FNP now midwife later?

[adboehnen]

I am studying to become an FNP. I would ultimately like to also become a midwife. Does anyone practice as both? If so, in what kind of setting? How do you incorporate both specialties into your practice?

[blueindigo79]

Yes ive heard of people doing this. There is actually a thread on the 'certified nurse midwife' board about this. Good luck!!

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

I only know of one. She works for the health dept and sees preg and nonpreg patients, providing the prenatnal care as well as attending the births and then seeing the newborn. She is highly regarded and sought after, and I know plenty of people who would not otherwise utilize the helath department that do so b/c they want to see her.

I will tell you that she is single and childless herself, and works at least 60-80 hours a week. 40-50 in clinic, plus call for OBs 24/7 and attending deliveries.She is the only CNM there, so she has no back up. She gets stuck with a lot of high risk patients she'd rather not have to manage, but they have no transportation to specialist care, and the only OB in town doesn't do medicaid patients anymore, so if she doesn't manage them, they have no one.Its just her, and it is a huge responsibility that pretty much overshadows her whole life.

[danceluver]

Is it better than to go for a FNP/WHNP so you don't get pigeonholed into one specialty if you desire to do both, but without the opportunity to do deliveries I guess? Probably have to do a post masters in one because I haven't heard a combination of both FNP/WHNP but the FNP/CNM does exist, and I am curious as well if there are providers out there that do both. Anyone an FNP/WHNP? How does that work for you?