Congratulations! Out of the thousands of applicants, you were successful and are now at the start of your training. This is where the really hard work starts as you learn to juggle your home life with the considerable demands of the course in terms of theoretical input and clinical practice, not to mention assessments and irregular working patterns.
A reality check
Carolan and Kruger (2011) undertook a study asking first-year midwifery students the question: ‘What, if anything, would make your experience as a first-year student better?’ Findings included students identifying a need for greater opportunity to prepare, both before the start of the course and prior to lectures. The majority of students also felt they needed greater opportunities to study because theoretical input was intensive, leaving little time to consolidate learning outside of the classroom. Finally, students almost unanimously identified a need for greater support: pastoral support when they felt overwhelmed with the workload, and peer support for reassurance that they were not alone in how they were feeling.
Research suggests that commencing student midwives need time to prepare, time to consolidate and support from a variety of sources. While this article will provide you with suggestions for managing workloads from both the student's and the lecturer's perspectives, please be reassured that you will be supported by a committed and professional team of midwifery lecturers, academic librarians, academic support staff and clinical mentors, wherever you study. They should be your first point of contact with any issues.
Tip 1: Know your support network
Be proactive in accessing support: if your personal tutor or module leader doesn't know you're struggling, they can't help you! Make sure you support each other, too
Resources to support your learning
I have a particular interest in the potential for social media to support professional discourse and development (Power, 2014; 2015a; 2015b; 2015c). However, I am concerned that health professionals are not always aware of how to protect their professional identity in an online environment. Just think: how would you feel if, during a lecture, your Facebook page was shown on the screen for all to read? Would your privacy settings allow this to happen? Would the content be suitable?
Tip 2: Use social media wisely
Make sure any social media accounts you have comply with Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2015b) guidance i.e. to act as professionally online as in person
The internet has fundamentally changed the learning landscape: students should not and must not be passive learners; rather they are their most powerful resource and should take ownership of their learning by judiciously using the wide range of resources at their fingertips (Power, 2015d; Power and Coulson, 2015; Power and Gordon, 2015; Power and Siddall, 2015) to complement and consolidate learning from face-to-face sessions in the university and clinical practice.
Tip 3: Be proactive
Be a proactive learner and develop good time management skills
The student's perspective
In preparation for writing this article, I asked three first-year students to share their thoughts on how they felt at the start of the programme and give tips on how to cope with its demands.
Feelings at the start of the programme
‘Of course I felt excited, but also very nervous, especially being in a new town, living independently etc. I felt honoured to be a part of the profession, though, as I began to realise more and more the responsibility midwives have and the history of midwifery—and I was itching to get into practice!’ (Amy)
‘I felt nervous as I was moving away from home, but excited to start this challenging yet rewarding course. I am glad that I took the time to revisit some of my A-level human anatomy and physiology work, as it prepared me well for the first 6 weeks of the course. I was inspired by the lecturers and other students as soon as I started the programme; I knew that I was in the right place.’ (Victoria)
Coping with academic demands
‘The top tip would definitely be that you have to be strict with yourself in consolidating knowledge, and seek guidance straight away from module leaders if you don't understand something fully. If you ignore things or let them build up, that's when the workload becomes unmanageable—even if you just do an hour before dinner each night, then take time to relax. Mentors in clinical practice are also invaluable with academic queries and often give a different point of view. I think it's also important to try not to compare yourself to what others are doing; seek to support each other, but don't beat yourself up if somebody is going 4 hours each night—it's no measure of what they are taking in, and everybody works so differently! Having time for yourself is just as important in maintaining sanity and balance.’ (Amy)
‘Firstly, don't panic! One of our lecturers put it to our cohort as follows: if you look at all the assignments, deadlines and timetabling all at once, it is bound to overwhelm. Take each step as it comes, and take time to prepare for each individual session. I think that is also a great mantra for the course as a whole. I often think, “How will I ever feel confident and competent enough to work autonomously in practice?” But take each section of the programme as it arrives. I also think it is valuable to write a list of achievements so that you can see how far you have come. In our cohort, we have designed a “Hopes and Fears” jar and refer to it periodically.
We hope that it will provide comfort to future cohorts. It is normal to feel trepidation on a vocational programme like this; I believe it comes with passion for midwifery. We all want to do well, and reflecting on the positives—and also the not-so-positives—is essential for growth.’ (Victoria)
‘Plan your time, and keep on top of academic work so you don't feel snowed under. Ask questions—no question is wrong to ask. Don't ignore your social life; if you have downtime regularly, you can focus on academic work with a fresh mind.’ (Sarah)
‘I was inspired by the lecturers and other students as soon as I started the programme’
Surviving clinical placements
‘Push yourself out of your comfort zone and embrace every opportunity—become a “yes man” and you'll surprise yourself at how much you learn and grow. Just remember that you are there because people along the way saw potential in you, and just keep going. However, at the same time, you should seek guidance from your mentors or other members of staff when you have a query. Students in the years above are also very good to talk to.’ (Amy)
‘You'll get out of a placement what you put into it’
‘Be enthusiastic. As a first-year student, you will not be expected to know everything, but enthusiasm is contagious and will positively impact on both the mentors you work with and the women you care for. You are in an extremely privileged position to be embarking on this journey to becoming a midwife—never forget that. Be on time. It shows eagerness, professionalism and commitment.’ (Victoria)
‘You'll get out of a placement what you put into it. Be prepared and ask lots of questions.’ (Sarah)
General tips
And finally…
You are about to embark on a life-changing journey which, at times, will feel like a rollercoaster. So the final tip is: Hold on tight and enjoy the ride!