Any CNM's in Seattle?

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Hello!

I'm a nursing student about to graduate in a few months and considering my long term career prospects. I have family in two cities: Austin, TX and Seattle, WA. I live in Austin now, and love it, but it has some downsides as far as nursing careers go. The pay for RN's is really low here, and, remarkably, it's even lower for CNM's! CNM's I've met here tell me they struggle to make as much as a floor nurse does.

Becoming a CNM has been my dream since before I started school, but I'm pretty discouraged by the job prospects in Austin. There's a chance I may be moving up to Seattle when I graduate (my brother has offered me free rent, which is a tough thing to pass up) and I'm just trying to look ahead to my grad school and long term career plans.

So, are there any CNM's who have worked in Seattle? Can you tell me anything about the job market up there? Work conditions?

Thanks!

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Hello, I would love to know as well. I have two semesters left until graduation and my husband and I would love to either move to the Seattle or Portland areas after graduating from Georgetown. Any help would be great!:up:

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Hi there! I am not a CNM, however, I am an L&D nurse in Seattle with the same career goals to go to school and get my CNM. I do work with many many CNMs here at my hospital. My hospital usually has more CNMs on the floor then a typical OB floor. Luckily, WA state is one of the few states that allow Nurse practitioners to have their own practice and be able to do a lot more things independently then other states. Also the pay here is great for nurses and nurse practitioners. Job market seems to be great up here. A lot of people I know who couldn't find a job as a CNM ended up finding one in Polrtland, OR. From what I observe, the CNM's work in an OB office and usually do a lot of the things that OBS do, they can insert IUDs, well woman exams, Breast cancer screening, Pap smears, HPV screening, Health and wellness counseling, STD screening, prescribe medications including narcotics, pregnancy testing, prenatal care, problems with menstraton, fertility evaluation, UTIs, Menopause health promotion, and screening for hypertention, heart disease, and diabetes. CNMs have a bigger scope of practice here. My hospital specifically doesn't have the CNMs first assist in c-sections, however other hospitals in the seattle area allow their CNMs to do so (with first assist certificaton). CNMs are great providers to have around because they help a lot with the lady partsl deliveries. CNMs cannot do forcep deliveries or vaccum, which is a national standard. Some CNMs are on call, some are not. They spend a lot more time with their patients then the OBs do. I love having them around and they seem pretty happy with their job!

-Daniella.

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Thank you, Daniella!

A couple of questions:

You mentioned that you know some CNM's that had to find work in Portland. Do you think the job market is tough in Seattle or they just got better offers in Portland?

It's pretty important to me to stay in Seattle if I head out west. I have family here in Austin, where I currently live, and family in Seattle. I really need to be near my family in one way or another. I am a single mother and I'm committed to raising my son near family so he has more than just one consistent adult in his life. Also, I'm lucky enough to have great family.

One other question, do you happen to know anything about how many hours CNM's typically work up there? It sounds like the job market is diverse, which is great, so there may be many answers to this question. The reason that I ask is that the CNM's I've met in Austin tell me they work 80-90 hours/week and still make less money than a floor nurse in L&D. I want badly to be a CNM, which is why I'm considering the move. As a single mother, I have to make sure I have a livable schedule and decent income in order to be a good parent to my son. I am so passionate about helping women and mothers, but I have to support my own motherhood as well!!

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I think their is just more offers in Portland, OR because I've noticed that people there are much more hollistic in their healthcare and are using more CNMs there then Ob/GYNs. I always look at the CNM postings around seattle and their always seems to be 3-4 jobs everytime I look. I don't know much of their hours! I honestly think their hours depend on how many patients they decide to take! I know for sure that CNMs here don't make less money then an L&D nurse here in Seattle. A typical experienced nurse with at least 5 years of experience makes $33+ an hour. A CNM I met who has been a CNM for 10 years says she makes almost $100,000 a year. I wish I was able to answer your questions more but unfortunetly when I work with the CNMs I never have time to ask them those kinds of questions otherwise I would! :) But in your motherhood situation, I think you'll be fine! All the CNMs I work with have kids and are always talking about them and what they did over the weekend and such. I'm assuming they have time for their family! They are also in control over how many patients they want to take. I can say though, is that a CNM who works at a hospital usually will come in at the middle of the night if their patient is laboring, even if they just got home from being at the office. A CNM I know was working at a hospital and wanted to getaway from the L&D because she felt like she was getting "older" and needed something a little less stressful so she just works at a women's clinic and does more prenatal and womens health stuff. If your going to move to Seattle, move as soon as possible. Seattle is developing so much right now, a lot of residents here are all actually quite nervous that Seattle is going to become the NYC because so many buisnesses are moving up here. (Amazon and Facebook) prices of houses and everything is going to go up! So the sooner you can move up here the better! :)

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