CNM, FNP

[rac1, ASN, BSN, RN]

So I finally get it.

I have been polling every nurse and professor since I started school - about what to do after I graduate.

I have had midwifery in my view for my entire life. I had all homebirths, and precepted as a student homebirth midwife - but my kids were more important so I stopped all of that. Fast forward to all the kids school-aged, and now I am about to graduate.

I have heard so many different opinions that my head just spins.

There is the typical "Do a year of med surg," from ya know....every med surg nurse.

Then from every single L&D nurse - they say "no, you don't need it...you can go straight into L&D." The only nurse that told me otherwise was one nurse that began in L&D, and decided after 3 years that she didn't like it, and (QUIT her job first) tried looking for another job, and no one would hire her until she had a year of med surg.

I am in my OB rotation. Had my first L&D clinical - and honestly, I can totally see why I have been told to do the year of med surg. It is just completely different. Two patients, and depending on the patient, there may or may not be a ton of assessing, and no pathos. So if I begin there, I may not be good at assessing and recognizing pathos? That is what I took away from the experience (although, I did love being there!).

The thing is - I really don't like med surg.

My long term goals are CNM, and I think eventually I will want a post masters FNP cert.

My current professor told me with those goals she would recommend me doing a year of ER nursing, THEN a year of L&D - then CNM school.

Anyone have an opinion? I mean...... I have asked everyone else in the world....

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I did two years of med/surg, then three years of postpartum nursing. Never did L&D for a few different reasons. I didn't like med/surg either, but like you, I felt like it was necessary for me so I slogged through. Only you can make the right decision for you, although as I'm sure you realize, your decisions will be based on the jobs available in your area.

[pro-student]

You don't need any particular experience to be a CNM or FNP. I did a dual program straight out of my undergrad nursing program. The role of an med-surg RN is so different from that of either a CNM or FNP that it really makes no sense to think of it as pre-requisite. In my CNM program, none of the students had LD experience and only one had done postpartum nursing. Most had no RN experience and it is a top ranked program. As long as you have a good knowledge basis, you can learn to be an excellent midwife.

[Tichel18]

I have a similar background to you except I am 1 year into my "med surg experience". I definitely see how I'm learning a lot that's very important - but I don't think I couldn't have become a very good CNM if I had gone a different path. Where are you in the rest of your life? A job learning some nitty gritty nursing skills and working part time days (you gotta love 2 days a week schedule with full benefits) worked out well for me as a new Mom. If you're waiting to have your own kids until you get your CNM (for instance) you might want to move a little more quickly. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer - anything you do clinically speaking IMO will make you a stronger midwife, but life is only so long.