Looking for insight/wisdom

[mcsale02]

hello ya'll! i've been interested in the birth profession since my first was born in the hospital. there had to be a different way, so i started researching midwifery, homebirths, and freestanding birth centers. at the time, we lived in mo and the environment there for midwifery was not good. much to my delight, my husband landed a job that took us to colorado springs, an hour away from a freestanding birth center. my second-born was born there shortly after moving to colorado. the midwives and nurses that worked there were incredible and ignited a passion inside of me for birth. i started studying all things birth and decided that when my second child was old enough i was going to pursue midwifery. then, surprisingly, i became pregnant with my third baby and decided to stay home a little longer. during that time my husband had a mid-life crisis and decided to join the army. i was, and still am, very supportive of his decision.

anyway, i still want to pursue this passion of mine, but it may get complicated with 3 kids and a soldier husband. we'll be moving every 2-3 years, which isn't long enough to finish a nursing program. originally, i started college w/ a major in education and minor in biology. now, i'm thinking i'll finish my bachelor's, but with a major in biology or nutrition (i can have most of my prereq's covered for the bsn and pursue an interest that would be beneficial!) and pursue my accelerated bsn as a second degree option, then jump into an msn/cnm program. right now, because of the schools history and leaning toward holistic care, frontier is at the top of my list for the msn/cnm. in the meantime, i hope to work as a doula and cbe. this will cover the 1 year experience in healthcare that frontier requires. that, or, maybe work as an assistant for a cpm. i've also thought about going the cpm route, and with maternidad la luz 15 minutes away i've considered taking a year to pursue that.

i did consider the adn, and applying for the bridge to msn program at frontier, but by the time i fulfill the prereq's and get ranked we'll be moving again. we're a military family, and we'll move one or two more times in the next 5 years, which is why i wonder if the b.s., followed by the accelerated bsn, could be more beneficial for us.

i've mentioned all this, and listed my "plan of action(s)" below, because i would love some insight/advice and words of wisdom from anyone that has pursued there calling later in life (i'll be pushing 40 when i finish!) if you have managed to read all of this... thank you! :)

plan of action #1

1. brush up on math and complete doula/cbe training

2. apply for school/register for classes

3. complete a.s.

4. transfer to a 4-year college/university for bs in nutrition or biology

5. during final semester apply for a-bsn or a-bsn/msn program

6. graduate!

7. begin a-bsn or a-bsn/msn/dnp program

8. graduate!

plan of action #2

1. complete a&p and learn some spanish

2. apply at maternidad la luz

3. complete program in 12-18 months - find a cpm to assist/back-up

4. apply/register for classes

5. complete a.s.

6. transfer to a 4-year college/university for bs in nutrition or biology

7. during final semester apply for a-bsn or a-bsn/msn program

8. graduate!

9. begin a-bsn or a-bsn/msn/dnp program

10. graduate!

plan of action #3

1. brush up on math and complete doula/cbe training

2. apply for school/register for classes – complete pre-req’s foradn

3. apply and rank for adn program

4. complete adn

5. apply for the adn-msn/dnp bridge at frontier.

6. graduate!

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[doulalove]

Hi there!

I think #3 sounds like the fastest, least expensive route... If you needed to move after you completed your prereqs, couldn't you just start an ADN program in your new city?

I actually am following this plan pretty closely. I completed my ADN in August and am wanting to start Frontier in the spring. The only difference is that I have a bachelor's so I'm able to start the MSN program directly without the bridge.

Good luck!

[ktliz]

Option 3 definitely sounds like the way to go. I'd advise to keep your plan as simple as possible, since you never know when life is going to throw a wrench in your plans and throw you for a loop!

[CnmAshley]

#3, sounds sort of like my plan, but if not Frontier I live near Nashville and Vanderbilt has a great program!

[RNLaborNurse4U]

I would avoid the CPM route because this seems to be the most labile route towards legal midwifery. CNM has a much more stable legal standing. I would go with choice #3.

[mcsale02]

This is a little late, but thanks for the responses! I have ruled out Maternidad La Luz. It's very time consuming and right now I need to be home with my kids, and it won't allow me to finish my pre-reqs in a timely manner. Also, we have no idea where we will be living after my DH gets out of the military, so who knows if we'll be living in a state where CPM's are legal.

I am still debating #2 and #3, but I'm leaning more heavily towards #3. When it comes to cost, I'll either have my ADN OR the first BS completely paid for. Regardless of which way, I'll be paying for that "extra" year of school - the fast-track BSN or the Bridge Program, - in addition to the MSN/CNM. While I decide which route to take I'll be finishing my prereq's. I think the biggest reason I want to do the fast-track BSN program is because I have 3 little ones, and my youngest will be starting Kindergarten when I would start. There is just so much unknown... and who knows where we will be living for the ADN or BSN!