After three years of midwifery training, it can feel both exciting and terr ifying to start your first job as a qualified midwife. Whether you've chosen to stay at the trust in which you trained or moved further afield to new lands, preceptor midwives are united in their quest to find their feet in the new world of qualified midwifery. Your first week can seem like a really daunting hurdle between you and your future career but there really is no need to be afraid.
At the start of any new job, you're more than likely going to do a few days of induction with your trust. This usually includes at least a day of trust-wide new starters, meaning that you could sit next to all sorts of healthcare professionals who are all in the same boat as you. During this time, you're likely to be welcomed by key members of the trust team and have introductory talks to important things such as fire safety. After this, you will probably have a more specific induction day to maternity services which can involve all host of things. However, there is nothing to be afraid of and there will be a good introduction to the new policies and guidelines you'll be working with.
‘Your first week can seem like a really daunting hurdle between you and your future career’
After your induction days, the rest of your first week (or two!) will be spent being introduced to the clinical setting. Don't worry, this definitely won't be just waving you into the ward and wishing you good luck. For the first few days in each area, you'll be working ‘supernumerary’ or effectively shadowing another midwife. This means that you have protected time to get to grips with the ways that the wards work, new guidelines and new team without having the added pressure of looking after a woman and her family alone.
During this time, you can ask the midwives any questions you may have, and get your head around the computer systems and paperwork. Only once you're feeling more comfortable, you will be asked to look after a woman, and even then at the start you're often allocated someone who will support you and has your back.
And then you've made it! Your first week passed. That wasn't so bad now was it?
Here are some top tips for surviving your first week: