CNM Floirida Programs

[CLC172]

Hello all! I was hoping someone could help me. I am currently an ADN student in the Chicagoland area, on track to graduate in one year, and I plan to go for a BSN completion right away. I have my heart set on eventually becoming a CNM/WHNP in my future. I also have my heart set on moving to the Sarasota/Bradenton (maybe Tampa or Clearwater) after I get a year or two of hospital nursing experience under my belt.

So I was wondering if anyone could tell me some information regarding midwives in Florida? What programs are available? Are online programs good, and if so, which ones do you recommend? How is the pay for CNM's in Florida?

From what I have seen, Florida seems to be more midwife-friendly than Illinois, which is good! I am not 100% against the use of drugs/medical interventions during pregnancy/ labor and delivery, but from my limited experience, both as a mother of one child and as a nursing student, it seems to me that women are not given many options or education on the true risks of medical interventions, or possible benefits of going with a more natural approach. This concerns and kind of angers me, so as a future nurse/CNM I'm really hoping to be able to give women more power in their chilbirthing experiences. I hope I'm not sounding too idealistic!

I know that anything can happen at this point, and Florida, as well as grad school are still a few years away for me, but time flies! So any advice or help anybody can give me regarding this matter would be greatly appreciated. I will be going to Florida on vacation for a month this summer and I'm hoping to meet a midwife or two and get some good information! Thanks for taking the time to read and/or respond!!

[Journey_On, BSN, RN]

Hi CLC172,

The only school I know of in FL that has a CNM program is UF. I thought that U. of Miami had one, but they don't seem to have one anymore.

The Tampa bay area seems to be pretty good place for CNMs. Morton Plant & Mease Countryside (Pinellas county) uses midwives, Tampa bay has a great birth network, and there are also some birth centers in the area.

As far as online programs go.....if you are interested in becoming a CNM/WHNP, Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing has both of these programs! From what I have read, Frontier is a wonderful school. If you search for "Frontier" in the forums, you can find what great things people have to say about it.

Hopefully someone else can chime in re: salary?

I'm not sure if you were also interested in CPM/LM opportunities, but the Florida School of Midwifery is located in Gainesville. I know there are RNs out there who are CPMs.

[CLC172]

Thank you so much for all of your advice. I think I'd rather go the CNM route, for the broader job prospects, etc. However, I wouldn't be totally closed to CPM/LM, especially in a state like Florida. In Illinois, where I am now, it is illegal to practice as a CPM. : )