CNM/WHNP...why or why not?

pro-student · Nov 24, 2020

For the life of me, I don’t know why someone would do a dual CNM/WHNP. Literally the entire scope of practice for the WHNP is contained the CNM scope. I get that midwifery is often poorly understood even by many fellow healthcare providers who don’t understand that primary care and gynecology are within the midwife scope. Is there a reason you’re considering both?

nbl01 · Nov 24, 2020

Honestly I’ve just seen it be marketed as a good route. But after my research I couldn’t find concrete reasons why it was beneficial. That’s why I came to this group to see if anyone had any insight. I’ve asked in a few other groups and received no feedback. Same with whether it’s worth it to go the MSN route vs the DNP for CNM. I did talk to someone who is going for CNM and their FNP. But I wasn’t sure how that would be beneficial either. I’m really open to all your thoughts!☺️

pro-student · Nov 24, 2020

I think a dual WHNP/CNM would be redundant. Maybe someone else can weigh in but, as far as I know, there aren’t any benefits to doing both (not to mention the extra schooling, boards, and maintains two overlapping certifications/licenses). The FNP could expand the scope of practice for a CNM particularly seeing men and children. I know a number of dual trained CNM/FNPs. Unfortunately, many struggle to find positions that allow them to use their full scope of practice but it would be akin to family medicine in which one could be a primary care provider for the whole family including through pregnancy and childbirth. It also provides a much stronger background in women’s health than most FNP programs provide. But if none of that interests you, or if your career goals can be accomplished through midwifery alone, I don’t see any benefit to adding extra credentials just to have them.

As far as the DNP, it really is not necessary to be well-qualified and marketable as a provider. Most employers still don’t know what it is and it won’t add much to your employment prospects unless your aiming for a job in leadership or academics. As a new provider, I don’t see much advantage to the DNP. If, after you’ve gained some experience, you still have a desire to continue your education, there are plenty of post-MSN programs that would allow you to complete the DNP while working. That way your project could be more meaningful if based on what you see in your own practice and/or as a springboard to a leadership or academic position if that’s the direction you’d like to take your career. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice and, for most providers, won’t change your employment prospects much.

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Nov 25, 2020

The only reason to do a dual CNM/WHNP, in my experience, would be if you end up wanting to do outpatient work as a WHNP and not do deliveries. Your malpractice insurance is cheaper if you just use the WHNP and omit that you're a CNM too. But aside from that, it's completely redundant.

In terms of the DNP, it's a personal choice, I agree with the previous poster. I don't have a DNP, and will probably resist getting one until the writing is on the wall that it will become the new standard. I just don't feel the DNP is an established enough degree yet to be truly meaningful. The programs out there are not standardized at all, and vary widely in terms of their requirements, clinical hours, etc. I've not been impressed with what I've heard about most programs, and I have no desire to shell out that kind of cash and spend that kind of time for a degree that didn't do much to enhance my practice. I think schools market a DNP as important and necessary because it helps their bottom line, but it's really just degree inflation, in my opinion.

My experience as a CNM has been wonderful, I've worked in an inner-city public hospital caring for a large population of immigrant women from all over the world, and now at a freestanding birth center affiliated with a major medical center. It has certainly been "worth it" for me because I decided I wanted to do this while still in high school, so I worked towards it from undergrad onwards. Others who decide to embark on this pathway much later in life may have a different story, but generally I think there's a lot of job satisfaction, because most people who don't feel "called" to midwifery would never do this job willingly!

As far as I know, Boston has a strong job market for CNMs, with multiple hospital midwifery practices and a couple of birth centers. But I don't live there personally (although I was born there, in an in-hospital birth center with midwives, 35 years ago! ?) so I can't speak to specifics.

AutumnDraidean · Jan 31, 2021

I would suggest a slightly different dual certification, Peds! imagine being able to care for moms and babies together, what that could do for breastfeeding! Especially when it's not going so well. I remember so many times when that would have helped me. It actually sort of did, I know a PNP who is also a lactation consultant who was able to help me with a painful latch... OTOH when I got mastitis I had to see a provider who was scared to death to prescribe an abx for me. he was an PA and I suggested he choose an abx he would also give to a 3 month old with confidence. What if I wasnt a nurse who knew that? He'd have told me to pump and dump and that would have ended the breastfeeding! That's why we could all benefit couplet care continued after the hospital stay!

I wish you the best!!