My first role as a midwife

Carinna studied BSc (Hons) Midwifery and graduated with first class honours in 2016. She blogs about her first job as a newly qualified midwife.

I now work at Basildon and Thurrock University NHS Trust as a qualified midwife, where I get to care for women from all different backgrounds, religions, cultures and faiths.

I love that no day is the same! I get to be a part of the most memorable time in women's lives, and that is such a privilege. There are challenges but the rewards are plentiful and I could not imagine doing anything else.

The transition from student to qualified midwife was challenging: being accountable for my actions instead of working under my mentor's pin number was scary, but the support I have received throughout my preceptorship [newly qualified] year from colleagues and management has been tenfold.

In the future, well... Midwifery has so many pathways that I could be anywhere from community midwifery, to high-risk labour ward, to more specialist roles. Hopefully still loving it a much as I do now.

As my course at ARU was 50% theory and 50% practice, this meant that I was ‘fit for purpose’ by the end of the three years. A mixture of theory and skills session meant that I was able to learn how to safely undertake the skills needed for the role. The lecturers were so supportive and inspiring; their words of advice will stay with me forever.

My experience at ARU in three words? An unforgettable journey.