babycatcher12

Novi, Are you planning to go for your RN or LPN? If you want to be an RN, were you thinking associate's degree or bachelor's degree? This all makes a difference. I don't live in NY yet but I'm moving there for grad school at Columbia. I am already an RN and I know that NY has some extra requirements for their licensure that you wouldn't have to do if you go to a school in NY. Does that make sense? In that case, it would be helpful to have gone to a NY school of nursing if you plan on working in NY. Also, I know that many of the NYC hospitals prefer RNs who have their bachelor's degree as opposed to their ADN. There are lots of options for schools of nursing in NY state and in NYC. I think that if you're ready to make the move now and you want to work there, I say go for it. It would definitely save you those few extra steps in transferring your license to NY. Let me know if any of this doesn't make sense. I hope it helps a little. Elaine

Thank you all for your replies!! I'm now in the process of getting my resume together...I thought with the "nursing shortage" it would be easy to find a job. Not true!!! I'm very discouraged. My specialty is woman's health...and I can't find a job! Any advice/input? Thanks! It's not very easy as a new grad with a specialty (I can attest to that). I was looking for labor and delivery and had a rough time. What kind of "women's health" are you looking for? I found that more hospitals hired new grads for postpartum and mother baby than L&D. However, I kept looking and found a job in L&D as a new grad. I work at St Vincent's and they started us at $27/hr. Shift diffs here are good too (I now work nights). Other places I encountered that hire (or consider hiring) new grads into L&D: Yale (but often they hire those working there as a techs first), Bridgeport Hospital, St Mary's in Waterbury, Hospital of Central Ct in New Britain. You just have to talk to different places and find out what they hire new grads into and apply for jobs even if they aren't posted. Be persistant because if that's what you really want, you should go for it! I hope this helps.

Hi! I'm a future (starting in the fall) midwifery student, also an L&D RN with some experience with midwifery. See if any of this helps... Check with your insurance company by looking first at the list of providers that they cover. Sometimes midwives are in practice in the same group as OB/GYNs. Sometimes midwives have practices of their own. You could also look on the American College of Nurse midwives website, I think they may have links to help you find a midwife: http://www.midwife.org/ Midwives do tend to stay with you (or nearby) during the entire (or most of) the delivery. They use alternative methods of pain management such as breathing/relaxation, showers, bathtubs, walking, birthing balls, etc. They do tend to have lower c-section rates and less interventions (induction with medications, episiotomies, epidurals, forceps, etc). Most certified nurse midwives that do deliveries have hospital privilages, at least in the area where they work. Usually these are the midwives that work with a group of doctors. Midwives are a great way to have a baby (I think). I know that I will choose one for myself when I have a baby. But they aren't for everyone. Make sure that you discuss with any provider your expectations about your delivery. Also when planning to deliver a baby, go into it with an open mind with an ultimate goal of a healthy baby (not a vaginal delivery) because sometimes things can happen that are out of your control and going in with an open mind about things will help prevent you feeling disappointed. In most cases, childbirth is an uncomplicated situation with good outcomes but just allow yourself to be open-minded. Also, if you can't find a midwife in your area, remember that if you discuss your feelings about birth with an OB/GYN, you can probably still have a natural birth. Hope this helps! Sorry it's so long :)

Wow that sounds awful! I'm looking into travel nursing...can I ask what agency this is? I'll be staying away from them! I've been looking at White Glove staffing agency. They are based in NY and say that they staff all NY hospitals. They have per diem assisgnments as well. Their website is: http://www.whiteglovecare.com/ As for NYC, there is so much to do! Have you ever been there before? It's a great place with many essentials. I mean, there are the basics like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and visiting the top of a building (Empire State or Rockefellar Center). There are tons and tons of restaraunts with lots of different cuisines. When are you moving there? If you want, I can totally give you suggestions. I don't live there yet (moving there in July) but my bf lives there and I'm there all the time. Good luck! Elaine

