CNM career change, L&D burnout

Specialties CNM

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Hi CNMs. I am a career changer who went back to school to be a CNM. I opted to get my RN-BSN first to work in L&D to support the costs associated with midwifery school. I am two years into practice in L&D and am so burnt out. I work at a really great hospital system where everything gets transferred to us....even from out of state. I'm learning a lot but my nerves are shot, I cry a lot and I'm just not enjoying my job. We do have midwives and when I work with them and their low-risk patients its a breath of fresh air. I know my passion is still there to provide evidence-based care, provide true informed consent, passion, patience and empower the birthing people I serve...but I'm just so done. I am considering working in a different specialty while I go to midwifery school. I'm just wondering if any wise midwives out there had a similar experience? Or am I just nuts... ? Any advice/insight would be helpful. 

 

Signed-- a tired high-risk/ICU like L&D RN

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Specializes in L and D.

As a fellow labor and delivery nurse I admit I am completely burned out. I have been in l and d since 2013 and while there is not another area that interests me, I am constantly looking for something different. I considered becoming a cnm as well In the past, but now I have zero desire. I do enjoy the low risk births, and as a midwife that’s a lot of what you would be managing, so you should consider that. 

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Specializes in OB.

Based on your description of your job, it's completely reasonable that you're burned out.  It's not at all UNreasonable to get a different job while in school for midwifery.  It's a rigorous, demanding couple of years, you want to be able to focus on school as much as possible without constant mental and physical fatigue to battle at the same time.

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Specializes in RN, mental health.

No, you are not nuts. I decided against L&D clinical when in a nursing school and currently work as a mental health nurse. As a midwife you are a provider, not a person, that follows orders. I know enough about physiological birth and how that process can be completely destroyed not to be willing to witness and participate in that on daily basis. I advice you to get out of it. I was in the same situation many years ago, it cost me deep secondary trauma. I just got admitted in CNM program for fall. You don't have to work in L&D to get into. 

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Specializes in oncology.
19 hours ago, MariannaCNMstudent said:

I know enough about physiological birth and how that process can be completely destroyed not to be willing to witness and participate in that on daily basis.

I guess I am confused by the comments here. You are saying you just want to be involved in "happy, successful births?". Would that be like working on a post- op floor where it was guaranteed that everyone was cured with the surgery and did not need secondary chemo/radiation? A job that only involves sunshine and flowers? Sorry I am so critical but I am not sure any health care job doesn't involve a personal commitment. If you are the CNM and things turn bad...do you call the OB and walk away?

It kinda sounds like you are looking for a job at Disney World. Maybe Cinderella needs a CNM

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Specializes in OB.
9 hours ago, londonflo said:

I guess I am confused by the comments here. You are saying you just want to be involved in "happy, successful births?". Would that be like working on a post- op floor where it was guaranteed that everyone was cured with the surgery and did not need secondary chemo/radiation? A job that only involves sunshine and flowers? Sorry I am so critical but I am not sure any health care job doesn't involve a personal commitment. If you are the CNM and things turn bad...do you call the OB and walk away?

It kinda sounds like you are looking for a job at Disney World. Maybe Cinderella needs a CNM

The poster is saying she is unwilling to work as an L&D nurse in an environment where physiologic birth isn't respected.  In no way does that mean she is only interested in participating in "happy successful births."   How did you make that leap?

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Specializes in RN, mental health.
On 6/4/2021 at 11:26 AM, londonflo said:

I guess I am confused by the comments here. You are saying you just want to be involved in "happy, successful births?".

No, but I don't want to be a part of traumatic births created by providers. If you think in the US doctors always make decisions in best interests of their patients, especially in maternity, you better take off your pink glasses. Women and babies are traumatized and even die for iatrogenic reasons here every day.  I was a part of it in the past and want it no more. 

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Specializes in oncology.
On 6/4/2021 at 8:51 PM, LibraSunCNM said:

The poster is saying she is unwilling to work as an L&D nurse in an environment where physiologic birth isn't respected.  In no way does that mean she is only interested in participating in "happy successful births."   How did you make that leap?

It wasn't a "leap", it was a slow walk. I have heard this philosophy for decades and decades. Unless you are planning to avoid the established health care system and get your patient's from extremist churches/beliefs, you will not ground your practice in any kind of financial reimbursement.

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Specializes in OB.
2 hours ago, londonflo said:

It wasn't a "leap", it was a slow walk. I have heard this philosophy for decades and decades. Unless you are planning to avoid the established health care system and get your patient's from extremist churches/beliefs, you will not ground your practice in any kind of financial reimbursement.

That's completely untrue.  It's absolutely possible to work as a midwife in a hospital and use evidence-based practice, intervening only when truly necessary and supporting physiologic birth.  The poster is simply saying she is choosing not to work as an RN in an environment that is NOT like that, because she would have no power (as the RN) to do anything about it.  

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Specializes in oncology.
43 minutes ago, LibraSunCNM said:

use evidence-based practice, 

EBP used to be called research and is not wholly owned by RNs. 

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Specializes in OB.
5 minutes ago, londonflo said:

EBP used to be called research and is not wholly owned by RNs. 

I have literally no idea what your agenda is or what we're even arguing about anymore, peace out.

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On 6/4/2021 at 12:26 PM, londonflo said:

I guess I am confused by the comments here. You are saying you just want to be involved in "happy, successful births?". Would that be like working on a post- op floor where it was guaranteed that everyone was cured with the surgery and did not need secondary chemo/radiation? A job that only involves sunshine and flowers? Sorry I am so critical but I am not sure any health care job doesn't involve a personal commitment. If you are the CNM and things turn bad...do you call the OB and walk away?

It kinda sounds like you are looking for a job at Disney World. Maybe Cinderella needs a CNM

I think you completely misunderstood what Marianna was saying in her post. She is saying (as LibraSun also pointed out), that it has been her experience that physiological birth is not respected in the hospital she was at. And that as an RN she has no control over changing how laboring women are managed and cared for. Therefore, she sees no benefit to working as an RN in L&D as she would not gain any relevant experience. I can attest that this is absolutely true in some locations and hospitals. Marianna didn't say anything about only wanting good outcomes or happy situations. I don't really understood how you reached that conclusion or why you continue to double down on a lack of comprehension of the post you are commenting on. 

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