Pregnancy and birth

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jun 23, 2016

What about a nurse midwife?

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jun 23, 2016

Do you mean like a nurse mid-wife or an actual ob/gyn? Or maybe a women's health NP? I'm confused as to what you are looking to become with labor and delivery.

brownbook · Jun 23, 2016

I don't know why you are against years and years of schooling? But I do remember, I was in my late 20's looking at the prerequisites to be a nurse, and add to that two years of nursing classes, (ADN program), and thinking......this will take FOREVER!

You sound enthusiastic but honestly the more education you have the more opportunities you will have to work in whatever area of pregnancy and birth appeals to you.

Sorry but there is no quick and easy short cut to get into your dream job...just a lot of hard work and a lot of schooling. But it will all be worth it.

elkpark · Jun 23, 2016

Doulas assist and support laboring women; I don't know much about their training, but I don't think it's nearly as long as nursing school. That might be an option.

Lakielake · Jun 24, 2016

Thanks so much for replying everyone! I'm just currently overwhelmed with the thought of how long it will take to become a nurse. I've already finished 1 year of pre reps and I still have 2 more to do in order to be able to eventually get my bachelors. Then another 3 years of schooling. So I still have 5 years of school left and I'm just super overwhelmed. I would love to find a job where I can talk and teach expecting mothers about what to do during their pregnancy and what to expect. I also love the idea of being a birthing doula! But I have been doing some research and it seems like you can't make a living salary off of it.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2016

Thanks so much for replying everyone! I'm just currently overwhelmed with the thought of how long it will take to become a nurse. I've already finished 1 year of pre reps and I still have 2 more to do in order to be able to eventually get my bachelors. Then another 3 years of schooling. So I still have 5 years of school left and I'm just super overwhelmed. I would love to find a job where I can talk and teach expecting mothers about what to do during their pregnancy and what to expect. I also love the idea of being a birthing doula! But I have been doing some research and it seems like you can't make a living salary off of it.

Your timeline doesn't make sense here. You're a rising sophomore, why do you have to do two more years for your bachelors and then three years (of nursing school?) after that? What are you currently majoring in?

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Jun 24, 2016

Thanks so much for replying everyone! I'm just currently overwhelmed with the thought of how long it will take to become a nurse. I've already finished 1 year of pre reps and I still have 2 more to do in order to be able to eventually get my bachelors. Then another 3 years of schooling. So I still have 5 years of school left and I'm just super overwhelmed. I would love to find a job where I can talk and teach expecting mothers about what to do during their pregnancy and what to expect. I also love the idea of being a birthing doula! But I have been doing some research and it seems like you can't make a living salary off of it.

Why would it take that long? BSN is a four year degree. Two years of prerequisites and two years of nursing school.

Lakielake · Jun 24, 2016

I'm at a community college so they're quoting that it will take a total of 3 years to complete my prerequisites. Then they suggest getting my associates degree at the community college which takes two years, then transferring to a university for a final year to get my bachelors. Does that make sense? Sorry I'm bad at explaining sometimes lol.

verene, MSN · Jun 24, 2016

I'm also one trying to follow the math for length of time. Are you working towards a BSN now and the additional 3 years time is for an MSN in midwifery? Or BA/BS and a Licensed/Certified Midwife program afterwards? It is possible to work in labor and delivery as an RN (though it can be difficult to get in as a new grad - you'll likely spend a year or two elsewhere first) which would be 4 years for the BSN.

There are careers with mothers and babies that require shorter periods of training - like doula, childbirth educators, lactation educators etc, but these jobs can be difficult to make a living at. As pay is not always high and work may be sporadic. However getting one of these jobs while in school as a part-time way of gaining experience in the field, making professional connections, and earning some money could be a great way to feel like you are in-the-field and keep your motivation to continue schooling for one of the longer pathways.

Lakielake · Jun 24, 2016

I was always curious if I could just apply to the four year program at a university. But I was told there were certain classes that you had to take in high school. Do you guys know anything about that?

verene, MSN · Jun 24, 2016

I was always curious if I could just apply to the four year program at a university. But I was told there were certain classes that you had to take in high school. Do you guys know anything about that?

Not sure what specifically this is referring to. I know when I applied to my undergrad university out of high school there were certain education requirements I had to have met in order to apply - so many credits of English, so many credits of math and so on. I had practically all of them by meeting my high school graduation requirements - I think the only thing extra was a year of foreign language (or 1 quarter college level) and a semester more of English.

You don't have to have an AA degree in order to transfer to a 4 year school. Though sometimes the school will give you additional points on your application if you have one.

Also you could just go for an ASN now at the community college and then bridge to BSN later on if the ASN is offered at your school.

Maybe it would help to contact an admissions adviser for the school that has the BSN program and see what they say they're requirements for admission are?