If approximately 80% of midwives work in metropolitan and urban areas, i
believe that the opportunity for direct entry midwifery should be made
available to this majority. We are loosing midwives from the system, not
only rural areas. Retention rates within midwifery may improve if we
increase job satisfaction. This may mean taking steps to ensure midwives in
large hospitals are not used as staff pools to fill other 'nursing' gaps. In
respect to rural issues it is my belief that in the case of direct entry
midwifery, education and curriculae can encompass electives (optional) in
the third year of studies to incorporate rural nursing. This would allow
some versality in employment for this midwife but only in so far as rural
settings.
Jackie Doolan
Midwife
-----Original Message-----
From: Kathleen Fahy
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 11:24 AM
To: Judy Chapman; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: Direct entry
I hear you concern about rural women and agree that more rural women should
have the option to birth in their home town but I don't think that this
means that midwives who are not nurses cannot work in rural hospitals.
Eg If 120 women birth per year in a rural hospital it may take 12
nurse-midwives to cover all shifts + holidays but if caseload midwifery was
used then 3 full time midwives could provide all the care for the same
number of women.
Dr. Kathleen Fahy
Associate Professor
Midwifery Co-ordinator
University Southern Queensland
07 46312377
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message-----
From: Judy Chapman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 11:02
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Direct entry
I agree with Elaine wholeheartedly. I have no desire to do general nursing
and restrict my jobsearching to hospitals big enough to employ full time
midwives.
One of the problems not mentioned also is the lack of doctors who can/will
do obstetrics. Many women are forced to leave their families for long
periods and travel far because there are no facilities for C/S and of
course, there is no way you can have a baby if there are not the facilities
to do an emergency C/S for whatever reason.
The number of social inductions that are done in my centre for the sole
reason of letting a woman have her baby and get home to her family is
shocking. I don't blame the OB, his heart goes out to them in their
loneliness and he aquieses to their request. It is a system which places so
much emphasis on the need to do an operative delivery which is at fault.
Judy
From: "Dietsch Family" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "midwifery@ace" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Direct entry
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 20:24:13 +1000
While I agree that Direct Entry would be a wonderful opportunity for women
choosing to be midwives and for many birthing women. I do have a concern
that I would like to share with the list.
My concern is for women choosing to give birth in small country towns all
over Australia. Rural (let alone remote) Australia is having incredible
difficulty recruiting midwives to practice and as a result maternity
services all over the country are being closed and women are being forced
to larger centres, often many hours away to give birth (A homebirth midwife
is only a fantasy!). Direct entry may help in encouraging more women to
midwifery. But, in these small towns the reality is that midwives also
double/triple as accident and emergnecy nurses, gerontology nurses, etc. As
an idealist, I agree that this is awful and plays a role in discouraging
qualified midwives from practising and the health service should realise
this and do something. As a realist, I must admit (and nearly choke as I
do so) they are - they continue to close down birthing opportunities for
rural women - it makes great sense economically - it is a tragedy for
women, their babies and their families.
My concern is that birthing opportunities for rural women will be even
further reduced if Direct Entry were to be accepted and midwives cannot
also function as nurses in rural hospitals.
Elaine Dietsch
11 Willow St
Leeton NSW 2705
02 69 533 272
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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