Certified Nurse Midwife - Masters degree or more?

Specialties CNM

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC.

What are the degree requirements to be a CNM in the near future (2015)? Will you now need a Doctorate degree like with Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. Or is it still just a Masters degree? I always wanted to be a midwife, but have taken so long to get my BSN that I don't know if another degree is possible this late in my stage (age 44) and definitely not sure about TWO more advanced degrees.

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Specializes in L&D.

I am wondering as well and hope someone answers.

I am currently in an ADN program, but have my BA in Sociology, and would also like to be a CNM. NOt really sure I want to be an NP but if required, I guess I would :)

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Last I heard it is going to a doctorate, but I am not sure when exactly. This website may be helpful: How to Become a Midwife check out the education section.

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Dalla, they are talking about it for the future (not exactly when because they keep tweeking the degree). Please don't let the length of your schooling deter you from your dreams. Age is a number, and just because you might be older than some in your class doesn't mean you cannot succeed. Most colleges do a combined Master's with CNM in one track so it's not like you have to do a Master's then go back for CNM. With a bit of luck by the time you finish your CNM they still won't be requiring a Doctorate degree. :-) Please keep going with your schooling, there are many women out there that need midwives!

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I am not sure where you are at; but Baylor university offers a 3 year BSN to DNP program for nurse-midwife. That is what I plan to do once I have some experience in L&D.

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Specializes in SNF, Oncology.

I have a friend finishing up her first year at Baylor for that program. Frontier offers the DNP program too. That said I don't know what will be required and when. They've been talking about it for years. At University of Florida they changed there program to match that of Baylor. They have the BSN-DNP

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Hi Dalla,

To become a CNM, you will only need a master's degree, about 2 years. There has been talk about creating a doctorate in midwifery, but that is most likely an advanced degree of choice, not affecting your license. Even if eventually, it turned out to be true, you would be "grandfathered" in. Midwives started out with a bachelor's degree, and the same thing happened when the Master's program was instated.

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I had the same concern. I called up the American College of Nurse Midwives today and the woman I spoke to said that they DO NOT plan on switching the minimum degree for practice to DNP. I was glad to hear that because I plan on enrolling in a MSN program and I wouldn't be done before 2015.

The woman only spoke on behalf of midwives. Nurse Practitioners may still make the move.. idk about that.

P.S. don't quote me!! I'm just spreading what I heard! :)

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC.

Yeah! That is what I heard from an admissions counselor at Georgetown University - which charges $80,000 for an 18-month program! And they don't require experience in L&D - but $1,650 per credit? Get real!

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Specializes in L&D.

WOW that is HIGH!!

Im glad they won't be requiring a DNP as I would really like to get my Masters and be done with school!

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC.

Just found this article about the DNP and it talks specifically about the various APRN organizations and what they are planning to require:

Responses of APRN professional associations APRNs are represented by several professional organizations. Membership of the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing includes nurses of all specialties and educational levels, whereas numerous APRN organizations exist for the support and advancement of APRN roles and specialties. Organizations representing the 4 APRN roles have issued current positions on the DNP initiative.[26]

Nurse Anesthesia The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) has mandated that all certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) programs transition to a practice doctorate by 2022 and that by 2025, all new CRNA graduates must hold a practice doctorate to be eligible for certification.[27] Also, the AANA Council on Accreditation will not accredit new master’s degree programs for nurse anesthesia after 2015.[24]

Nurse Midwifery The American College of Nurse-Midwives currently endorses the master’s degree as basic preparation for midwifery practice but does support a variety of doctoral degree options for midwifery programs. Although they recognize the DNP as an option for midwifery programs, they are not mandating a DNP requirement for certification as a nurse midwife or that midwifery programs be converted to DNP programs. They do recognize the need to develop competencies for midwifery education at the doctoral level.[28]

Nurse Practitioners Seven nurse practitioner organizations comprise the Nurse Practitioner Roundtable for the purposes of addressing nurse practitioner issues, collaborating efforts, and presenting a unified position on policy and legislative efforts. All 7 of the nurse practitioner organizations (ie, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Nurse Practitioners, Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties) have issued a statement indicating that the DNP reflects current clinical competencies and prepares the nurse practitioner for the changing health care system.[29] NONPF approved new core nurse practitioner competencies in 2011; these are at a doctoral level (NONPF, 2012).[30]

Clinical Nurse Specialists Although the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) has maintained a neutral position on the DNP, the organization supports CNS education at a master’s level or doctoral level.[31] Although NACNS does not support the elimination of MSN programs to move to the DNP as entry into CNS practice, the NACNS Board of Directors directed the development of doctoral-level CNS competencies, which have now been completed, posted, and endorsed by several other organizations.[31] The Society for Clinical Nurse Specialists Education has endorsed the DNP and is developing curriculum guidelines for CNS tracks within DNP programs (C. Payne, PhD, RN, personal communication, March 29, 2012).

[h=1]The Doctorate in Nursing Practice[/h]

Nursing Clinics of North America Vol 47, Issue 2 (June 2012) Pages 1 - Copyright © 2012 Elsevier

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Specializes in ER.

HOLY COW!!! I just finished a 2 year CNM Masters degree and it cost me 40 grand.....wow, did not require L&D experience either

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