Tenth grade career day: Midwife job sahdow
Career day expectations:
This career day I was fortunate enough to shadow a midwife at a medical clinic. My expectations going into my career day was that like most healthcare services there would be lots of collaboration between the nurses and doctors as well as a busy day for the midwife since she could have appointments all day. I pictured scrubs and white coats and office phones, I didn't really know what I would be able to see patient wise due to confidentiality laws. I was nervous but most of all I was curious about what exactly the daily life of a midwife looked like.
Photos from career day:
Mentor interview questions:
What part of your educational background prepared you for this job?
My mentor always knew she wanted to do something in the healthcare field and she actually got a degree before pursuing school for midwifery. She also grew up in a country where healthcare is provided for all citizens, and upon coming to the US where that isn't something guaranteed, it made her want to help those in need.
What specific skills prepared you for this job?
My mentor talked a lot about collaboration with her peers since the midwife works with many other people in order to do her job effectively. She also stressed being hardworking and staying focused on what you're passionate about. To be a midwife literally translates to caring for a woman during childbirth, and now that role has expanded for midwives, but remembering that core idea is important.
How do you interact with other people on a daily basis for your job?
My mentor talks to patients, doctors, RN's. OB's, clinic managers, and to the hospital all before lunch. In order to provide the best care for the mother and baby it's important to have a game plan between all parties and be able to compromise and collaborate.
How do you find your work interesting and fulfilling?
Very early in her career she saw a little boy denied of medical care due to not having health insurance. Since then she realized she only wanted to help people who truly needed it, working in clinics to help mothers throughout their pregnancy. Helping others is always the main focus of any healthcare providers work, and just that in itself is the most fulfilling thing. Being a midwife means you're always up and moving, and throughout the day I was fascinated by every patient and case.
What are the most important rules or practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional?
Midwives not only provide care to mothers to be but they recognize that providing care to only women can be a bit of a political statement on its own. Midwives focus on the mother and really listen to their concerns and when they do that, they can provide care that doesn't interfere with the natural course of the pregnancy.
Is this a typical day for you? If not, what does a typical day look like?
for my mentor, a weeks worth of work can be a 24 hour shift at the hospital and one normal work day. On the day I shadowed her I got to be in the clinic where she met with patients for ultrasounds, blood work, and checkups. On this particular day we saw the majority of her diabetic patients, so she also entered all of their blood sugar stats into their files and I got to sit in on some of the nutritionist meetings to see what happens based on their blood sugar levels.
My mentor always knew she wanted to do something in the healthcare field and she actually got a degree before pursuing school for midwifery. She also grew up in a country where healthcare is provided for all citizens, and upon coming to the US where that isn't something guaranteed, it made her want to help those in need.
What specific skills prepared you for this job?
My mentor talked a lot about collaboration with her peers since the midwife works with many other people in order to do her job effectively. She also stressed being hardworking and staying focused on what you're passionate about. To be a midwife literally translates to caring for a woman during childbirth, and now that role has expanded for midwives, but remembering that core idea is important.
How do you interact with other people on a daily basis for your job?
My mentor talks to patients, doctors, RN's. OB's, clinic managers, and to the hospital all before lunch. In order to provide the best care for the mother and baby it's important to have a game plan between all parties and be able to compromise and collaborate.
How do you find your work interesting and fulfilling?
Very early in her career she saw a little boy denied of medical care due to not having health insurance. Since then she realized she only wanted to help people who truly needed it, working in clinics to help mothers throughout their pregnancy. Helping others is always the main focus of any healthcare providers work, and just that in itself is the most fulfilling thing. Being a midwife means you're always up and moving, and throughout the day I was fascinated by every patient and case.
What are the most important rules or practices that you must follow in order to be considered a dedicated and responsible professional?
Midwives not only provide care to mothers to be but they recognize that providing care to only women can be a bit of a political statement on its own. Midwives focus on the mother and really listen to their concerns and when they do that, they can provide care that doesn't interfere with the natural course of the pregnancy.
Is this a typical day for you? If not, what does a typical day look like?
for my mentor, a weeks worth of work can be a 24 hour shift at the hospital and one normal work day. On the day I shadowed her I got to be in the clinic where she met with patients for ultrasounds, blood work, and checkups. On this particular day we saw the majority of her diabetic patients, so she also entered all of their blood sugar stats into their files and I got to sit in on some of the nutritionist meetings to see what happens based on their blood sugar levels.
Reflection:
I truly enjoyed by career day and seeing yet another side to the vast world of healthcare. I've always wanted to be a nurse and work in hospitals or even be a traveling nurse and help others around the world. Being with a midwife for the day made me interested in that path of medical care and want to look into the career more deeply. My original plan was to get my BSN and work as a labor and delivery nurse, and seeing that the midwives work with mothers before, during, and after the pregnancy made me wonder if that's something that would be for me. I know that when you have a big range of possibilities in one field, I can easily move around until I find something I like, and maybe becoming a midwife on top of my bachelors degree is something I will do in my future. Overall, I was very grateful for the opportunity to be introduced to this career path and getting a first hand look at the world of midwifery.