Attending births with a CPM

[biggolp]

I am graduating with my BSN next month (yay!) and I was thinking of assisting a CPM to gain experience with homebirths.

Someone mentioned to me that it might not be a good idea because if there's a negative outcome I would be held responsible since I'm the highest license there (my nursing license would trump the midwife's).

Does anyone know anything about this?

I would love to be at births in the home setting but have worked too hard on my nursing license to do anything that would jeopardize it.

Thanks in advance for any information or opinions regarding this.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Speaking as a former CPM, I would tread cautiously here. In some states (like in FL where I practiced), CPMs are licensed. If that's the case you could legally assist them in a nursing role. In most states they are unregulated, which means you would potentially open yourself up to liability in a bad outcome.

More importantly however, the training and expertise of CPMs is incredibly variable. The requirements for entry level competency are... substandard to say the least. There is also a lot of pseudoscience and medical distrust in the CPM community. Of course, some CPMs are highly competent and science based. But the entry level standard for CPMs does not meet IFM guidelines, which I find deeply troubling.

I just don't want you to go work with a CPM and come out of it thinking that Vit K is not really necessary for normal deliveries, or that routine vaccination is dangerous. Or that homeopathy is anything but complete and utter bullhockey. These are just a few examples of the things I LEARNED IN MIDWIFERY SCHOOL.

All midwives should be held to the same, science-based standard of care. I clearly feel strongly about this issue haha.

Anyway. If the CPM is licensed you could legally assist her. If she's not, then you shouldn't. Assisting women in unmedicated childbirth is a really important skill and CPMs do tend to be very very good at that. Which is great. But the medical expertise is often sketchy and ill informed.

[biggolp]

Thanks for your response cayenne06!

I really appreciate your input.

When choosing my route to midwifery, I specifically chose to become a CNM for some of those reasons.

However, my heart lies in homebirth and I would love to see some of that up close IN ADDITION TO the excellent midwifery education I hope to receive from a credible CNM school.

According to MANA, CPMs in my state are licensed.

I hope that bodes well for me...

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Upon RN licensure, look at Nurse-Midwife - Frontier Nursing University program for excellence in midwifery.

Midwifery Education Programs is list of certified programs, some are distance learning with on-campus week intensive.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

Thanks for your response cayenne06!

I really appreciate your input.

When choosing my route to midwifery, I specifically chose to become a CNM for some of those reasons.

However, my heart lies in homebirth and I would love to see some of that up close IN ADDITION TO the excellent midwifery education I hope to receive from a credible CNM school.

According to MANA, CPMs in my state are licensed.

I hope that bodes well for me...

Good luck, I hope it goes well for you! If you want to share what state you are in, I might be able to provide more info.

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I'm a CNM and I got to do my final clinical rotation in home birth, with a CNM. I currently work at a freestanding birth center and we take students from the nearby CNM program. Not all programs allow out-of-hospital clinicals but many do, I wouldn't assume you'll have to be with a CPM to get out-of-hospital experience.

[elkpark]

I'm not in midwifery or OB, but, just from the legal perspective, that is not a risk I'd be willing to take. There are lots of CNMs who do homebirths; can you not track down a CNM to shadow?

[biggolp]

Good luck, I hope it goes well for you! If you want to share what state you are in, I might be able to provide more info.

I am in New Jersey.

Thanks!

[biggolp]

Upon RN licensure, look at Nurse-Midwife - Frontier Nursing University program for excellence in midwifery.

Midwifery Education Programs is list of certified programs, some are distance learning with on-campus week intensive.

Thank you!

Frontier is my first choice school.

I've been in touch with their admissions.

I will apply there as soon as I can...

[biggolp]

I'm a CNM and I got to do my final clinical rotation in home birth, with a CNM. I currently work at a freestanding birth center and we take students from the nearby CNM program. Not all programs allow out-of-hospital clinicals but many do, I wouldn't assume you'll have to be with a CPM to get out-of-hospital experience.

Thanks!

I'll look out for such opportunities...

[biggolp]

I'm not in midwifery or OB, but, just from the legal perspective, that is not a risk I'd be willing to take. There are lots of CNMs who do homebirths; can you not track down a CNM to shadow?

I was considering one specific CPM that I'd been in touch with before this issue came to light.

I will continue looking...

[elkpark]

I was considering one specific CPM that I'd been in touch with before this issue came to light.

I figured that was the case. If you actually look, I'm sure you can find some CNMs who do home births. Whether or not you will be able to shadow them is another issue, but they are out there. Best wishes!