Current CPM student to CNM

[Meg.m]

Hello! Posting here in hopes of getting some sort of answer to my questions.

I just finished my first year of CPM school with a MEAC accredited online school. After 3 more years I will graduate with a Bachelor's in midwifery (BSM). I am hoping to use that to get into an ABSN program and from there a CNM program. My worry is that schools won't accept a MEAC accredited degree and I will have spent 4 years earning a degree for nothing. Should I just scrap my progress toward CPM, bite the bullet, and switch to a BSN program?

I would ultimately like to become licensed as a CNM because, for many reasons, I believe it will serve me better. However, my values and beliefs most closely line up with natural, OOH births that CPMs practice. I am feeling very stuck and cannot find any helpful info online. If there are any CPMs/CNMs out there who can help, especially if you have graduated as a CPM then pursued a CNM degree, I would be so grateful!

[Lessbull, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, CNM]

I'm not familiar with the MEAC program, but you'll be hard pressed to find a CNM program that will accept you without first having your BSN, so if CNM if your ultimate goal, I think working towards your BSN first will benefit you much more.

When in your CNM program (depending on which school you choose) you will need to find your own clinical placements, and if ooh is more your style you can choose to find experiences that more closely align with your values that way.

[Gwenivere]

I can share my thoughts. I graduated two years ago as a CM, as I did not come from a nursing background (but had prior healthcare experience as a PA). CMs are recognized in several states (Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Virginia, and the District of Columbia); in my state, the scope of practice for CMs is identical to that of CNMs. This option saved me the time and expense of the BSN degree, as I was able to successfully test out of several "pathway" courses that were required for non-nurse students. There was a CPM in my program, and while her prior experience was unquestionably helpful and valuable during her educational and clinical experiences, MEAC-accredited institutions confer degrees at the bachelor's level, and CM/CNM programs confer degrees at the master's degree level. Thus, none of my classmate's prior CPM courses could be used as transfer credit toward her CM degree. 

I currently work supporting two home birth practices that are owned by CPMs, and in the two neighboring larger urban areas, there are several CNM-owned homebirth practices. My state is currently revising its birth center legislation, and we expect at least a few birth centers to be opened in the next few years that will provide another community birth option outside of the several current home birth practices. In this revised legislation, CPMs will not be permitted to serve as owners/directors of clinical services of a birth center, but CMs and CNMs would be eligible for this role. In a neighboring state, however, CPMs can in fact own and direct birth centers. 

I was able to train in two community birth settings during my graduate program, although I did have to travel out of the area for both (which I was in fact eager and excited to do). Several of my classmates were able to train in home birth practices but had to be precepted by CMs or CNMs and not CPMs. These kinds of clinical experiences during your CM/CNM training, should you opt for that route, would align well with your future aspirations in community birth. 

Best of luck. I hope this helps.