Nurse_Lo

Hey sorry for the delay! That's interesting, every single person I have come across (including practicing FNPs) have told me to go into a specialty first. But it probably is the location you are in that makes the difference. If your heart really is in CNM, maybe you can shadow a midwife? Even if you stay in the FNP concentration you can still continue to make all your projects women's health focused and go for a women's health NP job after you're finished and do the CNM cert afterwards if you don't want to make the switch. I am actually going into my 4th semester of DNP school soon (time flies!) and won't be taking any specialty courses until fall 2021. I go to West Virginia Wesleyan College mostly online (until clinicals and some on-campus residencies) but will be taking the specialty courses at a partner school. I'm doing full time but only 2 classes per semester so I can work, which has been steadily busy and crazy busy at times. If you have any questions feel free to pm/inbox me!

This comment helped me so much. I am glad that I am not to only one who considered switching while in grad school. For a while I had the idea that I would want to do more with an FNP degree and possibly go into Women's health but I figured that people go to school to get a women's health degree, which would make them more suited for the position. I do love midwifery and I think I was just losing a little bit of motivation because my classes that I am taking right now are non-midwifery related and I am not working in maternity (I have been working as a nurse for a little over a year in cardiac intermediate care, and will be switching to urgent care), so the lack of exposure made me forget my passion for midwifery. I have decided to stick to it and if I still have the desire to obtain an FNP degree I will get my certificate afterwards. Thank you for your help!! thank you!

Thank you for your advice! I understand what you are saying about the possibility of not being motivated in FNP either. I am going to continue with the program as I do love midwifery and want to stick to this specialty and possibly pursue an FNP certificate after I finish and practice for a couple of years. Thank you for your advice, I did think about wanting to go to grad school while I was in nursing school and I did decide and still wish to become a mid-level provider. While I love being a nurse I want to expand my scope of practice and have more autonomy. I decided to stick to the specialty!

Hi! I was in the same boat as you not too long ago, except I am currently in the CNM DNP program and wanted to either switch to FNP DNP or get the certificate after I finish my CNM degree. While in nursing school I got into a 2.5yr FNPDNP program and I got into a couple of CNMDNP programs and decided to go for CNM because that's what I wanted to do, and was told that the FNP market is so saturated, and that I should go for the specialty, especially if it's what I want to do. My final decision was to go for CNM and go for FNP afterwards. I also wanted to see if I needed to obtain experience as an L&D nurse and I've heard from all of the midwives that I have reached out to that it is not necessary. What is necessary is to understand and appreciate the role and responsibilities that L&D nurses hold, although having that experience would help with learning about fetal monitoring and more. I am currently and urgent care nurse and I feel like I am getting an ample amount of experience as a healthcare provider in general and will have broad experience before I dive into a specialty career. This is just my experience from what I have heard from people but ultimately it's up to you! Either way, I think you will be okay! :)

Hi! This is my first post. I am currently in a DNP Midwifery program and have been thinking a lot. While I love midwifery I have a hard time staying motivated in it. My heart isn’t in it and I have been thinking about switching to the FNP specialty within my school. I figured that I do love midwifery but I want to be able to do more outside of women’s health as well. I am wondering if this is something that is looked down upon? I want to speak with the director about this but I don’t know how she would respond to it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! xoxo