Anyone planning on being a nurse-midwife?

erad76 · 09-18-2006, 09:14 PM

I was just wondering if anyone was planning on becoming a nurse-midwife. I know we have a bunch of women going the direct entry route. I was curious if there were any other people interested in going the CNM path. If so, why and where do you plan to study?

AussieDoula · 09-19-2006, 12:07 AM

There's no other way to do it in my home state.

So, if I were to pursue midwifery I would need to complete 3 years in nursing to get my bachelor's, then postgraduate studies in midwifery.
There are direct-entry programs in other parts of Australia, but they aren't considering it any time in the near future at home that I am aware of.

loveslabor · 09-19-2006, 01:18 AM

I'm not sure. I'm still considering my options. I don't know where I will go if I go the nurse midwifery route. Chances are I will get my RN and stuff at a local college and then do the CNEP program for my CNM.

Acacia · 09-19-2006, 08:53 AM

I seriously looked into it a few months ago and am still undecided. I have a BA in Communications so all of my pre req's are done. I would have to double major which would take 2 years to complete and then get a masters in nurse midwifery...another 2 years. I just don't think I could swing it right now with 2 wee ones still at home. I also have the option of having my undergrad paid for by a hospital if I work for them for a few years. My problem is that I really don't want to just be a nurse...I don't want a doctor telling what I must do...I want to be able to do the birth process start to finish. I may re-visit it in a few years when the kids are in school though...we shall see!

Acacia · 09-19-2006, 08:59 AM

Oops I forgot to add why I would choose CNM over direct entry. My state doesn't allow direct entry. It is actually considered illegal and I would not want to get caught up in that. My kids are more important to me than trying to change the system at this point in my life. There are actually a few women pushing for the laws to be chaged and I say more power to them. I just can't justify trying to change the system when I have 2 babies at home that would be without a mom if I was put in jail or something.

erad76 · 09-19-2006, 10:35 AM

I know what you mean about not wanting to be a nurse. That is something I am struggling with too. There are programs here for people who already have a non-nursing bachelor's (like me) and train directly to be a CNM. But they seem very hospital oriented, and that really isn't where I want to end up. Plus they are very intense programs, and I think I'd be better off moving a little more slowly.

CatieDoula · 09-26-2006, 04:34 PM

I just started nursing school to become a CNM. I'll probably do my masters program with The Fronteer School (they have a distance learning program).

I've wanted to be a CPM for sometime then a light bulb went off. My goal is to empower women in birth...women having home births are already there for the most part. And, where I'm at, there are many CPMs and DEMs...but there aren't too many good CNMs. Although, when I'm done, I probably won't be practicing here. My hubby can retire in ten years so we can go where ever we want to go. I figure it will probably take me 7-8 years to finish my undergrad and masters program since I am starting fresh.

Sehsun · 02-06-2009, 09:49 PM

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to chime in.

I am a nursing student and am thinking of going on to grad school for nurse-midwifery. I wanted to work in a health field and was originally wanting to go into medicine, but I decided not to go that route before my sophomore year of college. I decided to try nursing, and I think it's a better fit for me personally. I knew that I was interested in women's health before I started nursing school, and having gone through my OB clinicals, that passion is still there. I like that CNMs care for women of childbearing age (and possibly even older, I think), as well as seeing them for well-women visits. I also really like the midwifery model and the way they are taught.

I am thinking of applying to Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, or possibly a program from the university where I got my first degree.

leticia · 02-07-2009, 12:45 AM

I went back and forth about this for a long time. I first settled with the CPM route. I felt the model of care was more true to the origin and heart of midwifery and I'd be happier with both the cpm education and profession. Plus, I don't think it's necessary for a midwife to be nurse and didn't see the point of wasting time in nursing school. But it would come with a lot of sacrifice. it is not legal in my state so I'd have to move to practice. Not only that, but I want to be able to make a good living and I know nursing will give me that extra advantage (not that it's the driving force behind my decision but income is important). So for now, I'm choosing CNM. I am not an RN so I am planning to do that probably at community college (already have bs in public health) and master's at Georgetown U. i am not looking forward to nursing school

I started doing my pre-reqs in college but couldn't keep up so I put it on hold. I'm just going to focus more this time around. Though most cnm's work in hospitals, my desire is to work in a birth center setting rather than hospital. I think it's a nice balance b/t hospital and home.

heartsopenwide · 02-07-2009, 02:02 PM

I will get my BSN in May. I originally planned on applying to CNM programs right after graduating form nursing school. However, after doing almost 300 extra hours in L&D training/precepting with a nurse I feel that getting some experience first would be best; I think I would be more confident and would have an advatage being a little less "green". Plus, even though I have very good grades and am a doula, nurses with experience will be chosen over me.

bellymamadoula · 02-07-2009, 02:42 PM

I'm doing RN to CNM..it's a long road with lots to learn along the way. I'll be able to do homebirth, hospital and birth center births as long as I stay in CO.

Wendy79 · 02-07-2009, 09:29 PM

I used to think that I wanted to be a CNM--like, since I was a little girl; I'd wanted to be a nurse, and then when I found out what a CNM does, that's what I wanted instead. But I think at this point I've decided against it. When I'm at births and I see what the CNM really gets to do... it's not for me. (I've only attended births in hospitals, and I know the CNM can have a different kind of role at home or at birth centers, but I'm trying to be realistic about future possibilities--I know that almost all CNMs are employed by hospitals.) But I have my BSN now, and enjoy several of the different fields of nursing. Maybe at some point I'll revisit the CNM idea, because I know I'm going to want some kind of advanced degree.

I definitely wouldn't go into nursing school thinking that it will be a waste--you will create a tremendous knowledge base for yourself. Everything you learn about medical-surgical, mental health, geriatric, pediatric, and community health nursing will be of value to you in your career as a CNM.

AussieDoula · 02-08-2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AussieDoula

There's no other way to do it in my home state.

As of 2008, there is now a direct-entry route, because the demand for midwives is so great.

Petitefleurdoulas · 02-08-2009, 04:02 PM

So glad I found this thread! This has been on my mind since I've become a mom...I double majored in college, however both are in the social sciences so I'd need to go to our local CC to get an RN/Associates and then bridge to a BSN/MSN or go into a direct entry masters CNM program, however I'd have to take about 4 sems worth of courses to fulfill the science prerequisites. And I still have two little ones at home...and we're thinking about homeschooling. So- we'll see. For now I'm loving being a doula

doulakate · 03-10-2009, 03:27 PM

I am considering becoming a midwife. It was something I thought I wanted long ago. I did go to nursing school, I started working as a pediatric RN and that was enough for me for a while. Now I am back to these thoughts. Right now I am on my path to becoming a doula and once I am experiencing births from that perspective and hopefully observing CNMs I will be able to see if it is what I really want. I currently live in IL where CPMs are not legal (yet). But I am not from here and probably will not stay here forever. I am leaning toward CNM since I am already a nurse it just seems to make sense in that way. I feel that I might actually like the curriculum at a direct entry program more. But I think the Frontier program for CNMs seems pretty good too. And from what I can tell, even if I do chose CNM , I can choose to be the type of midwife I want to be. Hopefully I will find likeminded midwives to work with and open a birth center and home birth practice or something like that. That would be ideal. But is a long way off