Home-Birth/ Doula Friendly CNM Program

[mstacer]

I am currently an RN working both in med-surg and L&D. I am going to get my CNM. I am more of the mind of home-birth; I had a home birth. I've worked in places that were not doula-friendly or were snarky about home-birth transfers. I don't want to work in that type of setting and I don't want to learn from instructors who feel that way.

I would like to attend a school that approaches midwifery in a way that is friendly to doulas and home-birth. I have a feeling most schools will touch on this, but I'd like one that is explicitly supportive of natural birth; one that approaches natural birth as the norm and all else as variations. I'd even like to do some of my clinical hours with a home-birth midwife.

Does anyone know of schools that fit this description? It's very hard to find this information on their websites and before I go emailing a million advisors, I'd like to see if I can narrow down the search.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[iloveSF]

can you tell me what frontier was like? I am considering their program. also, is it hard to find a preceptor?

[bex177]

Know that Phila U awards a Masters in midwifery (not nursing or nurse-midwifery, which would *I believe* prevent you from practicing in Oregon.)

Is there an easy place to look up each state's requirements for CNMs? I have an MPH and am looking at a CNM program that just provides the clinical training (so I would skip the MSN), but am concerned that will really limit where I can practice. I know it's okay where I live now, but don't want to be stuck not able to practice if I move to a different state.

[queenanneslace, ADN, MSN, APRN, CNM]

I believe you'd want to look into post-master's programs for nurse-midwifery.

[queenanneslace, ADN, MSN, APRN, CNM]

pathways to midwifery education

Have you looked at the ACNM website?

I think you will have to complete more than just the "clinical portion" of a nurse-midwifery program to become a nurse-midwife. There are a number of required courses for advance practice nurses which were likely not covered in an MPH program. Technically, the MPH may fulfill the requirement for state licensing laws, but the credential has certain requirements that must be fulfilled as well.

You are in a unique situation - and I think the answer to your questions will be unique to you.

There are basically 3 questions to answer:

What does the academic program require? (How much of your MPH credits will transfer to the program's requirements?)

What does the ACMB require? (Does your combination MPH and graduate midwifery program meet certification requirements?)

What does the state require? (What credentials and degrees are required to be licensed to practice?)

[bex177]

I think you will have to complete more than just the "clinical portion" of a nurse-midwifery program to become a nurse-midwife. There are a number of required courses for advance practice nurses which were likely not covered in an MPH program. Technically, the MPH may fulfill the requirement for state licensing laws, but the credential has certain requirements that must be fulfilled as well.

I'm probably stating it wrong... the (accredited) program I'm looking at is with a hospital, and they partner with a distance university for the MS part of the midwifery training, so I would do just the part the hospital provides. This seems like a good option since it would be faster and cheaper than getting another master's degree. But if it means I can only practice in a few states, maybe not.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

I'm probably stating it wrong... the (accredited) program I'm looking at is with a hospital, and they partner with a distance university for the MS part of the midwifery training, so I would do just the part the hospital provides. This seems like a good option since it would be faster and cheaper than getting another master's degree. But if it means I can only practice in a few states, maybe not.

The school I am attending (Baystate Midwifery Education Program) does the same thing- student dual enroll with Phil U to get a master's in midwifery, and all the clinicals and core didactic stuff is done with Baystate. I already had an MSN when I enrolled, so I am not doing the Phil U portion, but all the rest of my classmates are. I have to say, I am SO glad I decided to do the MSN portion myself (through WGU) prior to enrolling in CNM school. It's a full time+ program, I work and have two special needs kids, and I seriously do not know how my classmates find the time to do all the extra stuff from phil u!!!!

I have also heard that Oregon specifically requires an MSN, but i believe that all the other states just require a master's in a "health related field." But I haven't looked it up to verify it myself. I'm sure the acnm website has clarification.

[pomegranatejuice]

hi mstacer - would love to find out any info you found out about homebirth friendly cnm programs! I am of the same mind.

[12reasons2run]

Hi,

I can't speak to the previous poster's experience but I can tell you that I'm a student at Vanderbilt University. Their focus is definitely on physiological birth as the norm. They also encourage students to participate in the local volunteer doula program and the epidural rate in their practice is around 30%. So it's not just talk.

You don't get a real big say in where you are assigned for clinicals but they have a fair number of out of hospital sites and I believe everyone in my cohort who wanted an out of hospital site got one for at least one rotation.

I also found good things about Frontier and Penn State as far as out of hospital and physiologic birth. I opted for Vanderbilt for their dual program in CNM/FNP and because they find all placements for students.

Hope that helps