life of a midwife

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I was hoping some experience CNMs out there could post what a typical week is like for them...how many deliveries, taking call, etc. I am especially interested in hearing about taking call, planning vacations, etc, and in general how your days flow.

Thanks so much!

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I am not "typical" but I'll tell you about my work life.

I work 2 full days and 2 half days in the office. I see both CNM and MD patients. I make rounds for the doctors 3 days a week; so I work approx 3 1/2 days a week.

I share call with my partner. We rotate one week at a time (except next month when I am on call nearly all of the month). I started call this morning at 0800. My partner saw our 3 ladies who are due in the next 2 weeks. She called me at 5:30 pm to give me "report".

2 ladies are 39 weeks and no sign of labor yet. But one of these ladies has had some elevated BP's and when I see her Wednesday I will have to decide whether or not she should be delivered. If so, she will need Cervidil and I'll let the doc on call know that we are going to admit her for that.

One lady is 2 cm and about 70%; she wanted membrane stripping so that was done. She is due Saturday. So far I haven't heard from her.

Our patients call us directly. Today I had 8 week severe nausea, no vomiting, that I put on some clear liquids, Phenergan, and Zofran. Another call: 6 months pregnant and doesn't want to travel 3 hours one way for a meeting tomorrow. Another lady who had a second trimester miscarriage who is at the same gestational age as her loss who needed some reassurance: Come to the office, listen to FHR, ultrasound for placental location.

I also get "work in" doctor patients: Bleeding, contractions, labor evals, back pain, "feel bad", etc.

I also have GYN patients of all ages with various needs: birth control, HRT, lady partsl discharge, breast lumps, anxiety/depression. And of course the healthy ladies who just need a pap smear and a mammogram.

It seems most of our patients labor and deliver during the night. Good in the fact that I don't have to cancel my office hours. Bad because sometimes I get sleep deprived.

I'm off tomorrow so if I have a lady in labor it will be OK. Really the only day I dread having to stay up all night is Thursday, because my busiest office day is Friday.

I think I have it great compared so some of my colleagues who are on call 24/7 and work in their offices and clinics 40 hours a week. My hours are similar to the docs in my practice.

I haven't been working as a CNM that long so I am still in the "I love my job" honeymoon period. My children are grown and I have a very understanding spouse who rotates shifts.

Right now we only have about 4 women per month due. But starting in August we have 10-12 per month (we are going to limit our load to 12 per month).

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I am not "typical" but I'll tell you about my work life.

I haven't been working as a CNM that long so I am still in the "I love my job" honeymoon period. My children are grown and I have a very understanding spouse who rotates shifts.

May I ask you how old were you when you went to midwifery school? How long were you a nurse before that? Thanks!

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:) Welcome to allnurses.com

I think that I would have enjoyed having a midwife to delivery my babies.

I had called a few doctor's offices and was told that there were none in the area where we lived. This was about twenty six years ago. I may have just not known the right places to ask.

Angels'

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May I ask you how old were you when you went to midwifery school? How long were you a nurse before that? Thanks!

I started school in my mid 40's. I have been a nurse since I was 19.

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I started school in my mid 40's. I have been a nurse since I was 19.

I'm not the only one then ... I'm glad you're out there! I'm in my late 40s and have been a nurse since I was 32. I felt so old then, but now, I wish so badly I could erase the years and be just a baby at 32 again and make different choices .... I'm now in an MSN CNM program, many years too late.

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I am not "typical" but I'll tell you about my work life.

I work 2 full days and 2 half days in the office. I see both CNM and MD patients. I make rounds for the doctors 3 days a week; so I work approx 3 1/2 days a week.

I share call with my partner. We rotate one week at a time (except next month when I am on call nearly all of the month). I started call this morning at 0800. My partner saw our 3 ladies who are due in the next 2 weeks. She called me at 5:30 pm to give me "report".

2 ladies are 39 weeks and no sign of labor yet. But one of these ladies has had some elevated BP's and when I see her Wednesday I will have to decide whether or not she should be delivered. If so, she will need Cervidil and I'll let the doc on call know that we are going to admit her for that.

One lady is 2 cm and about 70%; she wanted membrane stripping so that was done. She is due Saturday. So far I haven't heard from her.

Our patients call us directly. Today I had 8 week severe nausea, no vomiting, that I put on some clear liquids, Phenergan, and Zofran. Another call: 6 months pregnant and doesn't want to travel 3 hours one way for a meeting tomorrow. Another lady who had a second trimester miscarriage who is at the same gestational age as her loss who needed some reassurance: Come to the office, listen to FHR, ultrasound for placental location.

I also get "work in" doctor patients: Bleeding, contractions, labor evals, back pain, "feel bad", etc.

