CNM (midwife) Burnout

DreamerCNM2b · Apr 12, 2015

I know this is old but I'm curious to hear more about this.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 13, 2015

Moving to CNM forum.

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 16, 2015

CNM burnout is a huge problem. The hours are terrible, and on-call time is often not compensated or is compensated at a reduced rate (the job I accepted pays 16 hours for every 24 hour shift on call; the midwives I know in small or solo practices do not get compensated for on call time).

The responsibility can be overwhelming, and bad outcomes can haunt you (mentally, or legally) for years to come.

We need to fight for more equitable reimbursement. On a personal level, we need to be clear about our boundaries, and make self care a priority.

DreamerCNM2b · Apr 16, 2015

CNM burnout is a huge problem. The hours are terrible, and on-call time is often not compensated or is compensated at a reduced rate (the job I accepted pays 16 hours for every 24 hour shift on call; the midwives I know in small or solo practices do not get compensated for on call time).
The responsibility can be overwhelming, and bad outcomes can haunt you (mentally, or legally) for years to come.
We need to fight for more equitable reimbursement. On a personal level, we need to be clear about our boundaries, and make self care a priority.

That's what makes me rethink this whole career, especially the bad outcomes. At the end of day, would you chose midwifery again despite everything you wrote about?

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 18, 2015

That's what makes me rethink this whole career, especially the bad outcomes. At the end of day, would you chose midwifery again despite everything you wrote about?

Yes. I could never do anything else.

Midwifery is a terrible job. Insane hours, less than ideal compensation, and when it goes bad, it goes really, really bad. I think a lot of people imagine midwifery as cute newborns and happy lovely births. That's part of it, for sure. But it's also going 48 hours without sleep, it's trying desperately and failing to save a baby with a cord prolapse, it's seeing parents abandon their newborns, it's caring for the teenager who was raped by her father.

If you love midwifery, there's no other job that compares. But it's not sunshine and roses. Its not a career to enter into lightly. I've never regretted it for a second.

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Apr 18, 2015

I don't agree that midwifery is always a terrible job with insane hours. I have a very humane schedule, personally. I do agree that it's not sunshine and roses, and I also agree my compensation could be better! I don't have trouble making self-care a priority but I definitely know midwives who do.

DreamerCNM2b · Apr 19, 2015

What's your schedule like?

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 19, 2015

I don't agree that midwifery is always a terrible job with insane hours. I have a very humane schedule, personally. I do agree that it's not sunshine and roses, and I also agree my compensation could be better! I don't have trouble making self-care a priority but I definitely know midwives who do.

yes, i was definitely being hyperbolic. My point is really that delivering babies sounds like the most funnest job ever, but it is not a profession to enter into lightly.

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Apr 19, 2015

My schedule is two 12-hour shifts in L&D (one night and one day), and two 8-hour days in the clinic, per week. I get four weeks of vacation per year and 12 paid holidays.

DreamerCNM2b · Apr 19, 2015

That doesn't sound bad at all!

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Apr 20, 2015

No, it's not bad. Usually twice a month I compress a clinic day and a night shift into 24 hours to be able to have a little extra time off.