CNM Scholarship, HRSA, Georgetown, Frontier

mamagui · Oct 2, 2015

Soooooooo, what is your question exactly?

Doulasana · Oct 3, 2015

Haha, Reading over it I guess I was a little rambly and vague. I am wondering if those with similar credentials (A) got into these programs and (B) got the HRSA scholarship or any other scholarships or grants. Thanks!

Simplyroses · Oct 3, 2015

I specifically chose NOT to apply for the scholarship because I could not relocate my kids during their teen years. The placement sites for scholarship awardees can be very limited and located in BFE. I am working for a FQHC in my hometown but prior to entering the program I did not know that they would have an opening for a CNM when I graduated. I plan to apply for the federal nurse loan repayment annually to see if I can get it. Still, after 10 years of minimum payments the balance of the loan will be forgiven.

Doulasana · Oct 3, 2015

Thank you for your reply! I am hoping that if I get the loan, one of the community health care centers in my area will meet auto-approval criteria for HRSA. I think it already does just hasn't applied yet for the qualification. Slim chances on getting the HRSA at all but I need some kind of funding, and like you I can't relocate so I might have to get creative! The loan forgiveness only applies to federal loans, correct? Not private loans?

Allison T · Oct 9, 2015

Hello. Your plans and questions sound good. Note that since you are already a nurse, you would become a CNM, not a CM. The certified midwife (CM) path requires a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field, and then a program for a master's degree. Only 2 schools offer CM: SUNY Downstate and the Midwifery Institute at Philadelphia University.

Here's the link from the ACNM's website which explains the pathways. The vast majority of midwives in the ACNM are CNMs, not CMs.

Pathway Results

As for the HRSA, I found the process and language complicated. Also there are several options within HRSA. Legislation is being debated that would expand the options. Stay tuned. You could possibly contact your legislators' offices, too, for info.

I took a job where another CNM and I were told, "No one's ever been turned down for the loan [NHSC]." It turned out that the HPSA score (Health Professional Shortage Area) disqualified us.

HPSA Find

I definitely recommend signing up for alerts through HRSA and being on their webinars and conference calls. Also some states have their own loan repayment options, and some employers offer loan repayment.

And yes, I got into one of the schools you mentioned, with a somewhat similar background (I am also a certified childbirth educator, an IBCLC, and I have my RNC but it's not RNC-OB) and had 2 years as an L & D nurse.

Keep on reading and posting.

Doulasana · Oct 12, 2015

Thank you very much for your thoughtful response! I am thinking that CNM is a better pathway for me, although I have spoken with representatives from Philadelphia University in the past (the CM program) and found them very helpful and friendly. I think if I went to that program I would still be a CM though, because the master's is in midwifery, not a master's in nursing with the subcategory of midwifery. I also find the HRSA sites confusing! I will definitely have to look into more specifics for the scholarship vs loan repayment.

The HPSA site lists my county as "designated" but does not give it a score...further adding to my confusion.

As a personal aside, do you find that being a childbirth educator was helpful to you in becoming a midwife? If I were a midwife (especially at one particular clinic), I would love to use the centering care model and I think the education background would be so helpful. Thanks again, your response was so helpful!

Katherine

Lessbull, BSN, MSN, RN, CNM · Oct 14, 2015

I'm starting CNM school online at Texas Tech in January, and while I can't speak to the CNM side of the HSC scholarship, my husband received it as a Physician Assistant. We relocated to Oklahoma to fulfill his scholarship requirements, and while it has been nice to have his loans paid off, the program in general is an absolute pain to work with. I cannot even express how many headaches, paperwork, misinformation, and more headaches we went through. I briefly looked at the CNM opportunities, and we decided that it wouldn't be worth the hassle to go through it again for me. Therefore, I'm looking for other scholarship opportunities. Unfortunately they are few and far between from what I've seen so far. If anyone can point me in the right direction to look for more, that would be greatly appreciated!

Lessbull, BSN, MSN, RN, CNM · Oct 14, 2015

Also adding:

The scores are determined by facility, not by county, which is probably why you couldn't find one. And if you DO decide to apply for the scholarship, definitely apply for the loan repayment, not the scholarship. There are MANY more job opportunities that route because it requires a much lower (less impoverished) facility.

Here is the site to look for jobs so you can see what is available now. My husband had to work at a facility with a score of 15 or higher just to give you an idea, but that number changes with each scholarship group. A loan repayment program would require a lesser score, again depending on the contract you sign. Jobs are filled and become available throughout the year and will change a lot between now and when you would graduate, but you can still kind of get an idea of what states/areas will have more opportunities than others.

NHSC Jobs Center

mamagui · Oct 14, 2015

I think if I went to that program I would still be a CM though, because the master's is in midwifery, not a master's in nursing with the subcategory of midwifery.

Phila U has a CM program for non-nurses, and a CNM for nurses. You will still sit for the same boards as a MSN program and you still get the CNM credential. FWIW.

You will NOT have a Masters in nursing, if that matters.