Direct-Entry - Blessing or Burden?

Both actually. One of the hardest things about being a direct-entry Mid student is the stereotypical view of nurse-midwives that we are not 'seasoned' to nursing, theoretically or even practically. I have had to deal with this a lot on placement and despite showing my knowledge and ability, I am still treated as inferior and unworthy of being in their presence. Without sounding stereotypical myself, it is this ignorance that is resulting in the next generation of midwives, falling into medicalised ways of thinking and taking away from the normality and simplicity of birth.

One asked me what I would do given an emergency situation if I didn't have nursing skills and another implied that I would never be accepted or taken seriously as JUST a midwife. I was once sensitive to opinion, but starting this course had me learn quickly that sensitivity, as far as taking comments like this to heart, wouldn't get me anywhere, fast.

Given that direct-entry midwifery is fast becoming the new face of midwifery, it would make sense that we would be nutured and welcomed. The reality being that this is true only some of the time. 'The old way' is the only way for some and in that, we are bringing about change that is hard to accept.

On the other hand, in the absence of diagnose/treat basis of nursing and much greater emphasis on woman-centred care and pregnancy as normal physiological process, I feel better able to fulfil what a midwife is in every sense. And I guess, these past couple of years have been a good introduction to what I will face in wanting to change things for the better.