rebecuna

So which one did you pick? How's it going?

You have a lot on your plate, Specialscar! You've thought this through, and you are going to be a great midwife. All the best to you!

mid-way through CNM program and I just took a job in L&D to gain some experience before becoming a midwife. I contemplated not doing it (I'm a peds nurse with lots of NICU experience and was a doula before becoming a nurse so I have some relevant background) but as I've gotten further in the program I'm starting to feel "behind" my classmates who already understand the flow of hospital birth, labor, procedures, etc. much more than me. Since it is very likely that my first midwifery job will be in a hospital setting, I feel like it will be beneficial to understand that world better. I also talked to a new-midwife-friend who said that I should do whatever it takes to get a job in L&D before I become a midwife, just for the confidence it will give me when I'm the provider. She didn't and said she can tell a huge difference between herself and other new midwives with that background. So, not to scare you, and you have to do what's right for you, but something else to consider! Good luck!!

How did it go? I'm an experienced peds float nurse looking to transition to L&D on my way to becoming a midwife and am interviewing for a position next week... I just started making my list of questions.

This is a fascinating conversation. I'm still in school-- is there a good place to look to learn the economics part? I feel very confused about billing, overhead, and RVUs...

☝️ This. I have talked to midwives who have told me that lack of L&D experience can actually be beneficial because I won't have to "unlearn" nursing things in my role as a provider (midwife)-- the roles are very different. The number of clincial hours required in these programs prepares you to be a midwife-- and you have to pass your boards, which are the same for everyone. So if you are a CNM you have the knowledge necessary to begin a caree as a midwife. I'm sure it's like nursing-- most of the learning happens after your license.

I extended my program by a semester which gave me an extra semester (until January) to find my first placement... which is good because I still don't have it! Slow progress... calling, emailing. No visits due to COVID-- even though things are opening up health care facilities still don't want extra people around. Depending on where you are, some hospitals have placement programs where you apply and can get a clinical placement through them. You'd probably have to search specific hospitals to find those. Mayo Clinic in MN is one-- even though UC isn't listed as one of the schools they work with I checked with our placement coordinator and they have had students placed there. Good luck!!

Still not much luck... I did talk with a birth center last week about possible placement for next Summer or fall (2022). That seems promising. I need to work hard this week to contact a bunch more places for this fall. Otherwise I like the program! Pharm and Patho together was a bear-- separate them if you can. Good luck!!

Can you say more about your per diem job? Do you have regular hours or are you called in to cover sick calls/vacation/etc? Do you have any continuity with patients or are you really just filling in? Do you do any call?

Sorry I missed your post earlier! I do still like the program, and yes you can work part-time or even full-time while in clinical-- you set your own schedule, you just have to make sure you get the required hours (or in later semesters, births). I haven't done clinicals yet so I don't know how that would be, but I'm planning to work PRN during clinicals. If Georgetown sets up clinicals for you, I'd probably choose that program. Finding your own preceptors is a huge, difficult job and so far I haven't had much luck with it, even starting really far ahead (I've been looking for fall placement since January). COVID complicates the process even more. Good luck!

My biggest thing with orientees and students: Do not end your sentence with "okay?" unless you're okay with them saying "no"... I.e. "I'm just going to check your blood pressure, okay?" Instead say, "Which do you want to do first, temperature or blood pressure?" and hold them up so they know what they are. Involve play whenever you can (listen to the heart of their stuffed animal, have their doll take the medicine first, etc.). Make connections with them about the toy they're playing with, the show they're watching, the character on their pjs. Give choices whenever you can. Use simple language-- an IV is a straw, a BP cuff gives your arm a hug, etc. Use parents to help you-- sometimes they will change diapers, give meds much more effectively/easily, etc.

"on" for this Summer (and modified "on" last Summer but I chose not to work)… I will be vaccinated this year so I feel okay about it (risk factors). They have worked out the kinks since they were open with smaller numbers and modifications last year so I think it will be okay.

Like someone already said, you do not have to prove the hours. At my children's hospital they offered a review course for CPN that was maybe 2 days, which we got to take free and got paid to take... great deal! Plus they paid for the exam. They want as many nurses as possible to get their CPN. Look at your pay stub from December-- it should say the number of hours you've worked that year.

It's a big program. I'm in my second semester, and I really like it so far. I'm not even taking midwifery classes yet, just general MSN classes. Sit in on the info session they offer for midwifery-- it will give you a good sense of the program. One of the things I like is that it was designed as an online program, so even with COVID there haven't been many changes. Frontier is like that too, but a lot of other programs are not.

I just listened to a podcast with a Canadian midwife who studied in the US (Journey to Midwifery) and she was able to transfer her degree but had to take the Canadian qualifying exam. She decided to do the CNM exam as well just in case she ever needed it, but it was not required for her to practice in Canada. She has a practice with one other midwife. The government pays her salary, and she is allowed a certain number of patients per year based on the load they deem appropriate.