Any AIN’s out here?
Looking for a career change and AIN in a maternity ward has taken my interest.
After birthing my second child I thought that caring for mums and babies whilst they are in maternity is something I could do for a job and enjoy it.
F
What is the workload like?
How many hours a week?
Are the shifts flexible?
How did you find the study and training for the qualification?
How do you juggle family life with kids and work? ( I have 2 under 7 and my partner works from 3am-1pm)
Do you have to deal with women seeking abortions?
25 Replies
My sister does this
Work load depends on part time or full time
She said shifts aren’t totally flexible you have to sometimes work shifts that don’t fit in with your life
And is there a reason your asking about abortion?
Yes I asked about abortion because I am personally against abortion and i couldn’t bring myself to give someone looking for an abortion information on the procedure ( I am very sensitive in that respect)
I assume that because it is a maternity ward people would have come in asking about abortion
So you can’t not work with someone if they wanted an abortion just because that’s how you feel,
Would you not work with a gay person,?
You would have to talk to parents who would be looking at termination got many reasons and if you can’t do that objectively or you can’t do it at all then this job and career is NOT got you.
If I was your patient and you wouldn’t give me information or didn’t want to treat me because I wanted a termination I would be reporting you and hoping you’d lose your job
I would feel that I have that unborn baby’s blood on my hands, I do not believe that killing a unwanted baby is medical care if both the mother and baby were going to die because of the pregnancy that’s when it is a medical issue
I have no problem working with gay people....
If I was to be fired for referring you to another nurse because of my personal choice then I would lose all faith in humanity, firing someone because they choose not to work with a patient based on their choice is very sad.
So much for freedom
Find another profession love!
I would feel that I have that unborn baby’s blood on my hands, I do not believe that killing a unwanted baby is medical care if both the mother and baby were going to die because of the pregnancy that’s when it is a medical issue
I have no problem working with gay people....
If I was to be fired for referring you to another nurse because of my personal choice then I would lose all faith in humanity, firing someone because they choose not to work with a patient based on their choice is very sad.
So much for freedom
You can’t refer someone to another nurse just because you don’t believe in abortion;
I’m sorry but that’s a pretty piss poor mind Frame for someone who wants to work in health care. I think you need to seriously consider this. Imagine if a woman was told her baby would not live after birth and she decided to have a termination and part of your duty would be to support her. You would have to do it and you couldn’t put your objections on her
You can’t refer someone to another nurse just because you don’t believe in abortion;
I’m sorry but that’s a pretty piss poor mind Frame for someone who wants to work in health care. I think you need to seriously consider this. Imagine if a woman was told her baby would not live after birth and she decided to have a termination and part of your duty would be to support her. You would have to do it and you couldn’t put your objections on her
What about the woman's freedom to information and health care from professionals, about a service that she is entitled to?
I wonder if she keeps the baby do you feel equally that you have the financial cost and responsiblity of a life on your hands?
I've worked in the healthcare industry and I can tell you right now, refusing to give relevant information or what you call "referring to another AIN" is actually discrimination. It would go down about as well as "referring" a patient off because they were Muslim or gay for example and that went against your beliefs.
Your be opening yourself up for dismissal or even legal consequences. The fact you don't understand that says to me this is not the industry for you.
Nurses work by guidelines which state we must provide non-judgemental care. If you know this is going to be difficult for yourself then maybe seek alternate employment.
AINs are few and far between in maternity/womens and children's and after the study it would not be guarenteed to walk into one of those jobs. You may need to look at starting in a nursing home. Jobs of an AIN include (but not limited to) attending to ADLs (activities of daily living) so showers, toileting etc. Assiting to change pads (adult diapers essentially), assisting with feeding patients, making beds, restocking the ward, assisting with patient transfers and caring for confused patients 1:1. It is heavy and hard work. But so rewarding and valuable to the ENs and RNs on the ward
Hours vary between states and hospitals but typically AM shift is 0700-1530, PM 1300-2130 and nights 2100-0730.
You can’t pick and choose what paitents you work with becasue of your beliefs. If I came to someone and asked for information and they refused to give it to me because of their beliefs I’d complain to the medical board.
if you are looking at an assistant in nursing position your responsibilities are more likely to be towards nutrition and hygiene cares, changing beds you would not be looked to for medical advice. There may be instances you may have to provide care for a woman who has had an abortion if you can not handle giving them the same respect and care as anyone else you need to look into another career love.
I would still care for her like any other woman in the maternity unit.
If you read my other replies I was stating that I couldn’t give them information on abortion as I would feel guilty, I wouldn’t refuse to care for them if they did have an abortion
Sorry to say but if u can't put ur beliefs aside and be professional then this wouldn't be suited for u. Ur beliefs mean nothing in the working world and shouldn't effect ur job. Maybe see a psychologist coz it's not normal ur situation when it's another persons choice, it's not ur baby!
I'm not trying to be snarky in my responses I hope I can give you a few points to consider. As above if you are considering an AIN position in a maternity ward your patients will have given birth or be in for an induction. You are very unlikely to encounter a woman on a maternity ward needing advice for abortion from you. If you are looking into being a midwife then yes you may come across women looking for a termination. Let's talk about the ain maternity ward position you are likely to have patients who have had a still birth, premmie or may have been drinking/using drugs throughout their pregnancy in regards to the latter how would you feel caring for them is these issues something you can handle? I think a role as an ain can be extremely rewarding I believe the course is 6 months? You do need to do a block of placement though.
