife.?

In this course, you would be trained as a midwife on the wards and in the college, full time course.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Will move this to the UK forum as it sounds very similar to the UK course.

This is something you will have to decide where you really see yourself working. You may be able to work as a midwife but do agency on the general wards or visa versa to maintain skills.

The An Bord Altranais may work in the same way as the NMC and you have to do x amount of hours to maintain on the register

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Specializes in Dialysis, Nephrology & Cosmetic Surgery.

I don't see why you should lose your general nursing skills. I know a number of nurses who after RN training went on to do midwifery before moving back into general. As SD says you can always opt to do occasional bank shifts elsewhere if you felt you were becoming deskilled. What you may pick up by doing midwifery is theatre, I know when I done my nurse training, the midwives working in delivery, also scrubbed and recovered. I think it can enhance nursing skills personally. I wanted to do a post reg RM course when I qualified but they stopped doing them as direct entry was in full swing by then. Hope you decide to go for it, all the best for the future.

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Thanks guys for replying, especially thanks to the last poster- liverpool jane :D Gertting really excited about doing it!

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Specializes in Dialysis, Nephrology & Cosmetic Surgery.

Good - I would if I was in your position, get as many skills and as much experience under your belt as you can. I'm having a second wind as a student and am disappointed it's coming to an end, it is over far too soon for my liking.

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Specializes in renal,peritoneal dialysis, medicine.

I am about to have my interview for the english version of this course, good luck with it all, personally Im bricking it!

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