Any L&D nurses that wanted to be CNMs and decided against it?

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Specializes in OB.

I'm curious if there are any nurses here that wanted to be a CNM but decided it wasn't worth it for some reason. What were your reasons and are you happy with your decision?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I once did want to become a CNM but decided against it for a couple of key reasons:

Lots of cash to spend on the degree I may or not be able to use fully due to lack of opportunities for CNM work in my community

Having the same horrendous hours and responsibilities as MDs but making a lot less money

Spending too much time at work away from my family. (the biggest one).

Most of the CNMs here (unless they practice in their own birthing centers) practice what some call "MEDwifery", really practicing in the medical model, doing inductions, assisting with c/s etc. That is not for me. And midwives in their birth centers do amazing work, but often have a tough time finding MD backup. They also tend to work a LOT due to there being few of them partnered together, unless it is a large free-standing birthing center.

Instead, I will likely pursue the nurse educator route. More opportunity and less horrible hours

This is only how I feel; I had a family to consider, and that was a strong point for me. I have the ultimate respect for CNMs-----so much I wanted to join their ranks---- but I just have a hard time justifying all that time and money spent on education only to have a rough time finding work and/or backup from MDs (some of whom are very controlling in their backup). And my family time has no price on it that I consider worth the trade.

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Spent 6 years in L&D- thought for sure I would become a CNM. Young kids, husband, no programs in my state, very little practice opportunity made no sense to drag my family through that to end up not able to practice. Changed direction- went to ICU to go to anesthesia school. Best thing I could ever have done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

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Specializes in Nursery, L&D, PICU, SICU.

I considered the CNM route as well. The art of midwifery is dying (at least in GA). The CNM's that I worked with were like "call me when she's crowning" and all but one wanted everyone to have an epudiral.

I didn't like the MD/CNM relationship at times, heard some comments that I thought were disrespectful on the part of the MD.

Huge liability and long hours for low pay. There were several things that reinforced the fact that midwifery wasn't for me. Got a job in the ICU and now I am finishing up my first semester of anesthesia school. I will still be able to stick my head in L&D every once in a while. Good luck!

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Specializes in OB.

My dad recently found out what a CRNA is and that is a lucrative field and constantly advises me to go that route. I can't see myself liking that role unfortunately. Also, after spending last week during clinicals in a cardiothoracic ICU and being completely overwhelmed by the 5+IV pumps on a single patient, the many chest tubes, and other gadgets I know I'd never cut it as an ICU nurse. God bless the nurses that work in that environment. I met some great ones while I was there.

Has anyone chose to go into management or another APRN role?

I think once I start working in January I'll get a better idea of what I want to do. The hospital I will be working at had quite a few midwives that do births. Seeing what their lives are like, if they enjoy their job, and if they get to practice true midwifery will hopefully give me a better idea of what I should do.

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I started back to school specifically to become a CNM. I took a job in L&D so I could get some experience before I became a CNM. I've spent the last 5 years preparing myself for the day when I could apply to school to become a CNM.

Now, I don't want to be a CNM anymore.

Let me list my reasons. (in no particular order)

1. The pay is horrible - I will make more as an RN than as a CNM where I live.

2. Call hours

3. Being away from my family for hours, if not days at a time.

4. Lack of support in this area for CNM's.

5. No jobs in this area and what jobs you find you either are a glorified triage RN or a MEDwife

6. No relationship with the OB/GYN's in this area.

7. Hospitals so against CNM's practicing in their facilities.

8. The huge liability that goes with the job

9. No clinical sites and contracts in this area when I'm in school, so my clinicals would be 3+ hours away

10. 99.9% sure of having to move my entire family when I graduate

11. No flexibility with my job

I'm still going back to school but I've shifted my focus on FNP. I don't regret my decision either. It's a degree that allows me the most flexibility when I graduate.

I totally respect what CNM's do and up until recently I aspired to be all that and more but it just isn't going to be worth it to me to spend the next 3+ years in school only to not have a job when I finish w/o moving away and I also agree, there is no price tag when it comes to my family.

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I spent a great deal of time and $ earning my BSN with the eventual goal of becoming a CNM. I changed my mind when I discovered what many others have said.....time away from family, lack of support and most of all liability issues. I recently heard one of our MEDwives ( LOVE that term !!.....never heard it before, can't wait to rile one of them with the term :nuke: ) as she was telling someone that she couldn't afford to leave the practice she was in as her malpractice inurance which started out at 2,000 $ per year is now 25,000. After considering everything, I opted for clear-cut shift hours and when I am home I am not on edge waiting to be called away. I even regret the time I spent earning the BSN as the nursing shortage of the 80's soon followed and any warm body in a nurse's uniform seemed to do the trick as far as most places were concerned.

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Specializes in OB/GYN.

I'm still happy I became a CNM. I'm in a large practice so I have good hours, good pay (much more than I ever made as an RN), and I get to practice midwifery the way I choose. I love it. Every time I'm in L&D and I hear the nurses complaining about yet another responsibility management has piled on them I'm so glad I don't deal with that anymore. As for , the hospital pays for all of mine. Midwifery is a great profession.

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Specializes in L & D.

I was on the fast track to midwifery until recently.... I found an online program that a well-respected coworker is attending and began the one prereq I needed to apply. I got my husband and children on board, and was working out all the logistics.

All of the sudden, I took a step back and realized the hours of a midwife would do more harm than good to my family. My dream is to be a midwife, but the dream I am living now is to be a wife & mom. It broke my heart to realize that my dream has to be put away, for at least a while. Right now, I'm working part-time hours as an RN, spending lots of time with my little girls and my husband. In ten years from now, I may decide to become a midwife - or maybe not.

As a good friend once told me to remind myself frequently: I do enough, I have enough, I am enough!

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Specializes in OB.
I'm still happy I became a CNM. I'm in a large practice so I have good hours, good pay (much more than I ever made as an RN), and I get to practice midwifery the way I choose. I love it. Every time I'm in L&D and I hear the nurses complaining about yet another responsibility management has piled on them I'm so glad I don't deal with that anymore. As for liability insurance, the hospital pays for all of mine. Midwifery is a great profession.

Any tips on how to not get trapped into being a "medwife" and to practice real midwifery? Does it help to be in a large practice or an urban area?

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Specializes in OB/GYN.

It is easy to get sucked into the medical model as a hospital CNM but you have to remember why you became a midwife and what's important to you. Some of my partners practice the medical model and some of us don't. I don't because women chose us because they want the midwifery model of care and that's what they deserve.

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Specializes in L&D,Lactation.

I agree with what everyone else has said. I originally started in L&D intending to go back to be a CNM and quickly realized the hours, the pay, and where I was working I got to do everything but the actual delivery anyway once the OBs got to know me and trust my judgement. And at the end of my 8 hours I went home to my family and was not on call.

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