CNM student

Simplyroses · Mar 17, 2015

Given two new grad applicants: an RN with strong L&D experience will usually be offered employment over one without in a OB run practice or a major health system. The OB's trust that model and experience more.

A CNM run practice might have different considerations.

That being said, if jobs are scarce in your area and you are willing to relocate, there are many practices that are starting to offer residencies or fellowships for new grads. They would mentor you through that first year.

Another consideration: usually you only get the tuition paid if you continue to work full-time throughout your grad school. That is very difficult to do, especially when you hit the clinical rotations.

queenanneslace, ADN, MSN, APRN, CNM · Mar 17, 2015

From someone who had to be talked into taking an L&D position by a CNM friend of mine, I'll recommend taking the L&D job. I have love/hate moments working in L&D - and in a hospital system with no CNMs. But the experience is extremely valuable.

Do I think CNMs need L&D experience? No.

Do I think L&D experience exposes the future midwife to a zillion different scenarios, practice styles, patient conditions, high-risk birth and low-risk birth and everything in between? Yep.

I'll admit, sometimes it's VERY HARD to drive myself back to work each day, but I can't deny that I'm gaining experience that I can't get anywhere else - especially assessment skills (of a LABOR patient), and technical skills, and personal skills - learning how to take a hand-off of an active labor patient and gaining that patient's trust. I will never tell anyone that L&D isn't a hugely valuable experience. But I will admit it can be very, very hard to be in that role.

Because my focus is midwifery - I spend a lot of time analyzing the approach of different physicians, their decision-making, and the patient's response to those things -and take notes on how I want to function as a midwife. It feels like paid-learning. And I still have a lot to learn.

motheringheart · Mar 21, 2015

Time spent as an L&D nurse is invaluable. Hard yes, hard to watch some doctors management of patients but there are tons of things you can learn which will help you in your own practice later. You can also think of it this way you are there protecting as much of the birth experience that you can for your patients. You may be the only one there that will. You can make a difference even if you don't agree with the model of care. Just learn to bite your tongue :)