Information Sessions to Boost Midwife Numbers

Friday 16 November 2007 “Quality and Humanity in Health”

SDHB Hosts Midwifery Career Information Sessions to Boost Midwife Numbers

Southland District Health Board is hosting two information sessions on Thursday 22 November 2007 for people thinking about a career in midwifery, in an effort to boost midwifery numbers in the region long-term, Jenny Humphries, Associate Director of Nursing and Midwifery said.

"These sessions are an excellent opportunity for people who have been thinking about starting a career in midwifery to come along and hear about the training programme, entry requirements and career opportunities following graduation," Ms Humphries said.

"Our hope is that local people, who train as midwives, will have a commitment to the region and go on to continue practising within Southland."

Mrs Humphries said that annual birth numbers in the region had historically sat at about 1,300, but in the past financial year there had been 1,530 births.

"We've been seeing a baby boom over this past year and the pattern appears to be continuing. With more babies being born, we need more midwives!"

The midwifery degree takes three years to complete, but registered nurses with a degree can complete the midwifery training in two years. Training can be undertaken within Southland through a collaborative approach between the Southern Institute of Technology and the Auckland University of Technology's School of Midwifery. It is planned that further regionally based (South Island) education will be on offer in the future.

Ms Humphries, a midwife herself, said that a career in midwifery was extremely rewarding.

"Midwives get the opportunity to be involved with families as they experience a very important time in their lives,"

"The midwifery profession has a high level of autonomy and there are many opportunities to work in hospital settings, primary care maternity units, or as a self-employed, independent midwife managing your own caseload."

The information sessions are being held on Thursday 22 November between 12pm-1pm at the SIT, Room C106 and between 2pm-3.30pm at Southland Hospital in the Community Services Building Lecture Theatre.

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