Midwifery: How Do You Get Started in Research? | Clinical Academia: Getting Started

So Meg, I'm going to start with you.

When you first sort of thought about getting started in research, did it feel exciting or intimidating or a bit of both?

I think more exciting.

Yeah, it's more of an exciting thing.

I've always wanted to get into research.

So a reason I wanted to work at St Mary's is because I knew that there was research there, so that was what attracted me to work there in the first place.

And I've been a research midwife in the past, so doing research delivery and really enjoyed that, but it wasn't quite what I was, you know, wanting to do long-term.

So now I'm actually getting to do what I've always wanted to do.

So it's mostly exciting, but there is definitely... intimidating parts to it and lots of personal barriers that you have to overcome.

Have there ever been times when you've thought research is not for people like me?

No, it's not that I've thought research is not for people like me.

It's just how can I be the right person for research is probably what I've thought.

So what is it that I need to do? Because the paths are not clear in terms of how you get from A to B.

And where do you start? And what's available? And how will I afford more training? You know, all of those sorts of different things, really.

So a lot of questions, but no sort of inherent discomfort about the whole idea?

No, mostly excited about it.

Mostly like I've always wanted to do it.

I've just not known how.

Is that something that you often hear from early career midwives?

Definitely.

I mean, there are far more people working in clinical practice who want to do research than are able to.

So I think Meg's account is a good one.

Sometimes people come to it slowly.

So they practice, the questions arise in their minds, and they think, actually, I'd like to answer this question.

So that's the best way to do it.