Future CNMs

Specialties CNM

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Just thought it would be kind of nice to get a little chat going. I know there are a couple of us who are CNM wannabes buthave worries too. My biggest concern is . Hopefully something will be done soon. I don't mind the schedule.

For me it is a calling. Everything about OB/gyn is fascinating to me. I am also really supportive of the midwifery model of care and its affect on both mother and baby. Countries who use the mw model of care have lower infant mortality rates. Even in the US, where we ranked around 40 last year-- not good, when adjusted for the fact drs had higher risk pts, mw's had lower infant mortality rates in the first year. I don't like the MD care for low risk pgs.

Does anyone know if cnm's every work for the hospital and do shift work?

So what are your worries, hopes and why do you want to be (or are you) a CNM.

Specializes in trauma ICU,TNCC, NRP, PALS, ACLS.

Since you posted this infor back in 2004, have u found out if the demand in tx is worth going out of state to school. I am in the same boat, I have not met many midwives so would like to know should I go to midwive school or get into another area of nursing

Hello all, I have posted before, but I am a RN on my way to CNM. I am looking into a couple of online programs, but before I apply I want to know if the demand for midwives here in Texas, specifically San Antonio, is big enough for me to pursue this degree. I really don't want to move, so I would like to know if there are any nurse midwives who work in San Antonio or anyone who knows a midwife in SA and what they think about the issue. I really have always wanted to become a CNM and I just don't want to go through all the school and then not have a job when I graduate. Please help. I want to start a CNM program in the Fall 2005, so any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

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I'll be glad to talk to any of you about the program at ECU. I just graduated from it and I am taking my boards in exactly one week.

...still tired, still studying, still learning new things every single day...

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I'm just curious... I'm a wanna be CNM but I'm still working on my ADN. How long were you a RN before you became a CNM? And how did your boards go? I'd love to hear about your experience with CNM school?

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I'm just curious... I'm a wanna be CNM but I'm still working on my ADN. How long were you a RN before you became a CNM? And how did your boards go? I'd love to hear about your experience with CNM school?

It took me a LONG time to figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up! I have over 25 years of nursing.

I took my test today and PASSED!! I am still pinching myself!

I'll be happy to answer any questions you have about school. It was painful at times but I'd do it again in a minute! :)

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It took me a LONG time to figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up! I have over 25 years of nursing.

I took my test today and PASSED!! I am still pinching myself!

I'll be happy to answer any questions you have about school. It was painful at times but I'd do it again in a minute! :)

Congrats on passing your exam!!! :balloons:

How long did it take you to finish your CNM education? Do you already know where you are going to practice? I am sooooo excited for you!! Good luck!! Happy baby catching!

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OK, I have a question. It sounds like most of you have had children already. Did you all do it naturally, or did you get an epidural? I admire those women who can do it naturally, but I just couldn't. I have 1 son, and during my whole pregnancy, I wanted to have natural childbirth, but boy, i was NOT ready for that pain!!! When I watch those shows, it just seems so much more meaningful, and more emotional to do it natural. I plan on waiting until I've got my ASN at least, maybe even my BSN before having any more kids. I don't want to be a "hipocrite" and talk so highly of the midwife, natural childbirth thing, and then be a complete wimp and end up getting an epidrual! Does anyone know what I mean????

One midwife I know said that doing it natural was doing it without makeup. You can support the woman's choices, as not every woman wants to feel the pain.

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Specializes in Lactation Ed, Pp, MS, Hospice, Agency.
One midwife I know said that doing it natural was doing it without makeup. You can support the woman's choices, as not every woman wants to feel the pain.

I nearly fell of my bed laughing....:rotfl: ... I am not meaning this to be rude.

In my ideal world, if a woman wants to go natural she will find a CNM or LM that supports her decision, will seek out a Doula & have a loving & supportive partner by her side (HELP I have been influenced by all my natural childbirth friends!).

All kidding aside, if going natural is what a couple really wants they will educate themselves & surround themselves with others who have the same beliefs (OB's included). AND if for some reason things still don't go the way they planned at least they have the knowledge of knowing that they did their best & it was the will of the baby & God... also the Midwife & DOULA have the knowledge & backing to help the couple as they go through this difficult/joyous time. And believe me, there are women many who go through PPSD because of a bad expreience whether it be hosp/home, OB, CNM or LM. However, the rate of success & satisfaction has shown to be higher with many of the things I mentioned above.

~MJ

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Got to page 7 and was so excited I just had to post.

