Help me decide what to do after BSN??

[TwentyTen_RN2b]

I want to delivery babies and have a hand in Women's Health including pap smears, biopsys, diagnosing and prescribing medication. I am torn between going to Grad school for Women's Health Nurse Practitioner or Midwifery to eb a CNM. With a NP I hear I can't deliver babies or open my own practice, but I do get more priveleges in terms of pap smears and diagnosing and prescribing. then, on the other hand, Midwifery doesn't generalyl make as much money as a NP, but they get to open their own practice and deliver babies, they just have to give up control if it becomes high risk, they have limited other privleges. My knowledge of the job description and average salary for both is limited. Can someone give me a little direction and tell me what I am looking at for both positions? Furthermore, might I want to get an MSN in Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and a Midwife Certificate (which is not a CNM because you dont have to go to grad school).

[JustinTJ, ADN, BSN]

I have no idea of the job and what it details, but for salary information.

www.salary.com

[HealthyRN]

If you want to deliver babies, CNM is the way to go. The delivery is outside the scope of practice for WHNPs. The certificate of midwifery that you mentioned is probably the lay-midwife. I am not sure of the legal implication of a WHNP functioning as a lay-midwife, but I would guess that it would be very risky. In some states, lay-midwifery is not considered legal, so you may want to check the laws in your state. Regardless if it is legal or not in your state, there would be some very serious consequences of practicing outside of your scope of practice as a WHNP. If something went wrong during a delivery, you would be held to the standard of your license as a WHNP.

As far as salary is concerned, I would not choose one or the other based solely on salary. You may want to explore the job market for both in your area. Also, consider the lifestyle demands of each profession. Remember that women can deliver anytime of the day or night. If employed by a private practice or if you own a practice as a CNM, this may require you to work long, odd hours. For example, you could spend all day at the clinic, have a woman go into labor that evening, be up all night, and then still have clinic appts. the next day. Just something to consider.

Look at the requirements for programs in which you are interested. Most require you to have at least a year of experience in a women's health setting. That is what I would recommend so that you will have a better foundation and you will be able to decide if you really want to deliver babies.