I thought there’s laws now in place about letting beliefs regarding abortion effect work?
How would you deal with women giving birth to children addicted to a variety of drugs? Or helping to look after women who have birthed to children with fetal alcohol syndrome. It's a lot more complicated than just nice squishy babies.
Medical personale need and have to put their personal beliefs aside when they are on the job. If you can not do that then this isnt the career for you.
Hi,
I’m a nurs and I’ve worked in maternity ward. I’ll try and help.
Workload for AIN depends on where you work and if it’s public or a private hospital.
Generally, your just making beds as an AIN and you won’t be giving any advice as your not trained or qualified.
Shifts are not flexible. They’re generally a standard 8 hour shift. Morning shifts start at different times depending on the hospital. Usually 7-3.30 or 3-10.30 usually Ain don’t work nights, but if it’s reuqired a casual will fill in from 10.30 to 7.
Study for AIN is easy, 6 months usually with 120 workplacement hours. No specialised training regarding on where you work.
Family life is kind of the same as any job. You adjust, getting kids to and from school can be tricky because of the starting at 7, but again, depends on where you work.
We see many abortions, adoptions, young rape victims and so on. It’s not all hunky dory.
The fact you have asked - means your not suited for this job at all. We can not judge. It’s apart of our rights, and an agreement we need to sign before even joining the profession. All Clients are treated equally. There are exceptions... but in case of emergency no exceptions are given. If you don’t assist your referred to APHRA because you failed in your duty of care to assist in an emergency.
As an AIN you don’t get to really help the mothers, mainly behind the scene type of stuff.... beds, meals, tidy, taking skips to the laundry, cleaning beds after birthing, helping mother shower after labour if required (usually a nurse will do it though to ensure no falls or excess blood etc)
Just to add to my statement... these are what you need to agree too.
As you don’t, no hospital service would employ you. Nurses are actually trying to decriminalise abortions in certain states. Nurse know the effects on the family and more importantly...on the mother. The more educated you become, the more you will see the growth is just a foetus until after 20 weeks.
Read 1&3
Just because you disagree... in case of emergency you would be held accountable for negligence if you declined to help. Lives can be endangered if you didn’t help. But as an AIN you don’t really have the skills to help directly... but if you walked away and didn’t try and assist, or refusing an order by the dr (such as hold her airway open) you could be held accountable.
It is the policy of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation that:
1. Nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing (however titled) have a right to refuse to participate in procedures which they judge, on strongly held religious, moral and ethical beliefs, to be unacceptable (conscientious objection)1 . Fear, personal convenience or preference, are not sufficient basis for conscientious objection.
2. In exercising their conscientious objection, nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the persons preference, quality of care, safety, and advance care directives are not compromised.
3. Subject to their scope of practice, nurses and midwives in the course of their employment, must not refuse to carry out urgent life-saving measures or procedures.
4. In situations of conscientious objection, the nurse, midwife or assistants in nursing should express a desire not to participate in that procedure, in advance if possible. In these circumstances the employer must allow the nurse, midwife or assistants in nursing to leave the area and/or not participate in the procedure as soon as practicable without any discriminatory or adverse action being taken.
5. Nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing should give serious consideration to avoiding employment positions where they can foresee that a situation of conscientious objection may arise with relative frequency.
6. Nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing accepting employment positions where they know they may be called on to be involved in situations at variance with their beliefs, have a responsibility to inform their employer.
7. Nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing should support colleagues who exercise their right to conscientious objection, and endeavour to prevent them being placed in situations that may compromise their religious, moral and ethical beliefs.
8. No discriminatory or adverse action should be taken against any nurse, midwife or assistant in nursing voicing a conscientious objection either in an application for, or during employment.
9. In health and aged care facilities nurses and midwives should have access to counselling and support services to meet their needs in their workplaces.
Sorry but you don’t have enough empathy to work in this field.
I am an AIN but not in a maternity ward. I work in a private hospital throughout medical snd surgical units.
My workload includes assisting patients with hygienes (showering, toileting, sponge baths, pad changes, idc emptying, oral hygiene).
Assisting with mobilising.
Observations
Bed making
ECG's
Assisting with feeding
BGL's
One on one specialing (confused patients).
I usually work shorter shifts then a nurse, generally 4-6 hours, during the busy periods. 6am -12pm are my general shifts, however I can do 12 hour night shifts if a patient requires a special.
I find it is a physically demanding job, you are on your feet constantly and on the go. But I love it, if you love being busy, this is the perfect job. I love the older folk.
In this industry it is fundamentally important to have an open mind snd not be judgmental. There is an absolute no tolerance to judgment. You are there to provide safe, empathic care to your patient during one of their most vulnerable times, regardless how you feel. If this is something you cannot do, then this industry is really not for you.
I have just finished my nursing degree and will go on to work as a registered nurse in the new year. I plan on commencing my midwifery post grad also. Due to studying my degree, after I completed my first placement I was able to work as an AIN, so i am no entirely sure of study requirements. In my experience, the hours are non negotiable and are not flexible. I have managed full time study of a bachelor degree (3 years), working approximately 30 hours a week and 3 young children. So it would be very doable. I have plenty of support though. Good luck.
Please never work in the medical field. It is absolutely no place for judgement like this. If you cannot leave your personal beliefs and priorities at the door you have no business working with vulnerable people.
Nursing is in the health CARE profession. Not the health OPPINION profession. Look at maybe a field that won’t clash with your opinions and beliefs to ensure you can provide the highest level of CARE.