Acceptance and difficulty of admission

jjgrl · Oct 27, 2015

Hello:

I am a former nurse-midwifery graduate (2010). I was not able to become certified as a midwife but I just wanted to share a little bit about the midwifery school experience. First of all congratulations on persevering through the oft-times strenuous journey of nursing school.

The difficulty of admission to the various midwifery programs will vary from school to school. Based on my school experience, I found that there were usually only a small amount of students that were really enrolling in midwifery programs. My class had only 8 students. Now having said that, I recently enrolled in the same school from which I graduated for another major and I counted about 20+ students who were in the midwifery program. It is preferred by most schools that the students have some women's health experience but I don't think the lack thereof will hinder admission to a program.

You also asked about the difficulty of the midwifery program itself. I can tell you that midwifery is definitely a little more difficult than nursing school. One of the difficulties you will definitely struggle with, is re-programming your brain to understand that you are not responding to your patient as a nurse but as her provider. You will be the one assessing, making the diagnosis and giving the orders to a nurse to carry out. This is more difficult for those of us who have worked as nurses for a number years.

You will have to work on your confidence to see yourself in this role if you really feel called to the midwifery profession. I say the term "called" because it's not everyone who has such a passion for midwifery, that they are willing withstand remaining in a field that still to this day, is still not highly- regarded by the medical field. (check out the history and struggles of midwifery)

I did not have prior women's health experience going into the program, but I remember that even the classmates who did have L&D experience, were not aware of how much they needed to learn from the perspective of a midwife.

A few examples of my midwifery training included:

Inserting IUDs, diaphragms, determining cervical dilation, position...the bishop score; fetal head positions, pelvimetry (ugh), episiotomy, suturing (ugh), knowing how to recognize and manage postpartum hemorrhage, knowing how to recognize a mother whose labor is not progressing and when and how to perform an amniotomy (breaking mom's water bag).

Oh and one more very very important tip, if you decide to pursue midwifery and graduate, please be sure to take the certification exam right away. There is only a two year window after you graduate to pass the midwifery certification exam of which you can only take the exam 4 times. After that two year period and/or failure on your 4th attempt during that period, you will have to enroll in the midwifery program and graduate all over again (check AMCB website), that is if really want to be midwife at all costs. (Crazy, I know!) Unfortunately, this is my story as to why I am not certified. I fell in love after graduating, married several months later, thus put my exam on hold for a year. Oh how I lament my decision now.

Also, midwifery certification exam review resources are few and far between ( check ACNM), unlike the RN NCLEX reviews, which you can get all over the place. You are pretty much left to study on your own with your materials gathered from school notes. Again, make sure you take that exam as soon as possible after finishing the program while the information is still fresh in your mind.

I'm sorry this was so long but I hope this was helpful and will save you some grief in the future. All the best to you in your future endeavors.

TarheelGirlx3 · Oct 27, 2015

Hello!
Im a 2 year RN, going on for my BSN starting in january. Im wondering how difficult it is to get into midwifery school? And how difficult is the program compared to getting your RN. Thanks for any advice!

I just graduated in May 2015 with my BSN. I went through an accelerated program that was 16 months in length. That being said, it was pretty rigorous, but definitely manageable. I finished with a 3.9 nursing GPA. I currently work as an RN in a coronary care unit (CCU). I applied to Georgetown's CNM/WHNP program and was accepted for January 2016! With that being said, I have no formal women's health experience prior to being accepted. My passion has been women's health, but for several reasons I took my current job (better pay, better hospital, work environment, etc.) than a women's health position at a less reputable hospital that I wasn't sure I would like. You can do it! :)

mamagui · Nov 4, 2015

I just graduated in May 2015 with my BSN. I went through an accelerated program that was 16 months in length. That being said, it was pretty rigorous, but definitely manageable.

Just out of curiosity, did you graduate from a certain medical university program in the south east? I also want to pursue midwifery, but am finding it hard to get into an L/D position....am about to graduate from said university's ABSN in December.

TarheelGirlx3 · Nov 4, 2015

The username says it all!

Katie71275 · Nov 5, 2015

Either of you Tarheels planning to apply to ECU? I'm in the Raleigh area, and plan to apply for next Fall.

mamagui · Nov 6, 2015

Ha! I didn't even notice the name LOL. I am in a different, although very similar sounding program, due south of you Tarheelgirl.

TarheelGirlx3 · Nov 9, 2015

I applied and accepted admission to Georgetown. I couldn't apply to ECU because I don't have L&D experience.

DreamerMW · Nov 9, 2015

I applied and accepted admission to Georgetown. I couldn't apply to ECU because I don't have L&D experience.

Congrats! May I ask what undergrad GPA you have?

TarheelGirlx3 · Nov 9, 2015

My biology/psyc undergrad GPA was only a 3.4, but my nursing GPA was 3.9