Advice on Midwife Journey

JAHJF · Aug 8, 2005

Check out this thread and the link in it to the thread Future CNMs :)

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112620&highlight=midwives

Hope this helps.

ftr_bb_catchr · Aug 8, 2005

Don't worry about the fact that you are homeschooled... it really shouldn't prove to be a problem. Study your sciences now and when you graduate (or take your GED) then you can start doing your pre requisites for nursing school. In many if not most states, lay or direct entry midwifery is no longer legal so you will have to become a RN first then get your bachelor's degree then go into midwifery school to obtain a masters degree. If you have trouble getting into a state university (which you really shouldn't) due to the homeschooling then just go the community college route. Many midwifery schools require that you have worked as a nurse at least some time (1 or 2 yrs) so getting your ADN and then working while you get your BSN would fullfill that time requirement.

The CC pre req's usually take 1-2 years, nursing school takes 2 (to graduate with an ADN), BSN degrees takes another 1-2 (or you can go striaght for the BSN bypassing the ADN and do it in one less year), then the CNM degree takes another 2-3 (either part or full time). You could be catching babies in 10 years from now! That probably seems like a long time to you but it will be here before you know it... trust me on that one ;o)

Good luck to you!

AdviSeeker · Aug 9, 2005

Thanks, ftr_bb_catchr. A few days ago I had no idea what I wanted to do... all I knew was that I wanted to be involved with pregnancy. I talked to my parents and they had some suggestions and shared some of their knowledge with me and I did a little research and decided on being a CNM. I don't know much about nursing, so I have a few questions. First, can you tell me a little about pre requisites? Second, what is the difference between getting an ADN (not sure what it is) and then BSN and going straight for the BSN, except time? Third, is there any way to ballpark how much this will cost? Ten years does seem like a really long time to wait, but I really want to do this, and I'm sure it will pay off.

naggytabby, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2005

go to http://www.midwiferytoday.com--they have a wonderful book that is all about different paths to midwifery.

good luck :)

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 9, 2005

and a great school for midwifery and more info:

http://www.midwives.org/

GOOD LUCK!

casi, ASN, RN · Aug 9, 2005

Nursing prereqs include general classes: English, Math, Speech, Ethics, Psych. Also a lot of sciences. Basic Chemistry and a lot of bio (intro to bio, anatomy and physiology (normally two classes), and medical micro biology.)

ADN is a degree that you earn from a community college it's considered a two year degree, but normally takes more time than that.

a BSN is a four year college degree.

Both degrees are RN, but if you want to advance you'll need a BSN first. I've also seen a lot of midwife schools that want you to have a couple of years of L&D experience before they'll accept you as well.

I'm a potential midwife. I've looked a lot into it, but lately I have found other areas interesting as well. My best advice it forget the time, forget the money, and just go for you passion. You'll have a lot of oppertunities to work within nursing. As a volunteer, nursing assistant, an RN once you earn that degree. Also be open for change. You might get into an area of nursing and find your passion is geriatrics. Go with the wind, and keep an open mind :)

ftr_bb_catchr · Aug 9, 2005

My education... all told will probably cost me $50,000. BUT I am doing my BSN and CNM degrees online, and those are the most expensive. I wouldn't care if it cost $100,000 though because I'd rather love what I do and have student loans then work somewhere I don't want to.

Hey I remember when I was 15.... (16 years ago) I felt like I'd never be grown up. Now my daughter is celebrating her 10th birthday today. Time flies....

AdviSeeker · Aug 9, 2005

thanks everyone for the links and advice. ftr_bb_catchr, last night when i was going to sleep i had second thoughts about being a midwife because of all the college. i can do it, i'm sure, but i didn't want to wait until i'm 28-29 to have a family. i am very family-oriented, so, even though i really want to be a midwife, i would choose being a mother over it. i'm worried that if i have a family while i'm in college (even if i do it from home) it will make it almost unbearable. how did you handle a daughter and college at the same time? that seems next to impossible.

:balloons: happy birthday to your daughter :balloons:

i remember when i turned ten... i got so excited about being a pre-teen! lol

ftr_bb_catchr · Aug 9, 2005

Oh honey.. I've got a 10 year old, a 7 year old and a 5 year old plusa 17 year old sister who is with us about 50% of the time. I quit college at 19 to start a family because that was more important to me. I won't be done with school until I'm 37. Getting your education with children is not at all impossible. I wanted to be with my kids when they were little so I waited but you can definitely do both.

Don't be intimidated by the schooling. Just stay focused and you can have it all. Now off I go to take all these kids out to lunch!

foxyhill21 · Aug 10, 2005

I have been online searching for midwife programs in texas with a MSN and there are none, so I have to go out of state. What is the name of your online program?

JAHJF · Aug 10, 2005

http://www.allnursingschools.com

Distance education programs (have to go to campus at some point):

East Carolina University

Frontier

Hey don't worry about having kids and college.

I started a Bachelor's degree right out of high school, quit school, had my daughter, started nursing school when she was 9m old, graduated May '04, had my son this past April, but I don't plan to start my MSN to be a CNM till my kids are junior high to college age so I'll be in my 30's when I finally become a midwife, it can be done you just have to want it. :)