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Here at MNT Training we are the only independent training providers
of accredited training for Maternity Nurses in the UK. We take
Maternity Nursing seriously as a career option for both experienced
Nannies and those with suitable medical backgrounds such as Midwives.
To
understand the meaning of and importance of legally accredited courses
as compared to unaccredited courses click here.
We are committed to the highest standards in training for Maternity
Nurses but also to providing quality and clarity of information for
current and potential Maternity Nurses.
At the present time Maternity Nurses are a completely unrepresented
group who have access to little or no information for education,
resources or back up. We at MNT believe this is wrong and intend to use
this section of the site to make a start in providing Maternity Nurses
with the support they should have access to.
Of course all of this takes time! So as a starting point we have laid
down some basic information for new Maternity Nurses and on
fees/taxation and flexible working options for Maternity Nurses.
What does a Maternity Nurse Do?
A Maternity Nurse (sometimes referred to as a Maternity Nanny), usually
works 5 or 6 days a week on call for 24 hours a day in the parents' home
on arrival of the new baby. Although increasingly other types of work
are available (see flexible working - bottom of page).
They are equally responsible for both the newborn baby and post natal
mother. They are not working in any medical capacity but are suitably
experienced/qualified to aid and advise new parents with their newborn.
A Maternity Nurse is likely to be involved in feeding, bathing, changing
and settling baby to sleep and also in supporting mum in a general
capacity, but who also may be breastfeeding, have had a caesarean or who
unfortunately may be ill following delivery including mums with post
natal depression.
Equally important is spending time with both parents reassuring,
listening, encouraging and gently guiding parents where required, so
that when a Maternity Nurse leaves, parents are coping confidently with
their new baby.
Most Maternity Nurses are also expected to help parents set up routines
with their newborn and most importantly to pass on their skills and
knowledge to new parents or possibly integrating the new baby into a
family where there are already children.
As one Maternity Nurse describes her work – ‘every job is different and
within every job I am required to do and be many things – a counsellor,
extra pair of hands, diplomat, chauffeur, breast feeding supporter, and
many more – if you love people, babies and lots of variety – you will
love being a Maternity Nurse’..
Advantages and Disadvantages of being a
Maternity Nurse
There are many advantages to being a Maternity Nurse:
. Working with newborns
· Supporting post natal mothers
· Short contracts
· Being self-employed
· Increased earnings
However there are downsides too:
· Sleep deprivation
· Responsibility for your own financial affairs as a self–employed person
· Having to negotiate your own pay and contracts
· Loneliness – periods away from own family and friends
· Long hours
· Occasional difficult parents/families
· Distressed mothers/families / ill babies or rarely the death of a baby.
· Last minute cancellation of a job
Anyone considering working as a Maternity Nurse should carefully way up
the pros and cons of the work involved before setting about working
towards their first job and ensure they have the right personality as
well as experience/ training behind them before they start. In order to
help, we have put together a list of skills, qualities and experience to
assess whether you are suitable for this type of work:
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Qualities, Skills and Experience required of a
Professional Maternity Nurse
A professional Maternity Nurse should possess the following:
Suitable experience/qualifications for her role - these are that
she has some experience as a Nanny, at least 3 years (although most have
around 5-9 years when they start), or some alternative experience such
as being a midwife or paediatric Nurse with some additional experience
working within family homes. There are always exceptions to the above
and many mature women have other very useful professional experience,
which is transferable to a Maternity Nurse setting. (If you are unsure
about your own experience please call us 0844 8268 446).
Be suitably mature enough - to advise post-natal women on care of
themselves and their newborn. This is a vitally important part of a
Maternity Nurse's role and as such many Nannies are not considered
mature enough until they are at least 25 or possibly even 30. (Again
there are exceptions here, as we have trained a handful of younger
Nannies aged 23-24 who are very mature with the right background
experience who have become highly sought after Maternity Nurses).
Excellent communication skills - a professional Maternity Nurse
needs to excel in this field. She needs to be a careful listener, who
can take action before problems arise and ensure mum is well cared for
without mum having to ask, as well as being a shoulder when either
parent needs to talk. She also needs to have a warm, encouraging
personality as many new parents feel vulnerable and lack confidence in
their new roles.
Take responsibility for herself - she needs to be able to assert
herself when discussing contracts and pay and not let herself be drawn
into taking on more responsibility than she should. Finally an astute
Maternity Nurse knows when it is time to leave parents alone and also
when to sensitively make suggestions to parents on care of their baby
without making parents feel uncomfortable in any way.
Behave professionally at all times - this includes many aspects
of a Maternity Nurse's role such as: being discreet, respecting
confidentiality, keeping a daily diary of baby’s feeding, sleeping etc
throughout the day, always preparing contracts for every job, keeping to
her word when agreeing to do a job, turning up on time for interviews,
dressing appropriately on the job, keeping up to date with current best
practice in post natal and newborn care.
On deciding whether you are suited to a career in Maternity Nursing
please consider the above and if you need further assistance please call
us on 0844 8268 446 where one of our staff will be happy to help.
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Fees for Maternity Nurses
All Maternity Nurses in the UK are self-employed – this means that
anyone working as a Maternity Nurse needs to ensure she has informed the
Inland Revenue that she is self-employed (failure to do so within a
specified time period can result in a hefty fine).
This means that when a Maternity Nurse starts working she is in the
unusual position of negotiating her own pay. If the job you have applied
for is through an agency they may be able to tell you what the parents
are looking to pay –or alternatively you may be able to set your own
rate – it’s then up to the parents to decide yes or no. In either case
it’s useful to have guidelines on the current rates for Maternity Nurses:
Pay varies according to where the job is, whether there is one baby or
more and so on however the following generally applies (all figures are
gross – before tax):
Single Baby: £450-£700 per week
Twins: £600-£900 per week
Triplets: £900+ per week.
Additionally if a Maternity Nurse is working daily or nightly she will
charge by the hour and will charge anywhere between £8-£11 per hour for
a 12 hour shift.
Whilst these figures may seem extremely good – remember you will have to
take off your tax and National Insurance as well as any business
expenses you may incur.
Back To Top Training to become a Maternity Nurse
The information given previously in this section is a brief introduction
to the work of a Maternity Nurse. If after reading this you feel a
career in Maternity Nursing is for you then it is time you consider
becoming trained. At MNT Training we are the only independent training
providers of accredited training for Maternity Nurses in the UK,
and as such have set the standards for training Maternity Nurses and
also professional conduct of a modern Maternity Nurse both here
and overseas.
It is not essential to become trained in order to become a Maternity
Nurse, however anyone seriously considering such a move is advised
both by us and by most leading recruitment agencies here in the UK
to achieve their OCN Maternity Practitioner Award from usprior to
seeking work. It is seen as not only a commitment to the career you are
entering but also gives assurance to those who may be hiring you, that
your skills and knowledge are fully up to date. Most Nannies in
particular, have had only brief training in care of Newborns and none
whatsoever for post natal mums including breastfeeding – an essential
part of the Maternity Nurse role.
Our training is so well
respected that the world famous Nanny training college- Norland,
choose MNT to train their Norland graduates in Maternity Nursing!
For full details on the MNT's training for Maternity Nurses click here: OCN
Maternity Practitioner Award.
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