I have just recently started my final second year placement, which WOW is a slightly scary thought.
I remember starting the course and the other students and tutors mentioning how quickly the three years goes and I have to agree!
Placement really is my favourite thing about the course. The time spent in clinical practice is invaluable and I try to be as organised as I can during my placement blocks.

This block is seven weeks long and I'm spending it in one ward area. Before each placement I like to prepare a few bits and bobs to ensure I'm not over-stressed as well as tired during my placement weeks.

First thing I do as soon as possible is find out my shifts. Even if it's just the first week I like to be able to plan out when I'll be at the maternity hospital and what my shift pattern is. This week I have done 3 night shifts, and I was lucky to have been given 6 out of 7 weeks of shifts before I started so I have been super proactive.

I recently asked on twitter (@ruth_stmw) about shift / calendar apps for storing shifts. I used my iCal on my iPhone SE usually but I find having an actual diary so satisfying as I can tick off each shift, like a to do list! (I love lists!) I've not yet found one I really like without spending money but I'll maybe do a little tech post another time.

Other little organisational tasks I do include:
Ironing my uniforms - important to make an impression and to have this done way in advance.
Plan my meals according to my shifts - I usually eat less on night shift but I like to snack so I make sure I have food shop done the week before. Also meal prep is a life saver.
Buy black pens - I know many students / midwives joke, but really a good black pen is a life saver. I can't use pens with lids, I like to click down the nib so I buy a pack of the ones I like so I always have two on me, and two in my bag - just in case.
Find my hospital ID / Fob watch - I don't know if it's just me but I am ALWAYS misplacing my hospital ID and fob watch. This year I bought a cute box pencil case for 39p from home bargains to keep these in (along with my pens) so I know where they are in my bag, and I'm not hurriedly delving to the bottom of my bag just before handover.
Invest in a good mascara - I don't wear a lot of makeup on shift, foundation, eyebrows, powder, mascara, but the latter has to be good! Waterproof and smudge proof, so you can't tell I have a wee tear every time I see a baby born.
Pack my bag - I need it done before my first shift so why not now?
Write little reminders in the back of my placement notebook - I take a new little notebook for each placement and I write reminders in the back; medicine dosages, timings for observations, sepsis 6, obstetric emergency manoeuvres - so I can revise on down time.
My objectives for the placement - even just bullet pointed in my notebook. I like to know the numbers / skills I'd like to experience on placement. Sometimes knowing and asking can lead to you experiencing some amazing things - like the time I spent in scanning and I got to tell a woman and her partner they were expecting twins.


Any advice from current midwives for what they like student's to have prepared before hand? Or advice from other student midwives?
Or even now, topics you'd like to hear from me on?

Ruth x

twitter: @ruth_stmw