Every Midwifery student from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has been offered a job after a recent round of interviews.
The majority of the cohort - who were due to qualify last week - will be joining University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL), with other students taking up roles further afield.
Joan Morrissey, Midwifery Matron at UHL, said: "The midwives on the interview panels had such an enjoyable day testing and interviewing 27 of our 'home-grown' student midwives at DMU.
"The standard was extremely high and we noticed a difference in both the performance and knowledge demonstrated compared to previous interviews conducted with external candidates.
"This cohort clearly has embraced the UHL Trust values and we look forward to them joining us as newly qualified midwives later in the year."
Elaine Broughton, head of midwifery at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “We work closely with the university in preparing the students as the midwives of the future, so I am incredibly proud that so many students want to stay at Leicester’s Hospitals - they will be an asset to our team.”
The Midwifery Class of 2017 are delighted with their achievements.
Natalie Goodwin, who will be heading to Leicester General Hospital in November, said landing the role of newly qualified midwife "makes it all worthwhile".
The 27-year-old has overcome difficult circumstances to stay on the course, as her sister sadly passed away earlier this year. She credits the support of her coursemates and tutors with helping her cope.
"The university girls have been amazing, we're all quite close and they have got me through it," said Natalie. "And Senior Lecturer Moira McLean has been incredible."
She said she feels as "prepared as is possible" for life on the wards.
"Most of us have worked with high- and low-risk women as well as undertaken elective and community placements," added Natalie.
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Joining her at the General will be Sadie Morrison, who said the best thing about landing a job is "the sense of achievement" after facing challenges during her studies.
The 37-year-old from Nottingham said: "I applied to do midwifery 14 years ago but fell pregnant and then had two more children, so I waited for my youngest to start school.
"I had my fourth child in the middle of the course, so had a year out.
"The lecturers at DMU have been so supportive and given me reassurance."
Classmate Becca Hall will be taking up a role in her home town with the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
"It's brilliant, just what I wanted," she said.
The 26-year-old benefited from local placements in her final year, after DMU welcomed a cohort from Lincoln.
"It has prepared me well," she said. "I was worried about moving to work in a new trust, but because I have done placements there it has given me good experience and made it less scary."
Becca, whose interest in the course was sparked by the midwife who looked after her when she fell pregnant aged 16, has also benefited from the friendly environment at DMU.
She added: "The best thing is the people I've met. When my dad went into surgery, Senior Lecturer Moira McLean was not just concerned about the course but about me personally. She was really supportive."
Posted on Friday 29 September 2017