[expatnurse]

Originally Posted by fergus51

I have only heard good things about this school. I am seriously considering saving up some money and applying some day

As far as the CNM vs direct entry midwives.... There is room for both and I see no reason to dredge up conflict here. Personally I would use a CNM based on my experiences with them, but I can understand why someone else may prefer a direct entry midwife and say more power to them. The important thing is supporting women in the choices that they make for themselves.

OT, but I hate when people say nurses are "stuck in the medical model". It's a disrespectful generalization and ignores the fact that nursing has its own perspective. I'm not the MD's handmaiden.

In USA do we have direct entry midwives? I know they do in UK but I have never heard of it in USA.

[SmilingBluEyes]

yes there are direct entry midwives in the USA.

[fergus51]

Originally Posted by expatnurse

In USA do we have direct entry midwives? I know they do in UK but I have never heard of it in USA.

Yes we do. I don't think those programs are as common, but they are out there. Canada has them as well and they tend to believe that nursing and midwifery are completely separate disciplines. I personally don't feel that way and at the risk of being flamed, I wasn't as impressed with those midwives in Canada. However, the fact that the UK can produce excellent midwives is one reason I don't have a problem with the idea of direct entry midwives. I've worked with several UK midwives over the years and have really admired them for their abilities, so I'm sure a good direct entry program can produce great midwives. The main disadvantage I see to these programs is that it isn't always easy to work. Some states require a masters' degree to practise midwifery.

[eltrip]

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

Here is their website for anyone interested:

http://www.midwives.org/Default.htm

Deb,
Thanks for posting the website. I first heard about FSN when I was in my nursing program several years ago. They've always had a good reputation. I really like the idea of not having to go along with the semester system. This could be doable for me!

[SmilingBluEyes]

well eltrip, if this is what you want, I say GO FOR IT and I wish you the best. Like I said earlier, we need more good midwives!

[mitchsmom]

Those of you considering CNM may be interested in this (maybe Frontier wasn't on here b/c they didn't have the MSN part then... not sure... I think the colleges in the US News thing have to submit themselves for it so they may not have participated). I've only heard good things about Frontier too.

Best CNM schools – U.S. News and World Report 2004

1. Oregon Health and Science Univ.
2. U of Penn
3. U of Illinois
4. U of Michigan at Ann Arbor
5. U of Minnesota at Twin Cities
6. U of NM
7. Emory U
8. U of Washington
9. UC SF/SF General Hospital
10. Boston U
11. U of CO at Denver
12. Yale

[fergus51]

Do you know what those rankings were based on? Just curious.

[parteiranagua]

I think i was not clear enough when tlaking of CM /Vs CNM. I was not referring to DEM but to CM, that is certified Midwifes who are trained in ACNM accredited prgrams and board certified by ACNM. DEM are certified through MANA.
CM do not have any nursing experience and graduate as CM and not as CNM. However they perform the same job and have the same training. This is fairly new and students are recruted at a bachelor level. Down state SUNY does it and u can go to their site to see the curriculum if interested.
Ginny Doula RN BSN SNM

[SmilingBluEyes]

I have considered going for my CNM at UDub (U of Washington), but really, not so sure I want all the liability that goes w/CNM work. And, it can be hard to find clientelle/work unless affiliated with a hospital. Many CNMs affililiated w/hospitals and practice in the medical model, which many bristle at. It can be complicated. Direct-entry midwifery is a whole different thing, altogether as Ginny says.

[fergus51]

Sorry guys. In the UK and Canada, direct entry just means they weren't a nurse first and their programs aren't any different than nurse-midwives, so I tend to call CMs that without a second thought. I didn't consider the accreditation and certification issues when discussing it.