Can you be a CNM and have a life, too?

[jenny456]

Would any certified nurse-midwives out there be able to comment on how your practice works in terms of office hours, on-call hours, etc.. and whether you are able to have somewhat of a sane life? I am interested in possible becoming a CNM but I have heard so many bad things--that it is one of the worst nursing areas for having any normalcy or family life. This kind of depresses me--and makes me think I should consider other advanced degrees. I believe that balance is the key to happiness and that is the lesson I have been working on for a few years! However, as a L&D nurse, I love women and babies!!

[epiphany]

No. :)

Seriously though, many people are able to balance life with career. It's about how much you want to kill yourself. You may have to be in a less optimal situation, do some give and take, but it can be done as far as I've seen around me.

[Smark35]

Epiphany,

ROFL!! Your post cracked me up.:chuckle I love it when people tell it like it is. From what I have seen of the CNM's I work with, the answer is no, but there is enormous fulfillment and satisfaction. And they seem to make it work. :) Shannon

[raquelphiladelphia, NP]

my question is to anyone who can answer. I will attend nursing school next year 2009 to get my asn, then immediately begin classes towards my bsn. After I get my asn I will get a job working in med/surg for 1 year, then transfer to labor/deliver. I will have to do this because in order for me attend a midwifery program I need to be already working in l & d. Do you have any other suggestions?

Despitely needing a midwife's advise.

[mommy2boysaz]

my question is to anyone who can answer. I will attend nursing school next year 2009 to get my asn, then immediately begin classes towards my bsn. After I get my asn I will get a job working in med/surg for 1 year, then transfer to labor/deliver. I will have to do this because in order for me attend a midwifery program I need to be already working in l & d. Do you have any other suggestions?

Despitely needing a midwife's advise.

Well, sounds like you have a great plan in place, however, there really could be some shortcuts.

I am a CNM student at Frontier so I can only tell you about them. -Maybe other schools offer similar situations, but at Frontier, I am in the ASN-MSN Bridge program. No BSN needed! The entire program is roughly 3 years, vs going to school for 2 years for a BSN (after your ASN), then 2 more years for Master's.

Also, Frontier does require SOME nursing experience, but I don't believe it has to be in L&D, and I'm not sure if a year is required or not.

Anyways, it would be good for you to look into. The website is Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. You can get quite a bit of info there.

Best of luck!

[raquelphiladelphia, NP]

Well, sounds like you have a great plan in place, however, there really could be some shortcuts.

I am a CNM student at Frontier so I can only tell you about them. -Maybe other schools offer similar situations, but at Frontier, I am in the ASN-MSN Bridge program. No BSN needed! The entire program is roughly 3 years, vs going to school for 2 years for a BSN (after your ASN), then 2 more years for Master's.

Also, Frontier does require SOME nursing experience, but I don't believe it has to be in L&D, and I'm not sure if a year is required or not.

Anyways, it would be good for you to look into. The website is Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. You can get quite a bit of info there.

Best of luck!

I live in philadelphia and I don't know of any such program here. Do you know of an online course for such a program?

[CNM2B]

I live in philadelphia and I don't know of any such program here. Do you know of an online course for such a program?

Frontier IS an online course! It is great program that is well ranked and highly respected. 2-3 trips to Kentucky are required during the program, but the rest is online. You arrange your preceptorship in your own community!

Here is their website: www.midwives.org