[selina004]

hi all,
I am a registered midwife (RM) in the UK and I hopefully will be moving to Hawaii soon. What I would like to know is, if my qualifications here will qualify me to work there. If not what do I need to do to practice as a midwife.

thanks
Sel
xx

[Kelky]

The short answer is no, you will need to do the midwifery course here to work as a midwife in the US. Are you also an RN?

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by Kelky

The short answer is no, you will need to do the midwifery course here to work as a midwife in the US. Are you also an RN?

Not necassarily, some states do accept the training from the UK.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by selina004

hi all,
I am a registered midwife (RM) in the UK and I hopefully will be moving to Hawaii soon. What I would like to know is, if my qualifications here will qualify me to work there. If not what do I need to do to practice as a midwife.

thanks
Sel
xx

Your biggest issue is whether or not you will be able to get your RN license here first. Depending on when you graduated from your basic program, ho wlong ago? Even though you work in just OB, the US requires that you have had clinical and theory hours in al of the needed areas, they do not exclude you from any. And you will need to have your RN, before you can even think of the CNM registration here. That is where your problem is going to be.

As far as the CNM registration for Hawaii, you will need to check the website for the BON of Hawaii. Some states do accept your training, but not all. It will be up for them to decide.

[Kelky]

Originally Posted by suzanne4

Not necassarily, some states do accept the training from the UK.

Really? good to know. I live in Georgia and they definitely don't accept the RM qualification, or the Australian midwifery qualification.

[tvccrn]

Off topic, but this presented itself so conveniently.

I have a friend in the UK that is pregnant and telling us the most appalling stories. Keep in mind this is what we are being told and I am asking for clarification here.

Seems that the doctor that you use dictates the midwife you will use and there is no choice in the matter. The information that is given to new moms literally scares the he** out of them concerning the pain and suffering that they will be going through with NO medication choices whatsoever. The horrendous things that will happen to them while giving birth as described in gruesome detail.

If this is an accurate description then, this situation is inhumane and should be stopped. If this isn't widespread, how can she take steps to remedy the situation?

Thanks in advance for replies.

tvccrn

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by Kelky

Really? good to know. I live in Georgia and they definitely don't accept the RM qualification, or the Australian midwifery qualification.

Most states evaluate their CNM program out of the country the same way that they do for the RN license, on a course by course basis. It also depends on the school and when the program was done. There are differences between all programs, even here.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by tvccrn

Off topic, but this presented itself so conveniently.

I have a friend in the UK that is pregnant and telling us the most appalling stories. Keep in mind this is what we are being told and I am asking for clarification here.

Seems that the doctor that you use dictates the midwife you will use and there is no choice in the matter. The information that is given to new moms literally scares the he** out of them concerning the pain and suffering that they will be going through with NO medication choices whatsoever. The horrendous things that will happen to them while giving birth as described in gruesome detail.

If this is an accurate description then, this situation is inhumane and should be stopped. If this isn't widespread, how can she take steps to remedy the situation?

Thanks in advance for replies.

tvccrn

Definitely not accurate. Not all patients use midwifery services.
And if you are a private patient, which most choose that orute, you can get whatever you want for pain.

Same thing actually in the US as well. What someone is considering as being gruesome is just the facts to another. The physician or whoever the primary care giver is responsible for informing the patient as to what to expect. And choices even here are not always left up to the patient.

I am sure that what ever specialty that you are working in, you have seen doctors that have a great bedside manner and others that you would not wish to send your fish to, if they were ill. Infortunately, it happens in all areas of medicine.

But to say that that happens all over the UK, is not correct.

[uk_nurse]

Originally Posted by tvccrn

Off topic, but this presented itself so conveniently.

I have a friend in the UK that is pregnant and telling us the most appalling stories. Keep in mind this is what we are being told and I am asking for clarification here.

Seems that the doctor that you use dictates the midwife you will use and there is no choice in the matter. The information that is given to new moms literally scares the he** out of them concerning the pain and suffering that they will be going through with NO medication choices whatsoever. The horrendous things that will happen to them while giving birth as described in gruesome detail.

If this is an accurate description then, this situation is inhumane and should be stopped. If this isn't widespread, how can she take steps to remedy the situation?

Thanks in advance for replies.

tvccrn

most definately not true. I have 4 children and have had lovely experiences with my midwife. Doctors only intervene if needed to. You dont have to be a private patient to get pain relief. If you ask for it you get pain relief and also midwives offer you pain relief too and so do the doctors! Patients do have a choice of what pain relief they want but sometimes this cant be given as it can cause problems with the baby such as i asked for pethidine but was unable to have it as my baby's heart rate kept dropping and became bradycardic for a few secs.

what horrendous things happen when giving birth? if a complication arises whilst given birth it is dealt with there and then. i dont remember any of my midwives telling me 'horror stories' about birth just the stuff you read in the birth books eg forceps, ventouse, c- sections. if you ask a question about a 'horror story' then the midwife may have said it can happen and reassure you but she/he doesnt go out of their way to tell you such thing. One persons experience does not count for everyone.

[selina004]

hi,
Thanks for all the replies. I think I need to look into it more. I am not an RN, I have a BSc honour degree in midwifery. I would hate it if I could not carry on in my proffession as I love it dearly.
I am sorry to hear that your friend is having such a horrible time in her pregnancy TVCCRN. I would recommend she makes a big complaint. Pregnancy is all about a womans choice. If their are complications then appropriate care should be offered. It should be about informed choice, she has the right to refuse anything offered to her as long as she knows all the risks and benefits. She has the right to have total midwifery care. Here the doctors are only called if there is a complication, other than that the midwife takes on all the care and delivery ( well the woman delivers her baby, we just assist her and make sure that the woman and her baby are safe and well)of the baby. It makes me ssooooooooooo angry when proffessionals think they are GOD. I wish I was caring for your friend. This is such a precious time for both the women and her partner. Pain relief is offered to everyone though if their are complications then some pain relief could cause preoblems. She may not be strong enough to feel she can complain but she needs to seek advice, it is totally out of order, she should call the midwifery manager or a suprvisor of midwives in her unit.

Sel
xx