Susan, a third year Bachelor of Nursing student, emailed us about her concerns with the imposed changes in registration and training of midwives at the University of Newcastle.
Susan says the changes have left students, like her, who had intended to become midwives, out in the cold.
“The first issue came when the University cancelled its Post Graduate Diploma of Midwifery and replaced it with the new Bachelor of Midwifery. Not one student at the University was told of this change, and the University continued to advertise the course long after the decision had been made.
Students had been advised by the University that doing the BN followed by the Grad Dip was the way to become a midwife in Newcastle, and at no time were they ever told this was likely to change.
Students such as myself discovered quite by accident that the Grad Dip course had finished, usually from nurses we were buddied with while on placement. Other students were still asking throughout this year, as they too had no idea. One of our 3rd year modules even advertised the Post Graduate Diploma of Midwifery after its cancellation!
The other problem with this situation is that the new BMid does not have an RN entry program finalised, so graduating BN students are left without an option at their home university.
Yes, they can still apply to the BMid, but will have to do the full three years like everyone else, and apply for credit for subjects already done through the BN.
The students are incensed by this decision, which leaves them with a BN degree that they really don’t need, or want. They feel like they have wasted the last 3 years of their lives (or more, 5 years in my case), not to mention $12000 or more of HECS they have now accrued, all for nothing. For 6 years study, they could have been doctors!”
Understandable Susan is very concerned regarding the cancellation of the Post Graduate course; But she says what is worse is the change in NSW Health barring 3rd year students from applying for student midwife positions.
“Had they been able to gain one of these, they could have continued their studies through another university. But no, once again bureaucratic red tape stands in their way.”
We will have more on the barring of third year students in student nurse positions in tomorrows blog post – and a response from Newcastle University Head of School for Nursing and Midwifery Dr Pamela van der Riet as to why they made changes to the midwifery qualifications and the recommendations of an external review of their midwifery programs.
But for now, what are your thoughts?
Are you a student at the University of Newcastle that had been been working towards the Post Graduate Diploma of Midwifery? Have you had to reassess your plans?
Are you a midwife? Maybe you can offer some support or advice to Susan.
Image credit: jstownsley
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