Midwifery

Useful Links

If you would like to arrange a mock interview, please email futures@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk

How to become a midwife

Entry Qualifications

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/midwifery

https://www.rcm.org.uk/learning-and-career/becoming-a-midwife#shortage

To practice as a midwife in the UK, you must be registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). To become registered, you'll need to have completed an approved pre-registration midwifery programme, which lasts three years full time. Half of the course is spent studying at university, while the other half is based in practical placements to provide you with hands-on experience.

Part-time courses are available to those who are working in a relevant role and usually take five to six years. If you're already a qualified nurse, you can take a midwifery short programme, which allows you to qualify sooner than the three-year course.

Gaining a place on a direct-entry course to midwifery is highly competitive, so you should aim to apply early.

Work Experience

As the course is highlight competitive work experience in a hospital setting is essential. The more the better! Remember! Midwifery is working with the mother to be. Adult wards are therefore perfect for gaining the skills needed as a midwife.

Why not also think about asking if you can go to your local children's centre to help in baby/ children's groups? e.g. breastfeeding support.

Interview Help

Midwifery

When you undertake a programme of study that leads to an academic and professional award, like in nursing or midwifery, you’ll have an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills you need to become a registered nurse or midwife. However, you need more than knowledge and skills to be a nurse or midwife – you also need the right attitudes and values.

The six values the NHS looks for are set out in the NHS Constitution (Department of Health 2015). If you’re considering a career as a nurse or midwife, or indeed any other healthcare profession, the NHS Constitution is essential reading. Along with the NHS values, it sets out the seven key principles upon which the NHS is founded, as well as the rights and responsibilities of patients and staff.

The six values in the NHS Constitution are:

Working together for patients
Respect and dignity
Commitment to quality care
Compassion
Improving live
Everyone counts

https://www.nhsemployers.org/sites/default/files/media/VBR-Behaviour-framework_0.pdf

How to prepare for your interview

If you're preparing for your interview for a Nursing or Midwifery course.

Check the information provided from the University when you were invited to interview what do you need to take with you? What type of interviews will you be undertaking? 1 to 1/ group?
Be on time! Make sure you know where you need to be and how to get there with plenty of time to spare.
Bring all documentation they have asked you to take with you.
Dress appropriately - remember, this is an interview for a professional course.
Re-read your application form and personal statement as they will ask you to elaborate on it.
Be clear about why you want to be a nurse/ midwife - why you have chosen this field of nursing; what do you know about the role and responsibilities of a nurse in this area; are you familiar with current evidence base. Good websites to look at are the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Royal College of Nursing; Royal College of Midwifery and the Nursing Times.
Be ready to answer questions about the profession – brief yourself on current issues. Check current News related to the profession you are hoping to go into.
Be ready to answer questions about the course
Be ready to answer questions about the University – have you been to an Open Day; why do you want to study here; how will you fit in?
What are your core values and how do you display these values – read NHS England’s Compassion in Practice.
Be yourself! Be confident ! Good luck!

Interview Questions

Common questions could include:

Why do you want to be a midwife?
What do you know of the roles and responsibilities of a midwife?
What do you think the public expect from a midwife?
Tell us about your work experience. What did you learn from it? Was it a daunting experience?
Why have you chosen to apply to this university; what do you know about our course; have you been to an Open Day?
What do you understand by the term 'professional'? What qualities do you need?
What current issues in midwifery are of concern to you?
What do you know about the NMC and registration? Read The Code for guidance.

For recent examples have included - November 2020 :

Midwifery :

Why you want to be a midwife and the job role
Scenario based
Shown a picture of a pregnant transgender person - asked to discuss and give opinion
Discuss a time where you showed bravery or was assertive.