CNM Midwifery Preceptor

Specialties CNM

Published

Specializes in School Nursing; Nursing Education.

I am in my first semester of an MSN-Midwifery program in Texas. They strongly encouraged us in orientation, before school ever started, to begin looking for preceptors that we will need in Fall 2020 because it can take such a long time to find one to agree to take students. I have sent out several emails and called various clinics/hospitals/birth centers (I think I'm up to 30 now) and have only had one email me back with a positive response. I'm starting to feel like I made a mistake enrolling in a program that doesn't provide their students much guidance on establishing clinical rotation sites. My questions are...

Is this common for other MSN-midwifery programs and students?

Are there any CNMs out there that can possibly shed some light on hospitals or busier birth centers (literally I'll go ANYWHERE in the US) that are happy to take students?

Any insight is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

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Hi NurseSears! May I ask where you are located and what school you're going to?

Finding preceptors as a midwifery student is hard for everyone ? I graduated from TTUHSC last fall and every single classmate of mine had difficulty, but we were all eventually able to get the hours and experiences we needed. I would say don't stress about it just yet (although I know that's more easier said than done). Regardless of what they're telling you, you do have time. I would start by networking: Attend CTCNM meetings and other birth-y events in your area. Meet as many midwives as you can, and sneak in that you're looking for preceptors. Try to get their contact info so you can follow up at a later date. Fall 2020 is a long way off so I'm willing to bet you haven't gotten any responses because they're not ready to commit to anything yet in case something changes between now and then.

But your struggle just shows you how much we need more midwives in Texas! Please don't give up on the profession yet!

Good luck!

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Specializes in School Nursing; Nursing Education.

@Lessbull Thank you SO much for your response! I actually am at Texas Tech as well, so it is even more reassuring that you had nearly this exact same experience. I'm caught between wanting to jump on it before spots fill up and waiting to contact Midwives until it's closer and they're ready to commit to students. Keeping my head up and thinking positively... at least trying to ;)

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@NurseSears Hello, I applied to Texas Tech Post-Certificate Masters Nurse Midwifery program. If I get accepted, I will begin Spring 2021. I have my interview coming up soon, any advice? 

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Specializes in School Nursing; Nursing Education.
10 hours ago, FNPLiz5 said:

@NurseSears Hello, I applied to Texas Tech Post-Certificate Masters Nurse Midwifery program. If I get accepted, I will begin Spring 2021. I have my interview coming up soon, any advice? 

@FNPLiz5 I actually ended up transferring to UT-Arlington to pursue Nurse Education rather than Midwifery. The BIGGEST challenge with the program has nothing to do with coursework, but rather with securing a preceptor. In your interview, I would mention already having MSN-Midwives lined up to be your preceptor. I would also mention being a self-motivated learner as you will be completely on your own with very minimal instruction. I was surprised to see in the three courses I took at TTU there were hardly any recorded instruction videos by the instructors. It is you and your textbook and that's it. There are academic coaches, but I have yet to find one willing to help as opposed to just giving the simplest, quickest response. 

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@BooBooCrew Thank you for your reply. I will definitely have to have my preceptors lined up, if I get accepted though. 

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