I am currently in nursing school and considering what I would like to do in the future. I'm considering a lot of things and I know things might change as I get farther along In nursing school.
I am very passionate about pregnancy and babies. I believe pregancy and birth should be seen as incredible, not a disease. I believe that women's bodies know what they are doing and that natural childbirth should be encouraged whenever possible. I want to work with pregnant women and newborns, especially low income and young mothers, but I'm not only interested in the pregnancy and delivery part. I would love to get involved with breastfeeding promotion/support and health promotion after the baby is born but I'm not sure if that is something a CNM would be involved with.
Im concerned about the lack of work/family balance because I want children of my own and I don't want a nanny to raise them. Are there any jobs a CNM could do part time for a few years? Also, are CNMs involved with abortions or artificial family planning usually? I'm not willing to participate in or advocate for abortions or artificial family planning.
I am also doing research online and trying to find a midwife to shadow but I would love to get some information from the knowledgeable people on here.
I'm not kidding at all. I'm not going to help create a child knowing it will be in a situation that is less than ideal. I asked for information on the role of a CNM. I did not ask for your opinion on anything. From other answers above and my own research, it seems to me that it's very possible to avoid providing abortions and artificial conception so CNM is not off my list.
It's highly unlikely that being a CNM or a nurse in general will allow you to pick and choose your patients at will. If you find a clinic that does so, then let us know so that we can avoid it. You don't know what ideal is apparently. The same way a child could have 2 parents (which you feel is the best situation) yet be beaten to death by them (recently occurred) is the same probability of a single parent doing the same. Abortion is one thing, bias against creation of one isn't. At this point I can't even continue discussing this because the fact of you judging someone's choices is not nursing. I'm glad most nurses aren't like that. I pray I never need IVF,but if I did, I'm glad there are people available to help me conceive in whichever manner possible.
Good luck in your career search, but when you place so many limitations on patient care and deciding women shouldn't have all options available, you really aren't giving yourself much leeway to work with.
Oh and when you post on a forum, everyone interested is going to input, that's why it's a public discussion.
I'm not trying to pick or choose my patients at will. I'm not participating in abortions or artificial conception for anyone. A child could be beaten to death by two parents, one parent, gay parents, grandparents, etc.. I would never deliberately put a child into that situation either. And I realize everyone is going to give input on a public forum. That doesn't change the fact that I was asking about the role of midwives and not for your opinion on anything. You seem to be taking this way too personally.
I'm going to be honest with you, and I don't care if you completely dismiss me. It's very tough to find a position as a new grad midwife right now. Admissions are at record high levels at midwifery programs around the country. With this surplus of new grads, someone who is not ashamed to admit that they view gay people as unworthy of being parents, basically sub-human, is going to have a really hard time getting a job. And rightly so. Again, I urge you to read the ACNM philosophy, and rethink your career choice.
I'm not trying to pick or choose my patients at will. I'm not participating in abortions or artificial conception for anyone. A child could be beaten to death by two parents, one parent, gay parents, grandparents, etc.. I would never deliberately put a child into that situation either. And I realize everyone is going to give input on a public forum. That doesn't change the fact that I was asking about the role of midwives and not for your opinion on anything. You seem to be taking this way too personally.
Seems to me that you don't want to accept that if you can't abide by certain requirements set forth by the exact career you are pursuing, that you should possibly look elsewhere. You also may notice that since you did ask for help in choosing alternate venues, we did assist. Whether you are justifying your reasons for not wanting to hear/see/accept other's input or not, is not the point. The point is that you seem to dislike when someone challenges your reasoning for your refusal of certain treatments. I'm guessing you've never been placed in an infertile couple's shoes, since you're so adamant in refusing assistance.
I never asked for help in choosing alternate venues. And I have no problem abiding by the requirements of any career I choose. However, it's my place to decide whether or not I can abide by those requirements, not yours. That's why I asked whether or not CNMs do certain things and not whether or not you think I can perform the duties of a midwife. I have no problem with people challenging my reasoning about anything, but I do prefer they're actaully challenging my reasoning.
I dont believe women deserve access to the full scope of sexual and reproductive health care options in all situations.
Ooookay. So that means you feel you have the right to be the gatekeeper to these services, using your own moral beliefs to dictate what options you feel the woman deserves to have access to?
No. That is not okay in ANY area of health care. What if you were an NP in the emergency room, and a man came in with a penile fracture after raping someone? Clearly I think this guy is a grade A a$$hole, and since his life is not in danger, why should I even offer him the option of a referral to a urologist? Don't I have the right to deny him access to the full scope of reproductive/sexual health options based on my moral judgment of his terrible actions?
I don't believe I have the right to be the gatekeeper to any legal services. I don't believe that certain services should be legal or easily accessible but as long as they are I will refer patients to someone who can provide whatever service they need whether I believe they should have access to that service or not. I will not provide those services, though. I don't feel that it's wrong to use my moral beliefs to decide what services I perform. As long as I'm willing to refer patients to someone else when they need a service I dont offer and I don't discriminate when it comes to services I do offer, Im doing what I need to do as a health care provider.
So a married couple is "ideal" but a single woman or a LGBT couple aren't? Are you kidding me? I've seen plenty of married couples become crappy parents. I have LGBT friends who are far and away some of the best parents I've ever seen.
I'd be interested to hear your response to this scenario, JJ1994- You are a CNM, and there is a patient you have been seeing for a couple years for well woman care. At her annual exam, she tells you she is trying to get pregnant, asks what natural or OTC things she can try to help her conceive. You ask more details about her sexual history and find out she is a lesbian and is doing home insemination with donor sperm. Will you be willing to counsel her on cycle awareness and OTC fertility monitors? Would you prescribe her prenatal vitamins to take while trying to conceive, or order preconception labwork if indicated?
If the answer to any of these is no, what would you say to the patient? And. . . what would you do if she then came back to you, pregnant, looking for prenatal care?
ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN
538 Posts
It's highly unlikely that being a CNM or a nurse in general will allow you to pick and choose your patients at will. If you find a clinic that does so, then let us know so that we can avoid it. You don't know what ideal is apparently. The same way a child could have 2 parents (which you feel is the best situation) yet be beaten to death by them (recently occurred) is the same probability of a single parent doing the same. Abortion is one thing, bias against creation of one isn't. At this point I can't even continue discussing this because the fact of you judging someone's choices is not nursing. I'm glad most nurses aren't like that. I pray I never need IVF,but if I did, I'm glad there are people available to help me conceive in whichever manner possible.
Good luck in your career search, but when you place so many limitations on patient care and deciding women shouldn't have all options available, you really aren't giving yourself much leeway to work with.
Oh and when you post on a forum, everyone interested is going to input, that's why it's a public discussion.