Returning to practice breathes new life into midwife
16 Sep 2022
Please note, this story includes information about domestic violence which may cause distress. You can reach out to the domestic violence crisis lines at 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the domestic violence hotline (1800 65 64 63) if you need immediate support.
Since she was 16 years old, Ange wanted to become a midwife.
“I did a nursing degree with the sole goal of becoming a midwife. In 1998, I achieved my dream, completing my Graduate Diploma of Midwifery before going on to practice in a hospital,” Ange said.
“Throughout my career I worked almost continuously, only having limited time off when I had each of my babies.
“I didn’t make a conscious or planned decision to leave midwifery, it was more the conspiring of events that made working almost impossible.
“My marriage ended as a result of domestic violence, and with the subsequent fall out, I needed to be home for and with my children.
“We also had housing issues and had to move 350km away to live with a family member.”
Despite desperately wanting to work in a hospital environment, Ange struggled with juggling work and being a mum, and said working casually in the community was all she could manage until she had enough stability.
Just when she thought she could make plans to return to hospital work, COVID-19 hit.
“Our household included a person with a severe disability and a person over 70 years old, and the uncertainty and fear of potential consequences of bringing home this then-unknown illness made me cancel the job interview I had lined up,” she said.
“When it became apparent COVID wasn’t going away and it was best to learn to live around it, I found it more difficult to get back into the workforce than I had anticipated, because by this time I had been out of the hospital system for over five years.
“My limited work in the community in the intervening years didn’t appear to count for much and I struggled knowing what to do next.
“I actually joined a job support agency and my return to work advocate helped me secure employment in a health-related role, however I secretly grieved the loss of my midwifery career and really missed providing hands-on care.”
Ange said her advocate saw posts on social media about St John of God Health Care’s re-entry to practice programs and recommended she consider it.
“I sent an email enquiry to St John of God Health Care and it all rolled on from there. I met with the Director of Nursing and Nurse Unit Manager at my hospital and I shed tears of joy at being offered a supported role as a re-entry midwife,” she said.
The rest is history.
“I’ve had several supernumerary and buddy shifts, and my colleagues have been very helpful answering my questions and making sure I’m going ok. The [nurse] unit manager and midwifery educator check in with me as well,” she said.
“To support my transition back onto the wards, I am also completing the Australian College of Midwives refresher program to ensure I’m providing the most up-to-date evidence-based care.
“I’m hoping being well-rounded practically and academically will give me a great foundation to regain my former level of skill so I have a long and fulfilling career supporting women once again.”
Ange likened her midwifery re-entry experience to riding a bike and said St John of God Health Care has helped her realise her value and purpose.
“Any good nurse or midwife has a ‘muscle memory’ of the hands-on part of care, the ways of soothing, showing compassion and being adaptable and resilient,” she said.
“We work long and hard to gain and maintain these skills, and they are so desperately needed and appreciated.
“To anyone considering returning to nursing and/or midwifery, I’d say do it.
“St John of God Health Care provides a great working environment close to home with great flexibility and a supportive team. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an amazing organisation.
“It’s nice to get up each day and feel I have a greater purpose and value to wider society once again.”
Find out more about our nursing re-entry to practice pathways.