Would I enjoy being a CNM?

Specialties CNM

Published

I am struggling with my career choice right now. To give you a bit of background...I graduated Dec 2002 as a Womens Health NP. I had a difficult time finding a job in my area at the time, had a beautiful baby girl and relocated again for the 2nd time in 3yrs (hubby in military). This all occurred 2003-2006. During this time I worked in Pain management, and OB triage/Antepartum/L&D. Finally, I started my 1st WHNP job and I'm not really enjoying it. I'm beginning to find out I am a very hands on person who gets bored very quickly. My MD practices office gyn only. So no OB! I need to constantly work with my hands....I really have no interest in being in an office all day, seeing as many patients as the receptionist can book so on and so forth... I have thought about becoming a CNM, to perhaps break up the monotony and go back to my 1st love L&D. I also love the idea of assisting with c-sections. However, I have my reservations as well about this. 1. call hours, 2. the amt of responsibility does not match your compensation, and 3. There are still plenty of gyn office hours! I have even talked to a seasoned midwife who advised me not to become a midwife (because of the hours, pay, high rate of malpractice). She thought FNP or CRNA would be better. Can someone give me some insight or advice about this?

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello,

I was in the same boat as you. OB-GYN NP and future job outlook was bleak. Added FNP and haven't had a problem.

If you desire Midwifery, then scope out your area and see how that looks. CRNA is a whole other ballgame.

For me, FNP worked out just fine.

Good luck.

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Just a couple thoughts I had -

I like first assisting too. It really does add some variety. Most practices here are adding it, unless there are OB residents at the hospital.

Compensation - that varies, and is probably based on what you value and how much you want to work. I'm happy with mine.

As far as call - I am really seeing a move towards shift work because many midwives don't want to be on constant call. There are places that have 12 and 24 hour call shifts, where you are not on call the rest of the time and can have more control over your life. Don't know if that might appeal to you more.

Also, I do know practices that are so busy with OB, they do next to no GYN. But that would bore me, I guess. I like doing both.

Personally, I don't like doing family practice (and I started out as a PA, so I know), so that wouldn't work for me, but it might for you.

Becki

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Thanks for the replies! Becki, thanks for the info about CNM life. I think it would be great if I could 1st assist and not be on constant call. The CNMs at our military hospital currently only deliver one day a week and are in office 4 days. The residents deliver on the other days. I am looking at different online programs with post masters certificate programs. What made you change careers from PA to CNM? Can you suggest any programs? So far I am looking at Frontier, Shenandoah, ECU and maybe Stoneybrook. Again, thanks for the info!

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

You said that your hubby is military? Have you tried the military treatment facilities. I know wwe are army at FT Hood and they have a TON of midwives working for them...it's always needed at the base hospitals due to the very HIGH volume of pregnancies! I dont think youw ould find a hard time finding a job on a base/post hospital. why dont you call them and find out out? plus working for the military as a civilian has it[s perks as well...you get a GS position, the retirement rocks and most of the time the hours arent too bad either...PLUS 30 paid vacation days (Leave time) ect...just a thought!

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I would also add that unless you really are interested in all age groups (pediatrics and geriatrics) plus men patients, I would think twice about FNP. Yes, you can find practices where the FNP works mostly with one or two populations, but as an FNP you will be trained (and usually expected) to care of everyone - across the life span! Also, make sure you really like primary care. CNMs are primary care providers too, but we usually do much less primary care than a FNP does, so make sure that you would be interested in that (coming from someone who really doesn't care for primary care :o) but has many friends in the FNP program who love it.

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The answer lies within your heart. If it eats at you every day until you do something about it, you know you want to be a midwife. I too have had a love of labor and delivery and until I applied and was accepted into the program at Frontier, it was almost a burden for me. I constantly thought about it. So my advice is follow your heart, and it says you gotta do it...then that is your answer. Good luck.

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I am looking to apply for Frontier for the CNM program this fall but am getting soooo much negative feedback from my peers regarding midwifery in general from liability issues to the physical exams of women. Where is all this coming from? It seems very antiwoman. I really am feeling called to midwifery but the comments have me a bit concerned.

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I am looking to apply for Frontier for the CNM program this fall but am getting soooo much negative feedback from my peers regarding midwifery in general from liability issues to the physical exams of women. Where is all this coming from? It seems very antiwoman. I really am feeling called to midwifery but the comments have me a bit concerned.

Listen to the comments with a critical mind about where it's coming from. I think the best advice you can get is from a midwife, someone who actually knows what the job is like. I've been on this road for almost 7 years and I'm finally at the end, and I love it so much I have to pinch myself. There - now you have one midwife's opinion. Go ask some more.

Most midwives I know do it because they love it so much. Once in a while I'll see a midwife who shouldn't be one be she's so miserable - but the reason why she's miserable is because she went into it for the wrong reason. She thought it was a way to make good money and she hates the work of taking of of women - go figure.

At a recent expo where I was volunteering a young girl came up to me and said that heart is really at this profession, but she's afraid of the liability. I said to her that she should not allow such as wonderful vision to be tainted by negative thoughts from negative people. You're not the only one who's concerned. Yes, I know about liability issues, but the midwives liability costs as a fraction of the OB's. We take care of normal births so our outcomes are great.

As for the "physical exam of women" I don't understand what you mean - that's part of the job. It's not nearly as intimate as when you catching a baby.

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Specializes in OB, Midwifery, GYN, Mgmt, Military.

was active duty at Hood in 84-87, 93-95 as a CNM, and then civilian CNM for about a year in 97. How many midwives are still there? They do deliver a lot of babies there, I remember numbers of 250 - 300 a month. the midwives covered the night shifts so the Dr. and residents could be up during the day....it was a great place to practice due to the volume and interesting cases that we saw. Just an aside. Thanks.

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Specializes in psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

did you become a nurse midwife yet? I know I am called to widwifery too. I'm in nursing school and several nurses said oh no don't do that due to . But somethings you have to take risk and go with your heart.

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I am I'm my very last class and I am so excited. Yes I agree malpractice is high....but if its in your heart it will keep nagging at you until you do it

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