CNM or WHNP?

[Jordan1927, ASN, BSN]

I'm trying to decide what I want to go back to school for. 

I love labor and delivery but it does get tiring after a while. I've also learned that I really like the GYN side of things as well.

I know that WHNP care for both "well women" and "not so well" women, but CANNOT participate in delivering. I also know CNM can deliver AND ALSO practice WHNP duties for ONLY "well women".

I'm mainly concerned with the job prospects for finding a job where I can do a reasonably equal amount of both OB and GYN. So my question is...

With this information, should I pursue an MSN in CNM or WHNP?

[atyourcervixx]

Have you considered doing a dual MSN in CNM and WHNP? I started out this way but switched to WHNP only before starting clinical as I felt more called to it. The majority of my classmates in my WHNP cohort were L&D nurses who were not interested in being on-call or going down the intrapartum route. As WHNP students, we complete 600+ clinical hours with rotations in Primary Care, Antepartum/Postpartum and GYN. There a few things to consider here for you:

1) Dual CNM/WHNP will provide you with more options and doesn't tie you to intrapartum at all, but gives you the training and option to do so down the line. My perinatal preceptor was dual certified as CNM/WHNP and decided after graduation that she did not want to catch babies. She got a job to see clients exclusively in the antepartum and postpartum outpatient setting in addition to providing GYN services, mostly LARC insertions and removals. 

2) The job market of where you are or aim to practice around or near is important to consider in terms of future job prospects and opportunities so look at what's available now. 

3) You can get CNM and add a WHNP post masters certification after or vice versa if you go down one training and certification route at a time but this is more time consuming and expensive. My WHNP Program Director is dual board certified as a CNM and FNP so you can combine specialties to suit your interests and goals anytime, never having to be tied to one. 

Best of luck to you!

[armyrn79, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I would suggest CNM honestly. I followed one for my women's health course in my FNP program and she did 2-3, 12-hour night or day shifts delivering babies and the other days in clinic seeing OB patients or women issues. I just didn't care for the night shift. I like my day only clinic schedule. 

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I'm a CNM and also recommend going that route.  Plenty of CNMs only do outpatient care, but if you do decide you want to attend births, you can.

[Jordan1927, ASN, BSN]

atyourcervixx said:

Have you considered doing a dual MSN in CNM and WHNP? I started out this way but switched to WHNP only before starting clinical as I felt more called to it. The majority of my classmates in my WHNP cohort were L&D nurses who were not interested in being on-call or going down the intrapartum route. As WHNP students, we complete 600+ clinical hours with rotations in Primary Care, Antepartum/Postpartum and GYN. There a few things to consider here for you:

1) Dual CNM/WHNP will provide you with more options and doesn't tie you to intrapartum at all, but gives you the training and option to do so down the line. My perinatal preceptor was dual certified as CNM/WHNP and decided after graduation that she did not want to catch babies. She got a job to see clients exclusively in the antepartum and postpartum outpatient setting in addition to providing GYN services, mostly LARC insertions and removals. 

2) The job market of where you are or aim to practice around or near is important to consider in terms of future job prospects and opportunities so look at what's available now. 

3) You can get CNM and add a WHNP post masters certification after or vice versa if you go down one training and certification route at a time but this is more time consuming and expensive. My WHNP Program Director is dual board certified as a CNM and FNP so you can combine specialties to suit your interests and goals anytime, never having to be tied to one. 

Best of luck to you!

Hi! I've most definitely looked into the dual cnm/whnp but I love in Georgia and there arent any here anymore, the closest "online" dual program near me is Georgetown and the tuition is too expensive. Frontier Nursing University is close to me however so I've looked into the MSN/ Post Masters Certificate route, which would take longer than a dual degree but would still be the cheaper option. So unless I feel that may be my best option. And thank you for the well wishes!!

[HiFromSanDiego]

CNMs can do everything WHNPs can do but WHNPs can't do everything that CNMs can do, so for me that answers the question! Why not do CNM and leave your options open?