Obstetrics Nurse

Corvus · Jul 30, 2008

Hi I'm extremely new. I've been juggling the idea of becoming an obstetrics nurse or OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner or something along those lines. I start my first semester of college in just a few weeks and I'm aiming to get my A.S. to B.S. in nursing. I'd like to know exactly what you need to do to become an obstetrics nurse. Do you need your associates? Bachelors? Would it be better if you had your bachelor's?
My ultimate dream was to become a Certified Nurse-Midwife but there are no programs in my state, only Direct Entry and I think some programs that required a master's which I am very much avoiding. So if anyone knows of any CNM programs please let me know. Or if anyone has a better suggestion of a different career it would be of much help.
Thank you so much in advance!!!!
3 Crystal

Hi there!

Anyhow, there seem to be a few distance-learning or part time CNM programs. midwife.org has a lot of information about becoming a midwife, too.

susanj4 · Jul 30, 2008

Dear Crystal,

There are two accredited distance-education nurse-midwifery programs, which allow you to remain in your community while you study to become a CNM. One has its headquarters at Philadelphia University (http://www.philau.edu/Midwifery/index.htm) and one headquartered in Kentucky (the Frontier School of Nursing's Community-based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program or CNEP (http://www.midwives.org/about.asp)

You could also contact ACNM at its Division of Accreditation to learn more about these programs. Essentially, the academic component of the student's course work is on line and the clinical component is with a CNM preceptor at her practice site in your community, which is similar to many of the direct-entry programs. If you are interested in direct entry midwifery, which is essentially an out-of-hospital (home or birth center) practice, contact the Midwifery Education Accreditation Commission (MEAC) or the North American Registry of Midwives (http://www.narm.org). NARM recognizes several paths to certification as a certified professional midwife, including graduation from a MEAC-accredited schooll (there are several that are distance-education such as the National College of Midwifery in Taos, NM) or through a traditional apprenticeship (which is much like the clinical component of the CNM programs.

Have fun researching the various options.

Susanj4