How old were you/how long did it take?

Specialties CNM

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How old were you when you began practicing as a CNM and how long did it take you to become a CNM? I ask because I am 26 and will only JUST be starting my prerequisites to apply for the ADN program that starts next fall. I have 2 young girls, 3.5 years old and 8 months old. There may or may not be more children in the future (but not before I finish my ADN)

My plan is to become an RN (3 years from now god-wiling) to work p/t, complete my RN to BSN online (1 year) and then apply to a distance school like Frontier to become a CNM (2-3 years depending if its p/t or f/t). SO I think Im looking at 6-8 years if I dont take break, which I think realistically Im looking at 7-10, putting me at anywhere from 32-36 years old when I finally begin to practice.

So what was your path to midwifery like? How long did it take you to get here and how old were you when you began to practice?

I am 24 and have just applied to Nurse Midwifery school to hopefully start in January 2015 (I'll be 25). I graduated high school at 18 then went straight into an ADN program got my RN at 20 finished my BSN at 22 finished my MSN-Nursing Education at 24 and will hopefully finish my MSN-Nurse Midwifery less than 1 month after I turn 27.

I am married but we don't have any kids yet. I got my first MSN thinking that I wanted to teach but then it came time to apply for jobs and the thought of leaving Labor and Delivery made me want to curl up in a corner and cry. So, I went back to my original plan which I had in my ADN program of getting my CNM and decided that was the best option for me so I could have my cake and eat it too.

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I am 23. I have my BSN and have worked as an RN for 2 years. I will be applying to CNM school within the next year. I also feel a little apprehensive because of my age. I just know it's what I'm meant to do and feel like school will prepare me to be great at my job. Good luck!

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I am currently in my third term at Frontier, I just turned 33. I should be finishing up my MSN when I am 34. :)

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I am currently in my third term at Frontier, I just turned 33. I should be finishing up my MSN when I am 34. :)

How is Frontier, right now it's where I think I'd like to get my MSN

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AspiringNurseMW - sorry it took so long to reply!

I have enjoyed Frontier so far. Actually, my classes start back on Monday and I start the midwifery classes! :) So I am especially excited. I have made some really good friends, who I meant while at Frontier Bound. You will meet many wonderful people at frontier bound but you will have a special bond with a select few and that aspect is extremely helpful.

Reason being, is it can be stressful!! And it is nice knowing someone is going through it with you. Someone that you can lean on, and cry to if need be. And yes, I have had a melt down. On that note though, so I don't scare you. I work fulltime and do school time and have children and a husband. I might be a little crazy...lol.

Anymore questions...feel free to ask! :) Always happy to help.

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I am 35 and am only now looking into my options. Part of me wishes I had had the insight to start my schooling at a younger age, preferably right out of high school. Instead I started my family at a younge age. In between raising littles ones, I've worked in the OOH birth world for almost 10 years now. Admittedly I have felt apprehensive to begin my nursing and then CNM career due to my age, but really love what ixchel, rn said "A wonderful friend told me I'll be 37 with or without a masters degree. It's up to me to decide which I prefer. And it's true - age shouldn't make a difference." How true this is! I may be the oldest one in my classes, but darn it, I'm going to do it anyways :) I have no doubt that my life expriences, my birthing experiences as a mother & as an OOH birth worker will be a benefit as I begin my career in nursing & midwifery.

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Specializes in OB.

I did Frontier's ASN-MSN Bridge program (took 3 years) and officially became a CNM on my 39th birthday. :)

Good Luck!

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Another question for those of you who work in a hospital setting. Did any of you have to basically create your position? Was is an official CNM position already open or did you do some networking in order to create it? Or did you have to move a substantial distance to find it?

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I am 28 and working on my prereqs so I have a long way to go! This thread is very encouraging and helps to remind me that there is no rush to becoming a midwife. It's a process, a journey, and a tremendous opportunity for growth along the way.

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Specializes in OB.
Another question for those of you who work in a hospital setting. Did any of you have to basically create your position? Was is an official CNM position already open or did you do some networking in order to create it? Or did you have to move a substantial distance to find it?

My current (and first) job was open a couple of months before I graduated. It was at the hospital where I did my intrapartum clinical, and my preceptor told me about it (I made it a point to keep in contact with her). She gave me a great recommendation to our director. The job wasn't posted formally, so if I didn't have that connection I wouldn't have gotten it. Luckily I didn't have to create it, our service is large and has been around for decades. But other classmates had more difficulty finding jobs, and I know in other geographical areas new grad midwives have to get aggressive and creative about getting that first job.

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I finished by BSN when I was 22 and started my CNM program in the fall of that year. I will be graduating with my MSN & celebrating my 25th birthday in the same week! Age is just a number, so if you have the motivation and desire to become a CNM- go for it! :)

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Specializes in L&D.

I am 30 and have been an L&D nurse for about 16ish months now. I am about 5 courses away from my BSN, but taking a break as we recently moved. I will probably start my BSN courses again in the Spring 2015 and GRE and all that goes with applying to grad school I will finish up in 2015 and then work on applying to grad school, so more than likely if I start grad school in 2015, I will be starting at 31 and finishing around 33ish or 34 depending on lenghth of the program; however, more than likely I will end up starting 2016, which will put me at 34-35 with CNM. Nursing has been a second career for me, plus we took time to have our children and they are all finally almost in school(the baby is almost 5).

Age is just a number, and I think being older definitely gives you a different perspective.

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