Future of CNMs

midwife2b · Aug 27, 2005

GOOD LUCK!!!

:kiss Gracias!

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 27, 2005

de nada.

babyktchr, BSN, RN · Aug 28, 2005

The main thing I have noticed in my neck of the woods is that many docs cannot afford to carry insurance for a midwife. It is so outrageous that they don't hire them, though they want them in their practice. I have also encountered patients who say that their insurance companies will NOT cover a midwife delivery, so the MD has to come in and do the actual delivery. I don't know what the reasoning is really, but I wonder if this isn't going to be a trend.

The ACM site is probably your best source of info on midwifery and you could probably talk to folks that could give you imput for the future of the midwife.

I envy you. I wanted to go on to midwifery school but....life changed course and now...alas...I think I should worry about getting my daughter into college, and not me. I hope you find the answers that you are looking for, and the path that is for you.

kellyo, LPN · Aug 28, 2005

SBE keeps us on her toes when she changes her avitar!!! I just got used to the last one!!! Keep 'em coming!!

-Kelly

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 28, 2005

rofl I am a real ADD (truly I am) kinda gal ...I need to change things

and often.

BETSRN · Aug 28, 2005

I have lurked on this board for a while because of my interest in L&D and because I think I want to go to midwifery school (although I have another year of nursing school). I mentioned my ambitions to my step-mother in law (a nurse) and she kind of tried to shoot my dreams down by telling me that she believes that CNMs don't have much of a future because of the increase in elective c-sections, especially in light of the fact that I am not interested in practicing as a midwife doing homebirths (for which there will probably always be some interest), but rather am interested in working in the hospital/clinic setting similar to the CNM who delivered my son. I don't agree with her, but what are your opinions? Do you think this is a career on the decline rather than on the rise? Do you think the future of CNMs is more a homebirth/unmedicated birth/alternative birth center kind of thing? Thanks in advance for your opinions!

If there were more midwives and more practices that used them, this crap about elective c/sections would probably be less of an issue. CNM's are here to stay. Go for it!

mitchsmom · Aug 28, 2005

The main thing I have noticed in my neck of the woods is that many docs cannot afford to carry insurance for a midwife. It is so outrageous that they don't hire them, though they want them in their practice. I have also encountered patients who say that their insurance companies will NOT cover a midwife delivery, so the MD has to come in and do the actual delivery. I don't know what the reasoning is really, but I wonder if this isn't going to be a trend.
The ACM site is probably your best source of info on midwifery and you could probably talk to folks that could give you imput for the future of the midwife.
I envy you. I wanted to go on to midwifery school but....life changed course and now...alas...I think I should worry about getting my daughter into college, and not me. I hope you find the answers that you are looking for, and the path that is for you.

That is interesting... I wonder if there's more to that because malpractice is costly for OB's too... PLUS it costs a lot more salary-wise to employ an MD too.

In Florida, the law says that insurance must cover midwives but I know that the law isn't the same everywhere.

Alot of that stuff in the legislative section of the ACNM site is related to this sort of thing - the ability of MW's to practice, get reimbursed, etc. etc... make your voices heard!

texas-rn-fnp · Apr 10, 2006

There will always be a great demand for all types of nurses, as long as you are in civilization. However..there are someplaces that utilize CNM more than others and definitely the level of compensation and malpreactice insurance cost varies widely. I think the role of CNM is great, but from my personal observations CNM get dumped on. They do 80% of the work and worload of the OB doc and get none of the benefits. They are limited in their practice. They are not compensated well. And when in practices with physicians, they pull more than their fair share of the workload, compared to the doctor. Sometimes they are the magnets for fanatical patients though. Again..I would like the role of the CNM but they are not treated as they deserve to be. That is why I chose FNP path instead. Maybe additional CNM track later because I enjoy it, but not because of the compensations.

J'sGirl82 · Apr 10, 2006

This is what I know to be FACT. I live near a very LARGE military instillation. Here, you CANNOT be delivered by an OB/GYN at this Army Hospital because unless you are High-Risk. I had GD, and HBP, and at 30 weeks, my daughter was frank breech.( Later corrected with some convincing my daughter with manipulation). At work, we deliver about 240-280 mammas a month. A very small fraction of those AREN'T delivered CNM's. Your M-I-L might have had good intentions with her statement, but, from what I've seen, she's way off base ( at least for the area that I live in). Don't worry though, my Mom (NP) told me almost the same thing except for her words were " Those are great goals, but you'll never make any money, and if you do, you'll have to spend it all on malpractice insurance". So I know how you feel. :uhoh3: