Working Life: Being a midwife is one of life’s greatest privileges

Cairistine Greene, midwifery clinical skills facilitator, Sligo University Hospital

Midwifery Clinical Skills Facilitator, Cairistine Greene, in the Maternity Unit at Sligo University Hospital. Photo: Karen Cox Midwifery Clinical Skills Facilitator, Cairistine Greene, in the Maternity Unit at Sligo University Hospital. Photo: Karen Cox

6am

My partner has already left for his work commute to Dublin before I get up. 

Once I’ve my workbag packed, I wake my two-year-old son, get him dressed and head out the door. I live in Tulsk, Co Roscommon, so my commute to Sligo University Hospital (SUH) takes about 50 minutes. 

I drive via my mam’s house to drop my son off. I get a big hug and “love you, see you soon mama”, which sets me up for the day.

8am

At work, I change into my uniform before heading to the morning report, after which I check my emails to prioritise the day ahead. No working day is ever the same. 

It’s focused on staff and service needs, but there’s always some form of education or training at the heart of it. 

I go to the different clinical areas to link in with staff, particularly newly graduated midwives, to identify any support they need.

10.15am

I grab a cup of tea and breakfast at my desk or in the canteen with a colleague depending on how my morning is going.

11am

I usually have a planned education session mid-morning. We recently launched a new process for escalating clinical concerns for maternity patients. I visit the different wards and departments to promote the policy from our maternity department to the emergency department and ICU.

12 noon

I’m out on the wards educating staff or liaising with colleagues about different quality improvement initiatives. We have several ongoing initiatives here in SUH designed to further enhance a woman’s birth experience at our hospital.

1pm

As the day goes on, more things get added to my to-do list. I grab a quick bite to eat as afternoons are usually very busy.

3pm

I often have meetings in the afternoon. My role at the meetings is to lead on staff education/training and see how we can facilitate changes/recommendations.

6-6.30pm

At home, it’s all systems go until my little boy goes to bed. I try to get out for a walk with a podcast and decompress.

Being a midwife is one of life’s greatest privileges, I feel very lucky that I get to do a job I love, helping patients and working with fantastic colleagues.

• #InternationalDayOfTheMidwife takes place this Sunday, May 5. Follow the conversation online @HSELive @NWIHP #IDM2024 #IDM.