Hi everyone! I'm interested in connecting with Columbia students accepted to the nurse midwifery program. I'm not in the ETP program but will be starting my midwifery clinicals at the same time as those of you accepted for 2008. A little background on me: I'm 25, originally from WI but living in CT for the past 2 years. I'm an RN working in Bridgeport, CT on a floor where I work in both labor and delivery (the majority of the time) as well as postpartum. I am starting the midwifery program in the fall (I'll be part time) and my whole first year will be classes (no clinical). I'm looking forward to moving to Manhattan. I'd love to hear about more of some of you! -Elaine

Some programs recommend one year of labor and delivery experience but I don't think it is required. There aren't a ton of midwifery programs, especially in the midwest. A good website for all (or most) of the programs in the US is allnursingschools.com. Also, the American College of Nurse Midwives has a website with the listing of approved programs. I know that Marquette University in Milwaukee is the only school in Wisconsin (if you're looking nearby). U of Minnesota has a program as well. I would check those websites and see what you find. As for experience, I'm currently a L&D RN and am starting a midwifery program in the fall (I will have one year of experience). I personally think it is going to be helpful but some would actually say that it is not helpful because you learn the medicalized way of labor and delivery which is very different from the midwifery model of care. Also, there are many ETP (entry to practice) programs out there for midwifery and actually I think most midwives are coming from those sorts of programs so they don't have any RN experience outside of school. I hope this helps.

I agree with everyone that when you are an L&D nurse you do learn a lot about intervention. I am currently an RN on L&D/postpartum (for about a year) and I am starting a midwifery program in September. It was recommended to have a year of experience for the program at Columbia. Personally I think it is helpful to have a little bit of experience to learn how things work, how to use certain equipment and do certain procedures (like vaginal exams, etc). I think experience or not, a person can be an excellent midwife. Afterall, most midwives now are coming from direct entry programs, never having been an RN. Good luck to you!

Anyone have any experience or thoughts on White Glove as an agency? It looks pretty good and it's cool that it's based in Brooklyn (I want to work in NYC). Any thoughts or experiences would be much appreciated!

Since I'm going part time, I am able to work full time my first year. I found this out today speaking with the head of the department. Thanks for the info about the women's health NP, I'll look into it.

I understand a lot of the frustrations that come with that first year of the ETP program. I did an accelerated BSN program and it was much the same. Most people were very unhappy and I tried to keep a positive outlook knowing I was getting my degree in the end and in a short period of time. I really think that it's going to be different for me already being an RN with experience. I've decided to go to Columbia part time which still is only 2.5 years and allows me to work full time my first year. I have hopes that Columbia will live up to the high expectation for the midwifery and women's health NP part of the program. I much appreciate everyone's feedback and welcome more of course.

I understand the location factor as well. My boyfriend lives in New York and really wants to stay. But when I compared Columbia and Yale, I found that even without the location factor, I think Columbia is the best choice for me. I spoke with the director who said that there are a few home birth opportunities for the "integration" part of your last semester. Yes, there are mostly large hospitals but I think that Yale is much the same. Are you already an RN or are you applying to the ETP program?

I've heard some negative things about the ETP program but I'm already an RN applying for post-masters. Does anyone have any experience with that? I'm going to be doing midwifery and women's health NP dual specialty. The option to do both alone gives Columbia an advantage in my mind. Is the post masters part just as bad as the RN part?

I posted this on the midwifery forum as well... I've been accepted to the midwifery programs at both Columbia and Yale and am having such a hard time trying to decide. I live in New Haven already so I know what the city is like, and I love the idea of NYC. I love that Columbia offers a dual specialty in midwifery and WHNP. Anybody have thoughts about these schools?? I haven't heard much about either and any advice will be appreciated! Thanks!

I've been accepted to the midwifery programs at both Columbia and Yale and am having such a hard time trying to decide. I live in New Haven already so I know what the city is like, but I love the idea of NYC. I love that Columbia offers a dual specialty in midwifery and WHNP. Anybody have thoughts about these schools?? I haven't heard much about either. Thanks!