CNM vs NP vs dual degree.... Need help finding direction.

Specialties CNM

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I've always known I have wanted to pursue an advanced nursing degree, and I feel like the time is right in my life to start. I have 6 years experience as a labor and delivery nurse.

I always thought I wanted to pursue a nurse practitioner career. I am interested in the advanced practice portion, especially in the area of women's health, and have considered maybe a women's health nurse practitioner track. One of the biggest pros of this career is the schedule; I would want to work in a clinic setting, where I wouldn't have to work as many nights/weekends/holidays.

However, I LOVE labor and delivery and am not sure I want to give that up for a clinic career. I know I would still be challenged daily and would learn a great deal, but I really enjoy caring for women during labor and birth.

I didn't think I wanted to look into a career as a nurse-midwife, but I'm starting to consider it now. The major drawbacks are the call and I have heard CNMs have to carry major , and there's of course a higher likelihood of being involved in litigation at some point (not unlike being a labor nurse). But the pros would be the ability to continue to do what I love, just at a different level.

I'm leaning at this point towards a nurse-midwide/women's health nurse practitioner dual focus program.

I would love any insight from those who are in either field; what helped you decide on your chosen career path?

Any advice is much appreciated!

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery.

I’m in a dual program right now (so not in the field just yet!), and I chose it because I also have a background in L&D and did not want to give up being a part of labor and birth, which sounds like you! I love being there for those moments. I feel reassured by my choice because I can always dial back to purely clinic based work, but if I just got my WHNP I wouldn’t be able to be on the floor. The benefit of becoming dually certified is that if you do ever want to go entirely outpatient and stop attending births, you can work under your WHNP license and your will be much lower because of that. It’s silly but even if you aren’t catching babies, if you work under the CNM license, the insurance is much more. A lot of times your employers pay for your malpractice insurance so this can also make you more marketable for these positions since you are “less expensive”.

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Hi! So I'm a WHNP and I do understand the dilemma! When I was applying for my Master's, I applied for both the NP and CNM program as I love women's health (and they didn't have a dual option! I ended up choosing the WHNP program because it worked for me at the time.

I would recommend doing the CNM program or do a dual program if available. You can always opt out of deliveries if you need to. Some hospitals do hire Whnps on the labor floor as well. Doing everything except deliveries. A dual program would be best!

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I was accepted to both a CNM/WHNP and a WHNP program. Ultimately, I chose WHNP because of family and the life/work balance that I envisioned for myself. I did not want to resent birth work or being on call for my career. I did not want to be working 13s (or 24s like a lot of CNMs that I know) for the rest of my life. If I really want to do CNM down the line, I'll do a PG certificate. But for me now what is most important is having my nights/weekends/holidays for my family and myself. I will do PregnancyCentering as my WHNP program offers it and will do my best to work outpatient M-F as this will make me happiest. It is, however, such a personal decision. Best of luck in your own decision-making process and keep us posted!

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10 hours ago, atyourcervixx said:

I was accepted to both a CNM/WHNP and a WHNP program. Ultimately, I chose WHNP because of family and the life/work balance that I envisioned for myself. I did not want to resent birth work or being on call for my career. I did not want to be working 13s (or 24s like a lot of CNMs that I know) for the rest of my life. If I really want to do CNM down the line, I'll do a PG certificate. But for me now what is most important is having my nights/weekends/holidays for my family and myself. I will do PregnancyCentering as my WHNP program offers it and will do my best to work outpatient M-F as this will make me happiest. It is, however, such a personal decision. Best of luck in your own decision-making process and keep us posted!

Hey! I would totally do the dual program! Here's why...you want to be on the labor floor. WHNP may exclude you from that in some states. You are more marketable with both. A LOT of places hire CNMs over Mps because they can deliver if they have to (ie being a provider in a triage OB unit at a hospital). There are even 12 hr CNM positions in a hospital. And also clinic only CNMS who round on PP in hospitals. Do the dual program, you'll have more options! I'm a WHNP now doing the midwifery program. Just do it in one shot!☺

NPs* not Mps LOL

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@atyourcervixxWhich WHNP program offers CenteringPregnancy? Did you mean training to facilitate and run A CenteringPregnancy program?? Tell me more!!?

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13 hours ago, Ria21 said:

@atyourcervixxWhich WHNP program offers CenteringPregnancy? Did you mean training to facilitate and run A CenteringPregnancy program?? Tell me more!!?

Yes, training to facilitate. I'm headed to Duke's WHNP program. More info for you on the program and options that they offer in link below. Please reach out if it's a program that you're interested in down the line as I love sharing insight and helping ? https://nursing.duke.edu/academic-programs/MSN-master-science-nursing/womens-health-nurse-practitioner

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13 hours ago, Ria21 said:

@atyourcervixxWhich WHNP program offers CenteringPregnancy? Did you mean training to facilitate and run A CenteringPregnancy program?? Tell me more!!?

Never mind! You're already a WHNP! Didn't read too far up the thread. My bad!

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LOL! No worries!!

So does that mean you're going to do the Whnp!!?? Awesome!! You're gonna love it☺

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Which program are you in for your CNM+FNP @aspiringcnm3, RN?

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Specializes in Midwife, OBGYN.
On 5/31/2022 at 5:14 PM, caitlinmurphy1224 said:

Which program are you in for your CNM+FNP @aspiringcnm3, RN?

I think there are a couple of CNM+FNP programs in the United States; the one that I am most familiar with is which offers a dual CNM/FNP program.

https://nursing.vanderbilt.edu/MSN/nmwfnp/index.php

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