I also have GYN patients of all ages with various needs: birth control, HRT, lady partsl discharge, breast lumps, anxiety/depression. And of course the healthy ladies who just need a pap smear and a mammogram.

It seems most of our patients labor and deliver during the night. Good in the fact that I don't have to cancel my office hours. Bad because sometimes I get sleep deprived.

I'm off tomorrow so if I have a lady in labor it will be OK. Really the only day I dread having to stay up all night is Thursday, because my busiest office day is Friday.

I think I have it great compared so some of my colleagues who are on call 24/7 and work in their offices and clinics 40 hours a week. My hours are similar to the docs in my practice.

I haven't been working as a CNM that long so I am still in the "I love my job" honeymoon period. My children are grown and I have a very understanding spouse who rotates shifts.

Right now we only have about 4 women per month due. But starting in August we have 10-12 per month (we are going to limit our load to 12 per month).

Thank you for taking the time to share about your practice in such detail. It sounds like you have a wonderful situation. I hope the honeymoon lasts a long, long time.

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I'm not the only one then ... I'm glad you're out there! I'm in my late 40s and have been a nurse since I was 32. I felt so old then, but now, I wish so badly I could erase the years and be just a baby at 32 again and make different choices .... I'm now in an MSN CNM program, many years too late.

LOL! That makes me feel so young - but I really needed to hear that today. It helps me remember that I made the right choice. I'm 31, and graduating this summer with my MS in the CNM program. It is such hard work right now, but it will be worth it. I love what I'm doing!

Becki, SNM

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Its Funny How We Let Our Ages Define Our Success. Im 23 Years Old Andsometimes I Feel Like I Should Already Be A Rn. I Have Been A Cna For About 4 Years Now. I Will Start Nursing School This Year. I Plan On Goin To Grad School To Become A Nurse Midwife.

I Wish All Of You Many Blessing To Come, And Continued Success.

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Do you mind me asking what your pay is?

I am very interested in becoming a nurse-midwife, and i am looking for some guidance...

I am very excited about the idea of the job, but want to make sure i have all of the details before i jump in.

Family is very important to me and i want to make sure that it is a career that would support that. I was also wondering what the typical pay is... I definitely wouldn't want to work 24/7...

Thank you so much! look forward to your reply!

I am not "typical" but I'll tell you about my work life.

I work 2 full days and 2 half days in the office. I see both CNM and MD patients. I make rounds for the doctors 3 days a week; so I work approx 3 1/2 days a week.

I share call with my partner. We rotate one week at a time (except next month when I am on call nearly all of the month). I started call this morning at 0800. My partner saw our 3 ladies who are due in the next 2 weeks. She called me at 5:30 pm to give me "report".

2 ladies are 39 weeks and no sign of labor yet. But one of these ladies has had some elevated BP's and when I see her Wednesday I will have to decide whether or not she should be delivered. If so, she will need Cervidil and I'll let the doc on call know that we are going to admit her for that.

One lady is 2 cm and about 70%; she wanted membrane stripping so that was done. She is due Saturday. So far I haven't heard from her.

Our patients call us directly. Today I had 8 week severe nausea, no vomiting, that I put on some clear liquids, Phenergan, and Zofran. Another call: 6 months pregnant and doesn't want to travel 3 hours one way for a meeting tomorrow. Another lady who had a second trimester miscarriage who is at the same gestational age as her loss who needed some reassurance: Come to the office, listen to FHR, ultrasound for placental location.

I also get "work in" doctor patients: Bleeding, contractions, labor evals, back pain, "feel bad", etc.

I also have GYN patients of all ages with various needs: birth control, HRT, lady partsl discharge, breast lumps, anxiety/depression. And of course the healthy ladies who just need a pap smear and a mammogram.

It seems most of our patients labor and deliver during the night. Good in the fact that I don't have to cancel my office hours. Bad because sometimes I get sleep deprived.

I'm off tomorrow so if I have a lady in labor it will be OK. Really the only day I dread having to stay up all night is Thursday, because my busiest office day is Friday.

I think I have it great compared so some of my colleagues who are on call 24/7 and work in their offices and clinics 40 hours a week. My hours are similar to the docs in my practice.

I haven't been working as a CNM that long so I am still in the "I love my job" honeymoon period. My children are grown and I have a very understanding spouse who rotates shifts.

Right now we only have about 4 women per month due. But starting in August we have 10-12 per month (we are going to limit our load to 12 per month).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow I replied to this thread as a student. Now midwife2b's post is sounding all too familiar...:wink2:

There are jobs that don't require you to be on call 24/7 (remind me to look for one someday). I have found a way to make it work with my family. You can find salary information on ACNM's site. (http://www.acnm.org). I am happy with mine, don't really want to share specifics. Good luck!

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