direct entry diabetes midwife
Up to Neonatal Hypoglycaemia
hi
does any units out there have a diabetes specialist midwife who is a direct entry midwife?
Hi, I'm new to this network. I am a direct entry midwife. Qualified in 1995. I have been working as a "diabetic link midwife" for the last ten years as a band 6. I have just been given the opportunity to write a job for a specialist midwife, in order to obtain funding for the post. So yes! If I'm successful. You will be hearing lots from me! Any job descriptions would be most welcomed! Or any other advice!
Hi. I am also a direct entry midwife. I have been working as a diabetes specialist midwife since 2008. I was lucky in that the post was already up and running when I was appointed. I cover one of our large maternity units for antenatal and postnatal ladies and another DSM covers the other one. However, we do support each other daily and work cross-site.
good to hear girls, are any of you duel trained, do you take on the role of diabetes nurse as well?
Hi there,
I am a diabetes midwife, (direct entry 20 years ago), and after most of my career on delivery suite, I was offered a trainee diabetes midwife job 2 and a half years ago. I did the Warwick course which was invaluable. I learned to adjust insulin and metformin by 'shadowing' and practising. My colleague and I wrote our own insulin adjustment policy which was ratified by the trust. I don't believe that the route by which a midwife trained should have any limitation to career progression. What matters is the experience and education that you have achieved during the course of your career.
Good luck
Rachel
hi rachel
any chance you could share your insulin adjustment policy with us?
I too agree that it makes no difference how you became a midwife. I was a nurse prior to midwifery, but only worked for 5 months before doing midwifery, and as that was 28 years ago I consider myself the same as a direct entry midwife.
sue
Dear Sue,
Attached is a link to the policy. Hope it helps.
Rachel
Hello Sarah Knight how did you get on with the job description and funding ?I hope you were successful. Did you get any job descriptions ? I would be very interested in this as at present we do not have a job description in our trust for this post or competencies which I feel we need. Take care Ed.
Thanks Rachel for the link I have printed it and will read it with interest.
Hi Everyone
I agree that the route of midwifery has no impact on the role of a DSM and there are lots of midwives who trained direct entry doing the job. I have been a DSM for 11 years and did a dual role as a DSN for the last 5 years. I recently went back to just DSM due to workload.
I have a job description I can share. Just email me on jane.obrien@stockport.nhs.uk
There is also a tool available from the RCM that we produced a few years ago called Lead Midwife in Diabetes: Standards, Role and Competencies.
Hope this helps, good luck you will enjoy it.
Jane
