CNM vs. WHNP?

[twodollarbills]

I am not sure if I am posting this in the best possible spot, so I am sorry if I am upsetting anyone by posting in this location. I am an Accelerated BSN student and I am trying to make a decision for grad school. I am stuck between midwifery or Women's Health. Unfortunately, no school in my state offers a Women's Health specialty. When I look at schools that offer both midwifery and WH I see that pretty much 98% of the classes are the same. My question to you is... if you are a CNM are you pretty much able to perform everything a WHNP can? If not, what can a WHNP do that a CNM is not qualified to perform? Thanks!

[momof2sweeties]

Is Frontier eliminating their WHNP program or is that a rumor?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Is Frontier eliminating their WHNP program or is that a rumor?

Not a rumor. It will be eliminated in 2012-2013

[momof2sweeties]

Why are they eliminating the program?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Why are they eliminating the program?

I'm guessing it's because 1) there's very little enrollment in that particular program compared to the other two, and 2) it's kind of redundant - both the CNEP and the FNP programs do everything the WHNP program does, plus more.

[klone, MSN, RN]

This is C&P from the January 14 post at Frontier's FB page:

From Dr. Voss, Bridge Director: We will accept students into WH for Bridge Class 86. This will be the last Bridge Class for WH. The reason for dropping this option is that both CNMs' and FNPs' scope of practice encompass WH, and many WHNP students were switching to one of these other tracks to allow greater opportunities employment.

Since Bridge is always one year behind the direct MSN program, I'm guessing they will probably continue admissions into the WHNP program through spring of 2012, and then will stop further admissions.

[DizzyLizzyNurse]

I'm guessing it's because 1) there's very little enrollment in that particular program compared to the other two, and 2) it's kind of redundant - both the CNEP and the FNP programs do everything the WHNP program does, plus more.

What's CNEP?

[klone, MSN, RN]

CNEP is what they call their CNM program

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Im sorry for butting in but doesnt Frontier have a dual CNM/FNP program or is that being canceling as well?

[klone, MSN, RN]

They do not have any dual programs. You must choose one track (either CNM, WHNP, or FNP) and you complete that track. Afterwards, if you wish to get a second certification, you could do it through their post-master's certification program (a lot fewer classes because you've already taken many of them). But they do not offer dual, simultaneous programs/certifications.

[danceluver]

so getting CNM masters and then following up with a post masters WHNP would be redundant, correct?

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Exactly.

It takes about a year to complete another post-masters certificate in another specialty at Frontier, which is one of the reasons I decided against that....because I could be 1 year into a DNP program by the time I finish that.

You have to think about the scope of pratice of FNP's...if you want to do primarily women and women's care/prenatal/postpartum and stay away from men and children, the completing an FNP is a waste if you already have a CNM.

When you think about the type of pratice you would join, you would be hard-pressed to find a combinations of OB, CNM and FNP's in the same practice. Yes, I am sure there are some out there, but if you were a group of OB's hiring, would you hire the FNP or the CNM?

[ejohnson2]

This thread has been very informative and helped me decide which graduate school program to pursue. I want to be able to do women's health as well a L&D so CNM will be the path I take.