Hopeful Someday CNM...

[LaceElaine]

Hello all,

I'm just beginning to wrap up my first semester of nursing school. I'm so blessed to have found my calling! It's been a wonderful, albeit stressful lol, ride.

The main reason I decided to go to nursing school, was to become a midwife. In my state, a midwife has to acquire a Masters degree in order to practice-no big deal. The problem is, my program doesn't have an OB rotation ?... So, I'm currently trying to think of any and all possible ways to get experience in L&D/obstetrics and build my resume. I need Ideas, please!

I've already come up with:

Shadowing

Volunteer work (I volunteered in the NICU last year)

Becoming doula certified (although, I didn't realize how extensive the program is :/ )

Is there anything else I can do to gain experience?? Any other advice is greatly appreciated as well!

Thanks everyone!

[MidwifeAPRN219, MSN, RN, APRN, CNM]

I agree that Doula work is a great option and you DO NOT have to be certified to work as a doula. I do highly recommend going to a training workshop though because the knowledge gained there and the experience is invaluable. However, I do not know how well working as a doula during nursing school would work. It's a life of being on call, and it's really hard to do that with being in school, even when taking non-nursing courses (which you're not). I did it during non-nursing courses, and I was constantly worried about my client going into labor during a test or a day I couldn't miss. If you have a good partnership with a fellow doula, then you could possibly work it out. :-) Childbirth education would be a good option because you could do it in the evenings when you aren't in classes and they can be catered to your schedule.

[CNMidwife2Be]

I agree that Doula work is a great option and you DO NOT have to be certified to work as a doula. I do highly recommend going to a training workshop though because the knowledge gained there and the experience is invaluable. However, I do not know how well working as a doula during nursing school would work. It's a life of being on call, and it's really hard to do that with being in school, even when taking non-nursing courses (which you're not). I did it during non-nursing courses, and I was constantly worried about my client going into labor during a test or a day I couldn't miss. If you have a good partnership with a fellow doula, then you could possibly work it out. :-) Childbirth education would be a good option because you could do it in the evenings when you aren't in classes and they can be catered to your schedule.

Totally agreed. I was a doula for 5 years before doing my accelerated BSN and then midwifery program and never became certified. It's the training course that's valuable. I felt the same way about being on call while in nursing and now midwifery school. It's hard to know that you could be called at any moment when you're chronically exhausted from school and clinicals. If you can arrange a partnership w another doula that round make it much easier bc you'll that if you really can't go in, you'll have a back up. I also do childbirth educator work and it's a much easier schedule. You can advertise locally as a self-employed CBE or possible get hired at a hospital or childbirth/kids education center.

My recommendation is to do all the trainings you can afford. Do doula doula training, a volunteer doula program if it works for you, childbirth educator training (also does not require certification), workshops, midwifery assistant trainings, conferences (Midwifery Today is excellent), etc. Also read all the midwifery autobiographies and some textbooks too- it all helps. I'm amazed by the number of things I picked up here and there over the years - it's all making a difference in my midwifery training. : )

[LaceElaine]

Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate all your help! I'll definitely look into all your suggestions. I agree, it would be difficult to do doula work during nursing school. I wonder what I could find to do over the summer. But, good news, I ended up getting an OB rotation for next semester! (My school allows students to have a 'Special Clinical' during second semester. Including, OB, Peds and psych. We then rank our choices and we may or may not get our first pick, which is why I previously mentioned that my school doesn't technically have an OB rotation set in the schedule) I can't wait to start!

[mamagui]

OP, I am interested to see how you are doing now? How did your OB rotation go? Did you pursue doula training? I have been considering doing doula training to make myself more marketable after graduation in December. I have been considering New beginnings doula training since DONA's price is prohibitive. I, too, have the goal of becoming a CNM and want to get as much birth experience as I can :)

[LaceElaine]

Hi!

Well, actually, not well at all. I had a bad experience with an instructor. Some instructors just aren't meant for every student and that okay. Unfortunately, the experience drove me away from the field entirely. It really is unfortunate because I wanted to love it so badly but didn't get the opportunity. It's sad that I let one person cloud the whole field for me, but that's okay. Don't let that scare you, though. My experience won't be like yours. I really did like it and enjoy my time there. I even had the chance to speak with an actual midwife! She told me she loved her job and couldn't get enough of it (even at 60+ years old!). If you follow your dream, you'll witness incredible things! And if you don't, there's plenty of other areas of nursing for you. I've found a new passion in geriatrics. I didn't really how much I truly loved working with the population. I hope you fine your passion! Good luck!

[mamagui]

Wow! What a change of events! Glad you found an area of nursing that works with you. I had a similar experience with my Peds rotation...not that I was ever really interested in peds, but now I am REALLY turned off by it LOL. I'm graduating in December from my BSN program and am still midwifery bound :)