work exp in the maternity department? (16 year old)

**purplesky123** · 12-11-2011, 12:37 AM

Hey, I am 16 years old and a hopeful med school applicant

I've had a bit of a problem sorting out work experience, and am trying to sort out some form of hospital experience before I submit my UCAS application in october 2012.

However the hospital in my local area is strict because you have to be a certain age to work in certain departments.

As a result, the only option left available for me is the maternity department where I have been offered a 5 days of work experience.

And although I am grateful for having this offer, I am a bit confused and have doubts about what I will actually learn and consequently, have to talk about in my personal statement :/ because having wex in the maternity department may imply that i'm interested in being a gynacologist when in reality, I don't want to pinpoint that as my specifically desired job choice (as I haven't had the opportunity to experience what it's like to be on any of the other hospital departments)

I haven't confirmed the offer for this work experience placement because I'm not sure if it's good enough.

Everyone else on this forum seems to have work experience in more interesting areas like paeds or cardiology etc. (not to cause offense to the maternity department because without them, bringing life into the world would be very hard >.<)

So do you think I should still secure this placement? I'm just a bit nervous about what i'll actually be doing on the ward...seeing women give birth?

I also tried asking for just 2 days of work experience here but the lady in charge said that the maternity department regulations have a clear policy of having 5 days work experience placements. :/

Woah this is a long message. Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this.

I'd greatly appreciate any replies.

**Nigrill** · 12-11-2011, 04:24 AM

Yes...of course you should take the placement. I've applied this year for standard undergrad entry, and I can tell you to take everything openly. They say it's not WHAT you do that counts, but ultimately, you are more likely to learn and become a better applicant if you have more work experience, more voluntary work etc.

I had a similar problem in that I could not get anyhospital placements where I am (all 18+ unless you are doing tea/coffee rounds) which I was/am already doing at a local hospice. There was one in a pathology dep. (Great!) but they got back to me with 'we're not running it anymore'

Like I say...more = better (as long as you make sure you are actively undertaking work experience...passive = no good).

Being involved in the maternity ward doesn't necessarily indicate a true passion in that area...if you take what you see more generally, you can apply that to all situations (importance of x,y,z factors in cardiac unit for example). It can't hurt can it?

At the end of the day, you should have a wide range of experiences that show commitment, enthusiasm and a desire to participate in the medical field. I have done: (oh no! here comes the list)

2 weeks in a rural South African Hospital
6 months (and counting) at a hospice
6 months at a special needs college
2 days at a CIRU

I was worried that this was not enough, but to be fair, I feel I have learned from my experiences in a way that have improved my application and my personality.

You are not there for your application, you are there to experience what the career may be like. I had the same problem of 'is it good enough?' They are all good enough, as long as you put the effort in to engage properly when you are there.

(Wow that was long and tedious...sorry)

**starx** · 12-11-2011, 06:09 AM

Take the work placement. All experience helps and you have got plenty of time to find more in the next 12 months.
No medical school is going to expect you to know at 16 what kind of doctor you want to be. Five days work shadowing in a maternity ward with no background knowledge is definitely not going to pinpoint you to becoming a gynecologist so Id say go for it, every little bit helps.

Best of Luck.