Fnp/cnm

OK, I can't say I am doing this but I am seriously considering it being the path I would ideally like to go. For me, I like the idea of having a small rural practice where I can attend births and care for women and children's health both. I love the idea of caring for the entire family and really helping them through this transition, rather than having the ped take over and the parents be given different advice, et cet. I feel that not just post partum, but having young children in general can be exhausting as well as confusing, and to have one care provider to care for your young family and understand your family as an whole entity, not seperate peices---would be lovely! now, the logistics of that I haven't figured out. Licensing, certification, liability, et cet.

Education wise, it appeals also because I would move though and do the FNP first, practice for a while as an FNP while my own children are young. Gain experiance while holding a job with relatively regular hours. Then, when they have all reached a reasonable age, I would add on the CNM portion and begin integrating that into the practice. Ideally, I would have a partner to share on call with. Maybe I could partner with a CNM early on while doing FNP work.

Just dreaming out loud!

Would you share what you want to do with it?

Um...wow, you pretty much described my exact same feelings!! EXACT! I could have written that! I might print it up and hang it on my fridge :-). It's nice to know there is someone else out there with the same ideas!

University of Michigan has what they call a Family Nurse Midwife which combines their FNP/CNM program and runs three years FT study. Sounds awesome!

Many Frontier students get their MSN in midwifery then get their FNP as well, or vice versa. It's much easier to get a certificate in another NP track once you already have one ... you just take the courses you need for that specialty and do the required clinical. Many of the faculty have done this... including our esteemed CNM faculty members like Francie Likis, prolific author of articles and text books and editor of JMWH.

UNCNurse I am assuming you're still in NC right? :) ECU has both the FNP and CNM, and you get both ONLINE (excluding clinicals of course). It looks like the FNP track starts annually in the fall of every year whereas the CNM can start Fall, Spring, Summer 1, or Summer 2. If you get the CNM first and then take the post-masters FNP certification, then you can save yourself from having to take some courses over too I believe. I dont know how expensive Frontier is, but you may want to check their price versus East Carolina. Plus ECU is the only North Carolina college/univerisity where CNM is available.

I am starting FNP and dueling for my CNM at frontier. I want to work as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a midwife.

I know it's been a while since anyone has posted to this question, but here goes. I am very interested in the CNM/FNP track with the same reasoning given by a previous poster that it would be great to be able to treat both mommies and families and would also allow more flexibility in terms of job options as my kids are little. I was thinking of starting off in a women/family health practice and eventually as my kids get older transitioning to midwifery. I have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated to nursing subject (liberal arts/communications degree). I have a total of five prerequisites courses to fulfill before applying to the standard nursing school route. Is there another route someone might recommend on this site? I understand there are master's degree programs that require the GRE as pre-entrance exam, do you know if they require the HESI or some other Nursing Entrance Exam in addition? What would be the most direct route to accomplish the CNM/FNP? I initially thought I would first complete a BSN and then work for a masters degree, thinking that would be the wisest choice, however I am now considering going straight into a masters program. Any advice or people who have done CNM/FNP masters programs would be greatly appreciated.

The quickest way to accomplish your goal is to do a fast track "bridge" NP program (there are many) which allows you to enter a master's program w/a non-nursing bachelor degree. You get your RN along the way and graduate in roughly 3 years prepared as an FNP. (Depending on where you are applying, you may even be able to bypass some of those 5 classes you lack or work them in once enrolled.) You then will be in a position to apply for a post-masters certificate in midwifery when you are ready. The only quicker way I can think of is to enter a "bridge" program at an institution that offers both specialties and complete them simultaneously/back to back. The downside of that option is if you plan to work a spell as an NP first, you may lose some midwifery skills?

I am an FNP and (finally) am in a position to apply for my post-masters cert in midwifery at Frontier to start next year. I completed a 3-year fast track program and have been working in primary care for the past 6 years, raising my 2 small kids. Back when I applied to FNP school, I only had to take the Miller Analogy Test (way preferable to GRE) but I imagine each school would have it's own reqs.

Good luck to you.

I notice alot of people planning to do midwifery after their kids are a little older. I have small kids as well and was wondering why wait? Is it because of being on call/late hours? While family practice is more of a 9-5? I'm trying to figure out more of the lifestyle part of being a midwife.

For me, I think it depends on the arena you intend to practice Midwifery in. I have friends who work in hospitals, and have a set schedule. They have very young children, one just had a baby and is on maternity leave currently.

My preference in Midwifery is to work in either a smaller clinic or homebirth, either way I will likely have plenty of on call hours. That's the peice that I want to be confident that if I have to leave my kids in the middle of the night and my husband is traveling, they are capable of carign for thenmselves or getting off to school. When I say "when they're older" I am thinking 10ish.

Bebeleche -

Can you please tell me how long it would take to do a post masters certificate in midwifery if you already are a FNP, or vice versa (CNM first and then post masters for FNP).

I'm trying to decide what the best route is for me!

Thank you!