How I Got My Job As A Midwife And What To Know If You’re Interested In A Career Change

Thinking about pursing a career in the health system? Think you’d love to work as a midwife, prepping families for the delivery of their new baby, in a role that’s both progressive and diverse with opportunities in clinical, management, education and research roles?

Well, you came to the right place to find out more. In the past year, our healthcare system and the incredible work done by those on the frontline has never been so at the forefront of society; on our screens and our minds.

So, it’s no surprise that many might be thinking about a career in healthcare and today, to mark International Day of the Midwife, the HSE is currently doing a call out to educate and inform those who’re interested in working as a midwife about how to get into the field and the incredible impact role they play in our hospitals and communities across the country.

Midwives provide care and support to women and their families while pregnant, throughout the birth and during the period after a baby’s born. Clare Kennedy, a registered advanced midwife practitioner at St Lukes Hospital in Kilkenny, explained exactly how she got her job and became a midwife to STELLAR.

“My interest to pursue a career in healthcare began at a young age. In 2003, I commenced my BSc Nursing at St Vincent’s University Hospital and University College Dublin.

“After qualifying, I worked in St. Vincent’s University Hospital before undertaking my Higher Diploma in Midwifery with the National Maternity Hospital and University College Dublin.

“On qualification I worked in varying areas of midwifery and developed a keen interest in midwifery led services and physiological birth. This led me to complete an MSc in Midwifery at Trinity College Dublin after being awarded a scholarship from National Maternity Hospital in 2015. I registered as an Advanced Midwife Practitioner with NMBI In February 2018. My role now involves providing women centred holistic care to women, their families and their babies; acting as the clinical lead for all aspects of physiological childbirth in SLGH Kilkenny which advocates and empowers women and midwives in their decision-making process.”

Praising how rewarding she finds her career, Clare is one of many midwifes speaking about her job, and need for more people in her field as part of International Day of the Midwife across Ireland.

Donna McNamee, a midwife in the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street Dublin described how fulfilling her career has been for her, by adding:

“Every single journey we have with a family is just so special and it is a privilege to be there to deliver a baby. They may not remember my name, but they will remember how I made them feel on that day and that is a very special privilege I have.”

For more information on studying midwifery, the various paths available and how you can too pursue a career in healthcare, see more here.

Stock images via unsplash 

• Career change
• Midwife