If you’re a midwife or a midwifery student, you might be wondering if being an agency midwife has many advantages over having permanent employment at a hospital.
Why should you choose to be an agency midwife?
If you work as a midwife at a hospital, you will know your working hours, receive a regular income, and be eligible for holiday pay. When you help ladies give birth, you’ll have a defined pattern at work as well, though each day will bring its challenges and joys. Because you’ll most likely be working at the same hospital for a long time, you’ll get to know your coworkers on a personal level, which may come in handy if you need a sympathetic ear. You’ll become quite familiar with your surroundings, as well as hospital processes and systems.
Working for an agency might be a very different experience: Working for an agency provides more flexibility and autonomy and a higher hourly rate of pay. Typically, agency nurses will work in various facilities, with the length of time spent at each facility varying substantially.
Benefits of becoming an agency midwife:
Agency midwives must be able to swiftly adjust to different environments and “strike the ground running.” As a result, many organisations demand their midwives to have at least two years of experience. This is something to keep in mind for newly graduated midwives.
There are dedicated midwifery agencies and nursing agencies that serve all aspects of nursing, including midwifery. Employment in all areas of this subsection of nursing, including labour wards, NICU, prenatal, postnatal, and special care nursery, may be covered by a specialist agency.
You may be able to pursue ‘travel-nursing’ options depending on the agency with which you sign up. This is an excellent way to spend a working holiday. You could even be able to secure a short-term contract at a hospital in your desired location, allowing you to work while exploring a new region of the UK. Depending on the sort of contract you sign, you may be eligible for accommodation subsidies.
Pros and cons of agency midwife:
Some midwives begin their careers at hospitals to get the requisite experience, then move on to agency nursing after a few years. If you enjoy variety in the job and meeting new people, agency nursing could be a good fit for you. On the other hand, because you may not be at one employment long enough to develop personal relationships, it may be more difficult to form friendships with other midwives.
Hospital networks and public health executives have pushed hard in recent years to lessen their reliance on agency midwives due to high hourly costs. As the healthcare system becomes increasingly strained, this tendency will continue. As a result, the number of agency nursing and midwifery positions available may decrease over time.
However, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to work as a midwife, whether full-time or part-time. Nursing revalidation provides complete support and guidance for NMC revalidation.