Any midwives that got an ADN through Excelsior?

[biggolp]

One of the options offered is for a licensed or certified midwife to get an RN through Excelsior (like paramedic or lvn options).

I am going for midwifery and may want to become an RN after that so that I can turn my CM credential to CNM.

Has anyone here done that or do you know someone who did?

[Guest343211]

OK, call me nuts, but are you a licensed nurse, like an LPN? Did you have clinicals under supervision and/or had clinical work experience in the role?

I personally prefer that people doing something like Excelsior have clinical, licensed experience--particularly in nursing--or at least strong RRT experience in an acute care hospital. Like I said. Maybe I'm nuts. It's not the kind of thing where getting the didactic is enough or even going through rigid clinical testing is enough. Makes more sense to get the RN first, then go on to advanced practice education and clinical experience as a midwife. It would be different maybe if you had strong clinical experience as an LPN or RRT or a paramedic first.

At any rate, not all states accept Excelsior RNs or they have certain caveats that must first be met. These have to do with clinical experience/exposure in the direct role.

States That Exclude the Excelsior Nursing School Degree | eHow.com

[biggolp]

Thank you for your comments.

Can you please clarify some of your points for me?

I am new to this idea and just exploring it, so please help me understand.

Of course midwifery has clinicals! I'm talking about a Master's program that's ACNM approved. It requires tons of clinicals as well as didactic work. It's a 2 year course of intensive study at the end of which one is elibigle to sit for the Boards and become a LICENSED and CERIFIED midwife. Why would you not consider that clinical experience?!?

Also, you said you would understand if someone had clinical experience as an LPN, RRT or paramedic. On the SAME LIST, Excelsior lists a certified or licensce midwife as eligible to pursue this route. Obviously, Excelsior considers all of them to be equal in clinical experience as a pre-requisite to their ADN. Why would you think otherwise?

Lastly, I know some states have issues with Excelsior. I'm from New York.

Thank you in advance for educating me.

I look forward to your answers (or anyone else who can shed some light on this).

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

That eHow list is not up to date, or is not accurate. EC's website has current info: State Board Requirements - excelsior.edu

To answer your question, OP, I do not know any midwives who have gone this route. Maybe you can blaze the path here at allnurses. :)

[Student Mom to Three]

This is just a question....if you are a CM and then become an RN are you then a CNM or do you still need to go to CNM school?

[cass1320]

I just finished writing a term paper for my Management and Leadership class over this exact topic. Keep in mind that I focused on Texas midwifery here, but I imagine it would be fairly similar in most states.

There are two types of Midwives: Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) and a Licensed Midwife or Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Their scope of practice is very different and they are regulated by different agencies. CNM's are advanced practice nurses with a BSN, and usually an MSN or DNP/PhD. They can work with or independently of OBs in hospitals, birthing centers and in home care, they have prescriptive authority and practice under their own license. To become a CNM you have to first have your RN/BSN and THEN complete a graduate level CNM program. CPM's do not have to be nurses and nursing is not part of their scope of practice. They can administer O2 and antibiotic eye ointment for newborns, but do not have prescriptive authority. They complete a certification program (usually 1-2 years) and take board exams to be licensed by the state. They do complete clinicals (usually in a birthing center and apprenticing with a CPM), but usually only in women's health. A CPM who becomes an RN does not become a CNM. If you got a BSN through Excelsior you would still have to complete a graduate program to become a CNM.

I'm not sure what program your going through for midwifery right now, but it sounds to me like a CPM. If that's the case then your program should be approved by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM), not the ACNM (American College of Nurse Midwives), as that is the regulatory board for CNMs.

If becoming a CNM is your ultimate goal, I would personally recommend going straight for a BSN and working in L&D before applying to CNM programs. CPNs are wonderful (my little sister was delivered by one!), but they have a pretty limited scope of practice and wouldn't do much for you in terms of advancing in the nursing field. As for whether or not they qualify for Excelsior's BSN program, your best bet is to contact an Excelsior representative and your state BON directly.

[biggolp]

Thank you, cass1320, for your input.

I am well aware of the differences between a CNM and a CPM.

What I was referring to is a CM - a relatively new (several years?) concept that is only recognized in a handful of states (I think 5).

It is for non-nurses who graduate an ACNM approved study course and are eligible to sit for the ACMB to receive certification. Their training and Board certification is IDENTICAL to CNMs - except that they are non-nurses - therefore, their credentials are CM (not CNM).

In NY, their scope of service is EXACTLY that of CNMs (job descriptions state either CNM or CM) and, in NY, the scope of service is very wide - including prescriptive.

Currently, there are only two such programs in existence nationally - SUNY Downstate and Philadelphia University.

You can find out more on the ACNMs website or on the website of these (well-respected) colleges.

[cass1320]

If a CM and CNM's scope of practice is the same, why would you bother going into nursing at all?

[biggolp]

Good question...

I don't have to if I plan to stay in NY (which I do plan on right now), but if I ever moved to another state and wanted to practice as a CNM, I would have to get my RN in order to get the CNM credential.

I know it sounds a little backwards...

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

If a CM and CNM's scope of practice is the same, why would you bother going into nursing at all?

In case she wants to move out of the state- CM is only recognized in 5 states.

[cass1320]

No, it makes sense. I wish you would have posted this five days ago, I could have used it in my paper!

[biggolp]

Sorry...

Thanks for the good luck wishes!