Jen Rogers
"On my clinical placements, I support women in labour, take part in antenatal clinics and postnatal visits, and help provide specialist care in the baby unit."
Course
Midwifery (Registered Midwife) BSc (Hons)Why I chose Surrey
I’m originally from a financial services background and got to a point in my life where I felt unfulfilled. I started to think about alternative careers, where I could make a difference to people’s lives and that’s when I found midwifery. I’ve always been fascinated with pregnancy, so being able to care for women and their families felt like the perfect path for me.
I chose Surrey after I came to an open day and saw how incredible the staff and facilities are. Everything was extremely organised and welcoming. From then, I had my heart set on being part of the Surrey community and now there’s nowhere else I’d rather be!
My course
One of the things I like best about my midwifery course is how no two days are ever the same – you never know what’s around the corner! I also love how I can care for women from all walks of life, putting theory into practice.
The support from the midwifery tutors is incredible and you can see how much they genuinely care about their students. I’m a course rep for my cohort and I’ve had the opportunity to speak with lecturers, providing them with feedback, ideas and solutions on how to improve elements of the course. It’s empowering being able to make a difference.
The facilities are the best you’ll ever get – there’s a state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Centre that can be set up and used for so many different scenarios to engage and improve learning, and so much more.
My clinical placements
My clinical placements have been based at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. During these, I’ve had the opportunity to rotate between all areas of midwifery care, including the antenatal ward, planned assessment unit, postnatal ward, delivery suite and the antenatal clinic. I’ve also been out in the local community with the home birth team. It’s been fascinating learning about their case-loading model for caring for women throughout their pregnancies and being on-call for their births.
On a day-to-day basis, I support women who are in labour and look after those who are having elective caesarean sections. I take part in antenatal clinics, postnatal visits and help provide specialist care in the baby unit. I’ve also been triaging women going into labour or coming into the antenatal ward to be induced.
My biggest highlight to date, has been managing the caseloads of three women and following them through with their pregnancies, being on-call for when they go into labour and then visiting them postnatally. Being there for them during ultrasound scans and at the births of their children is extremely liberating. It’s incredible how much rapport and trust you can build over a short amount of time.
"When I qualify, I'd love to go straight into practice within a continuity of care model. This model will allow me to work with other midwives out in the community, managing my own caseload."
My life at Surrey
I lived in university accommodation in my first year. It was very sociable and a great way to get to know other students, especially other trainee midwives.
One of the best things about life at Surrey has to be the amount of societies available. There’s literally something for everyone! I’m part of the Midwifery Society and it’s been great helping to support my peers.
The Stag Hill campus is brilliant and is super close to Guildford town centre and just over 30 minutes from London on the train which is very convenient!
My career and development
Surrey has allowed me to meet so many different people and their stories have widened my perspective on life.
When I qualify, I'd love to go straight into practice within a continuity of care model. This model will allow me to work with other midwives out in the community, managing my own caseload. I’d be able to follow women throughout their pregnancies into the postnatal period, which I know will be more fulfilling for me as an individual.
My advice
If you love caring for women and want to empower and be their advocate, then this is the job for you! Be extremely organised from the start and use your initiative when you’re studying. Both will help you to develop throughout the course, so you can become the best midwife you can be.
