RE: [ozmidwifery] Backward step

[Rene and Tiffany]

It has been fantastic reading all the responses to the nurse/midwife question.  As a nurse about to begin midwifery training, I look forward to learning and developing the specialist skills you wonderful women have described!  My original response stemmed from the fact that I became a nurse ONLY to become a midwife (as there was no other way at the time), but found that, I was unable to get any exposure to such, as training nurses and RN’s are generally unwelcome in maternity.  I would have given anything to have the opportunity to work and ‘help out’ in maternity whilst waiting to secure a student midwife place.  Instead I went straight into Mental Health after I qualified as an RN, whilst waiting for one of the 6 midwifery training positions that are offered.  Perhaps this does raise the issue about providing more training places for student midwives, and why is it that we have to work as NURSES for a minimum 12 months before we can train as midwives, when as many have pointed out – ‘where is the nursing care in midwifery?’  Thanks J   From: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of brendamanning Sent: Monday, 2 October 2006 10:13 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Backward step   Going back to the maternity nurse or Gen/ Obstetric nurse working in Midwifery is how NZ worked in the 70's & 80's. It was unsatisfactory then & would be the same now, despite the fact the we did 6 months obs in our general training we weren't midwives & it showed.  I worked in mid whilst attending homebirths, worked in birth suite, postnatal, taught pre-natal classes & spent 3 years in charge of SCN as a RGON in the early 80's & when I went to train as a midwife just like Di M I too found it a revelation.   It's a retrograde step & undermines all the recognition of your specialised profession you Australian midwives have fought so hard for. It's just another path on: "follow the American leader".   With kind regards Brenda Manning www.themidwife.com.au ----- Original Message ----- From: D. Morgan To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 9:54 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] RE:   I agree Michelle, I too worked in a rural area prior to completing my Mid many years ago and can still remember the revelations I felt while learning Midwifery. As an RN non Midwife, I was quite ignorant of what a true Midwife's role involved. It was scarey stuff. Cheers Di M