Shortlisted for Student Midwife of the Year!

I am so incredibly excited to announce that I have been officially Shortlisted for Student Midwife of the Year.

I am beyond excited to have been shortlisted for this award and I am very thankful to the opportunity. I am a little in shock to be completely honest. With so many other great candidates, I am sure it will have been a difficult decision; to be selected as one of the top nominations in the country is an incredible honour. I feel very grateful and humbled to be a part of such an exclusive group of worthy candidates. Congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted!

The category is explained as follows.
This award aims to recognise an outstanding student and to celebrate the understanding and communication skills needed in this field – from clinical skills to academic achievement, as well as interpersonal skills, which underpin the treatment of this patient group and relate to their families. In essence, entrants must combine the knowledge, skills and qualities required to excel. As a student entering a midwifery career, the winner will have a broad understanding of the range of conditions and contraindications related to midwifery care and will demonstrate excellent clinical skills to ensure best is delivered at all times throughout antenatal, birth and postnatal care.

What are the judges looking for?
The judges are looking for an exceptional student who can demonstrate excellence in the following:

• Knowledge of and competence in clinical skills related to antenatal, birth and postnatal care;
• Understanding of the rationale behind evidence-based practice, treatment choices and care pathways in midwifery care;
• Interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to use them with women, their partners and wider families;
• An ability to act with compassion and empathy;
• Active listening, responding and personalising care to meet patients’ needs;
• Academic achievement;
• The ability to empathise and understand the needs of partners and commitment to meeting these needs;
• Acting as a role model for student midwifery;
• Team playing and an appreciation of midwives’ role within the wider multidisciplinary team;
• Use of reflection and the confidence to question practice even if they may challenge others.

I had a couple of lecturers and university staff members contact me telling me to nominate myself, so I went ahead and wrote my story and explained my passion for the subject. I was shocked to learn I'd made it to the final 10 students! The next step is an interview in March, followed by the awards event in April. 

I am so incredibly excited and I can't wait!