Part two of this free series for aspiring midwives! Do you really understand the role of a midwife? People do PhDs on this so there's always more to learn.
I've put together these videos to celebrate 'Becoming A Student Midwife: The Survival Guide For Passionate Applicants' the second edition coming out. (Don't buy it yet though! Make sure you see the video on Wednesday for details of a limited time discount.)
The first video went down really well especially with those interviewing soon, I strongly suggest you check out How To Beat Midwifery Brain Melt.
In terms of today's topic, if you just quote/plonk the role of a midwife into your personal statement, it doesn't do much to show you understand the career you're applying for.
Watch the video for a technique you might not have thought of, it's simple but effective and makes you look good too.
I start have a bit of a feminist rant at around ten minutes in, I always seem to get onto those no matter the subject, enjoy!
The Lancet’s definition of a midwife is here:
(The Lancet is one of the oldest and most respected medical journals)
“Skilled, knowledgeable and compassionate care for childbearing women, newborn infants and families across the continuum throughout pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the early weeks of life. Core characteristics include optimising normal biological, psychological, social and cultural processes of reproduction and early life, timely prevention and management of complications, consultation with and referral to other services, respecting women’s individual circumstances and views, and working in partnership with women to strengthen women’s own capabilities to care for themselves and their families”
The most exciting part of this definition for me is the last bit I've put in bold!
- The next video will be out on Wednesday - it's on what you need to know before applying on the topic of infant loss. Bereavement care is a challenge and a privilege
- The discount for the book will be out in Wednesday's video and will be around only briefly
- Leave me a comment on your most important insight you picked up from today's video in terms of personal statement writing. It may just be that the author of the best comment gets a free book on Wednesday 😉
All my best and good luck writing!
Thanks for all the encouragement and well wishes, you're all brilliant and it means the world to me,
Ellie x
this is amazing! just ordered your book and I’m looking forward to listening to your guidance to help write my personal statement. I really found your whole using your own experiences into relating how it would make you a good student midwife. Thank you for the videos.
Great stuff Murin, I hope you find the book helpful, lots more on personal statements in there! Are you finding it straightforward to link you’re experiences to why they’ll help you be an excellent student midwife?
Thank you for sharing this information. I love the idea about simply weaving understanding about the role of a midwife throughout my answer. It is so easy in the application process to get fixated on why I would make the best candidate, and miss demonstrating that key element. I love how you weave it through your example answer.
Thank you Ellie for such a helpful video. By giving the examples you made it easier to really understand your advice and will find this very useful when writing my personal statement soon. I shall not sound like a regurgitating midwifery parrot. Sticky indeed!
Good luck writing Hollie 🙂 Weird image, glad you found it helpful!
Hi Hollie! I’d really like to give you a free copy of ‘Becoming A Student Midwife’ as yours is one of the best comments. If you’d like to email me your details we can get things sorted, congratulations! My email is: ellie@midwifediaries.com 🙂
Thank you, I am finding your series for aspiring midwives very helpful. In particular, I thought the advice you gave on writing a Personal Statement and how the role of a midwife should be woven into what you are writing about your own skills and abilities was a great tip. I will definitely try to incorporate my understanding of the role of a midwife when I write my own PS later this year.
I also enjoyed your ‘feminist rant’ as it is something I can really relate to… I love your positive attitude!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us Ellie! Your video has really helped me understand how to get the ‘role of the Midwife’ in to my personal statement whilst relating it to my own skills and experience. The term ‘weave’ is very useful! I feel much more positive about writing my statement now! Many thanks x