Nursing and midwifery both have very important and highly regarded roles in public health. Studying midwifery or nursing will enable you to join an industry that is the backbone of the UK’s infrastructure.
Nurses support patients in a variety of ways and they are trained to do everything from taking a blood test to supervising medication and post-surgery recovery. Midwives on the other hand support and guide expectant mothers through their pregnancy and birth.
They work at the heart of their communities providing support for mothers, babies, and families in both clinical and home settings. Both professions change people’s lives on a daily basis. There are few professions that have a higher calling than caring for others or bringing new life into the world, and you can be part of this effort by studying nursing or midwifery courses.
There is an academic path you can embark on to achieve your career goal, and below we have outlined the steps you need to take, including enrolling on Access to nursing and midwife courses. UK learners should continue reading to find out more!
What Do I Need to Do to Study Midwifery or Nursing?
If you’re undecided as to which route into healthcare you want to take, simply consider the different aspects of the nursing and midwifery roles. All qualified nurses must choose from four specialisms during their nursing degree (although some universities offer joint qualifications). These are:
- Adult Nursing
- Children’s Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Learning Disability Learning
Each offers its own unique challenges and rewards. It is also possible to change your nursing discipline once you have qualified, with the right training. So, you’re not trapped on a single path should you feel the need for a change in your nursing career.
Being a midwife has some parallels with nursing, such as relationship building and being responsible for the care and well-being of patients. However, there are crucial differences, not least of which is being responsible for the welfare of expectant mothers and their babies. This includes the delicate balancing of the mother’s preferences and their well-being.
While there are challenges with midwifery, there are many benefits to becoming a midwife. Once you have qualified as a midwife after completing midwifery courses, you will have the opportunity to add to your skills by specialising in certain areas, such as public health or teenage pregnancy.
Principles to Live by as a Nurse or Midwife
The Royal College of Nursing outlines certain principles that all aspiring nurses and midwives will be expected to demonstrate. You need to be comfortable with these before you embark on any Access to nursing or midwifery courses.
- Principle A - Treat everyone in your care with dignity and humanity. Understand their individual needs, and show compassion and sensitivity. Provide care in a way that respects all people equally
- Principle B - Take responsibility for the care you provide and answer for your judgement and actions. Carry out those actions in a way that is agreed with by the patient, family and carers in a way that meets the requirements of professional bodies and the law
- Principle C - Manage risk, be vigilant to risk and help everyone be safe in the places they receive health care
- Principle D - Provide and promote care that puts people at its centre. Involve patients, service users, their families and their carers in decisions. Help them make informed choices about their treatment and care
- Principle E - You are to assess, record and report on treatment and care, and handle information sensitively and confidentially. You need to be able to deal with complaints effectively and be conscientious in reporting the things the person or persons are concerned about
- Principle F - In line with the needs of those in your care, maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills, using them with intelligence, insight and understanding
- Principle G - Work closely with your team and other professionals to ensure the patient’s care is coordinated, is of a high standard and has the best possible outcome
- Principle H - Lead by example and influence the way care is given in a manner that is open and responds to individual needs
If you are comfortable working, and ultimately living to those values, then nursing or midwifery is the career for you.
Minimum Requirements
To become a nurse or midwife you need to have a degree, which you can embark on after studying an Access to nursing or Access to midwifery course. UK learners should be aware that entry requirements vary for nursing and midwifery degrees depending on the university, but as a minimum, you should have the following:
- GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or Functional Skills equivalent)
- At least two A-levels or equivalent
- Gain a certain number of credits with a merit or a distinction grade
- Have a face-to-face interview
- Complete a course-related work placement or undergo work experience
- Take literacy and numeracy assessments
If you don’t have existing A Levels, then you can either study them online through learndirect or study midwifery or nursing through an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
What is an Access to Nursing or Midwifery Course?
The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a qualification that prepares students for study as an undergraduate at university. The Access diploma is designed for people who want to study a degree but don’t have the qualifications to apply.
Access to HE Diplomas are recognised by most universities and are tailored for your chosen area of study, but it is advisable to check the entry requirements before you enrol to study midwifery or nursing.
Our Access to Higher Education Diploma (Midwifery) and Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing) courses will focus specifically on the degree you want to study, as well as provide you with a range of study skills. This combination gives you the key foundational knowledge that will prepare you for degree-level study.
What Topics are Covered in an Access to Midwifery Course?
Student midwives will delve into various topics during their midwife courses. UK learners can expect to cover the following:
- Roles and responsibilities of a midwife
- Health and wellbeing
- Human reproduction and growth
- Nutrition and the digestive system
- Psychology
- Mental health and more!
What Topics are Covered in an Access to Nursing Course?
Your Access to nursing course studies will be broken down to cover the various aspects of nursing, as well as the basics of the human body. Your Access to nursing course will touch on:
- Roles and responsibilities of a nurse
- Nervous system
- Dementia
- Human skeletal and muscular system
- Disease and Prevention
- Use of medicines and more!
You have two years to complete your Access to nursing or midwifery courses, but on average, learners take 9-12 months to achieve their nationally recognised qualification. As soon as you enrol on your Access course, you will be issued with an Individual Learning Plan that outlines the submission deadlines for your assignments, helping you stay on track.
By the time you have completed the Access to nursing or midwifery courses, you will be fully prepared to take the next step on your journey to becoming a nurse or midwife.
Benefits of Online Learning
Studying Access to nursing and midwifery courses with learndirect is beneficial in many ways, with the main one being that you can learn from the comfort of your own home via our industry-leading online learning platform. If you are asking yourself ‘are there any midwifery courses near me?’, then we have the answer! Simply log on and enrol on the best nursing and midwifery courses available!
If you choose to study an Access to midwifery course or Access to nursing course with us, then you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Flexible learning – By studying Access to nursing or Access to midwifery courses online, you have the benefit of being able to learn without the restrictions of classroom study
- Study anywhere – All you need is a stable internet connection and a computer or laptop to start your Access course, so it doesn’t matter where you study!
- Unlimited access – As soon as you enrol on nursing or midwifery Access courses, you will be given 24/7 access to all of your course materials
- Online platform – Our easy-to-use industry-leading student portal will have everything you need to complete your Access course
Enrol Today!
To kickstart your journey towards becoming a nurse or a midwife, speak to one of our Course Executives today on 01202 006 464. Alternatively, contact us online or click below to sign up to learndirect’s leading Access to nursing and midwifery courses, giving you the foundation you need to go on to achieve at university.