I've wanted to be a midwife for almost a decade now. I'm 28. I'm pretty radical in my birthing philosophy and pretty crunchy in general ;0). I miscarried my first with a DEM, I went on to deliver two healthy munchkins --who are destroying my livingroom as I type-- with DEMs, and I am pregnant and planning to deliver my third with a DEM. I couldn't imagine delivering anywhere else but at home. My initial interest in midwifery was in going the DEM route. I love all things midwifery, from it's history to the social aspects in how it has changed in this country to the current politics right down to, of course, the power of birth and the right of each woman and family to birth how they choose. Autonomy of the birthing woman is a VERY big deal to me and the primary reason I chose to give birth at home.

After giving up my dreams of being a midwife, I've chosen to go into nursing. Somehow midwifery began to call me again. My family and I decided to move to a foreign country where I would have to have a CNM in order to practice as a midwife, but midwives therer have the autonomy of DEMs in legal/regulated and alegal states here so that's the route I plan to take.

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Specializes in L&D, Research, Midwifery Student.

Hi!

I'm a senior BSN student who is a nurse partner in a high risk L&D unit. I LOVE it there, but recently went to an AWHONN conference and learned about the excessive use of Pitocin, C-sections, and this speaker also spoke on natural births and other interesting facts about current L&D practices. It was so enlightening, that it made me want to look into a CNM position. I've asked nurses and doctors on my unit, and none seem to have a favorable opinion of nurse wives, like it is non-scientifc based profession or not respectable. Has anyone else come across this? Where can CNM work? In hospitals? I'm really interested in working in hospitals where I can give mothers another option of delivering or at least allow them to know about all their choices instead of automatically starting them on Pitocin and giving them an epidural. I know there are midwives that work at a birthing center in our area, but not sure where else they can work. Would it be better to go the FNP/CNM route for more accessability to hospitals?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm just starting to resarch all of this. Any help/advice is appreciated!

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Hi all:

Just wanted to share my story on my progress with my CNM goal.

I am on a straight line, tunnelled-vision road to being a midwife/woman's NP. I just graduated BSN and started the CNM course part-time, so I needed an RN job to get my experience under my belt. Everyone had said L&D, but i couldn't face the intervention I had seen at hospitals. I am literally nauseaus when I think about how liberally pitocin is being used at hospitals. So I was about to take an ICU position, when recently, I found a hospital with a birthing center. It's a full range L&D, and includes very high risk births (nurses have to be oriented to ICU before they start.) Nurses circulate from working with midwives and postpartum in the birthing center, to the "actual L&Ds", to scrubbing for the OR. Manager told me I prefer, I could spend the majority of time at the birth center, with mandatory minimal time circulating at the other areas. So, I said, are you kidding me? and I signed up.

I had thought it was not possible to work as RN at a birthing center, and now I think this is even better, because I also get to learn to the perimeters of high risk pregnancies as well, which I believe is important part of being a midwife.

I can't wait to start.

Anyone else thinking about working in birthing centers for your RN experience?

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It sounds like you have found the PERFECT place to get your experience - very well-rounded in care. I've worked the gambit from birth center to Level III, and everywhere in between. I'm grateful for all the experience as it brings a different perspective to my care. I'm still not in a life situation to do midwifery, as my kids still need my care for about 14 more years, but I would like to do a seminar at The Farm with Ms. Gaskin and re-energize for my labor support. Someday....

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It sounds like you have found the PERFECT place to get your experience - very well-rounded in care. I've worked the gambit from birth center to Level III, and everywhere in between. I'm grateful for all the experience as it brings a different perspective to my care. I'm still not in a life situation to do midwifery, as my kids still need my care for about 14 more years, but I would like to do a seminar at The Farm with Ms. Gaskin and re-energize for my labor support. Someday....

The Farm is definitely of my list. So is the Zita West clinic in England. You sound like you have a lot of knowledged and experience tucked under belt already. I'm a baby by comparison. I had a whole lifetime - was a photographer, had a kid - before I decided to get into midwifery and took the first step to in nursing. So far, so good - still going strong. When I am involved in women's health and care, I feel as if this where I was meant to be.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Hi, I just joined today, and was excited to find this section. I'm just starting pre-req's toward an R.N., but my dream is to be a nurse midwife! Unlike others in this thread who decided midwifery was their calling after the birth of their child(ren), I have not had children, yet never the less have been very impressed with the nurse midwife profession. I'm hoping to practice nurse-midwifery in Pittsburgh, PA. If there are any other midwifes on here (or midwife hopefuls) in PA I'd love to here about the legal climate, how easy it is to find work, etc. :)

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