A midwife is a pregnant woman’s true friend. Often deemed as the most privileged position in healthcare sector, the job of a midwife concentrates around preparing pregnant woman for delivery and helping them cope with pregnancy, labor and the early postnatal period. If you are an aspiring nurse, then undertaking professional education in midwifery can leave one with a fulfilling career. It’s said that there are very few professions that offer so much job satisfaction and support as much as that of a midwife. To know more on courses in midwifery, stream through the following details on eligibility, coursework and career prospects and learn more.
Career in Midwifery
Course Details
Eligibility
Nursing midwife programs are mainly offered at masters degree or postgraduate level. However, several midwifery colleges offer bachelor’s degree in midwifery as well. Aspiring individuals seeking a career in nursing midwifery should be registered nurses and have several years of nursing experience to pursue these programs. Interested candidates can opt for a basic bachelor’s degree, go for ‘Master of Science’ nursing courses with special emphasis in midwifery, or take up specialized midwifery program to make advancements in this profession. Candidates enrolling in bachelor of midwifery courses do not need to have a former midwifery qualification to pursue the course. Just a license in nursing is enough to put them through the admission. However, a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a license is required to pursue all postgraduate level programs.
Details Of The Course Curriculum
The study of midwifery is concerned with women’s health andreproductive healthcare and the coursework is designed to train the nurses in different midwifery roles. The curriculum centers on health analysis, research methods, evidence-based practice, and diagnosis and offers hands-on experience through internships and seminars. The general coursework includes subjects like:
-
Health Assessment for Nursing Practice
-
Pharmacology for Nursing Practice
-
Reproductive Dynamics
-
Foundations of Health Promotion
-
Primary Care of Women
-
Genetics Applications in Practice Nursing
-
Pharmacology for Nurse-Midwifery/Women's Health
-
Nurse Midwifery
Specialization
Students pursing postgraduate studies in midwifery may want to consider specialized degree program in nursing and midwifery. Apart from mastering the general subjects that revolve round women's health assessment, reproductive needs, anatomy and psychology, students can go for several specialized courses in:
-
Colposcopy
-
Lactation Consultation
-
Neonatal Care
-
Labor ward supervision
-
Ante-natal screening
-
Infant Care
-
Intrapartal and Post Partum Care
-
Clinical Praticum
Agreed, achieving a degree in midwifery is the first step towards becoming a pro-midwife. However, there are several other skills and qualities that a person needs to possess to have a successful career in midwifery. To start with, a person needs to be empathic, warm, non-judgmental and have excellent listening and communication skill to excel in this field. Since the job of a midwife revolves round dealing with pregnant females and infants, they should be eager enough to help expecting and new moms with necessary help and advice. Confidence, compassion and the ability to deal with stressful work hours sums up as other important skills required for this profession.
Career Prospects
There is no denying that midwives are an asset to the healthcare profession. The occupation of a midwife is not just confined to the job of delivering babies alone, but often extends itself to extensive antenatal and post-natal care and helping mothers cope with motherhood. It is one of those few fulfilling professions where you literally get to meet someone new everyday! Highly trained nurses with a specialized degree in midwifery can work with hospitals, various private nursing homes, health clinics, orphanages, old age homes and public sector medical departments. Expert professionals with a strong hand in midwifery can opt for a career as clinical specialists, consultant midwives, supervisors, or opt for a teaching career in a healthcare setting or a university.
Some Of The Best Institutes Offering This Course Globally
-
Robert Gordon University, Scotland
-
Thames Valley University, UK
-
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur
-
University of York, UK
-
Middlesex University, North London
-
Sum Nursing College and Sum Nursing School, Orissa
-
Birthwise Midwifery School, Maine
-
CPIT (Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology), New Zealand
-
University of Sheffield, England
-
Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand
-
Nasik Medico Trainings College Of Nursing, Nasik
-
Queensland University of Technology, Australia
-
Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, Kentucky
-
University of Surrey, England
