summersunset

I am a CPM just starting my ASN to CNM this fall. I am extremely grateful for my CPM training. One thing I can say about those who go straight through CNM is that they seriously lack experience and confidence. I have worked with new grads and those new to out of hospital, they are terrified and have super high transfer rates. It's a different skill set. I am very grateful I went CPM first so I could get the huge amount of clinical hours where I was the one resuscitating a baby, making the calls in dealing with a bleed or freeing a sticky shoulder. A friend of mine just finished her CNM with Frontier and she spent 95% of her clinical time doing pap smears and postpartum check ups (scut work). She was only called into the labor room when baby was crowning. If there were any complications the docs or peds took over. How does that prepare you for autonomous practice? It doesn't. Being able to spend 3 years hands on, one on one, assisting in every kind of scenario is priceless. This is all assuming you have a good preceptor that knows what she is doing.

The CM credential will never be recognized across the country. The ACNM is not invested in developing or promoting it. They just use it as an argument against recognition of CPMs. "See, we have a credential for those who don't go to nursing school! We have a direct entry path!" I heard this from a 30 year veteran CNM that is actively involved on the national level of the ACNM. What is it, two or three states that recognize it? And how many schools?

I work with a group of 3 very popular CNMs run a birthing center and have hospital privs. They are no longer taking hospital birth clients and only using the hospital for transfers because the staff treats them like cr#p. (The aforementioned eye rolling, ignoring orders, etc.) The lead CNM for this practice says she worked in other states and was treated very respectfully. It depends on your state. Here CNMs aren't in the doctor club. I can't believe that the nurses would side with the docs and that there is no sisterhood in nursing. Makes me sick. I definitely will choose carefully where I go to work.

I would like to know as well. Because if not, that credential has absolutely no advantage over any other. Why would you want to go to school for two years to only be able to do gyno?

San Diego State University as well....2 years.

I was wondering if the DNP has specialties. If I become a CNM, then get my DNP, would I then be able to practice only in midwifery or do you then become a NP? I don't see any delineation for WH-DNP, FP-DNP, etc. All I see is DNP programs without specialties. Any insight on this?

Congratulations you all! I hope to apply within the next two years. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to share their stats. i.e.. what level of experience you have, GPA and GREs? I don't know if I should focus on getting my GPA up or getting more L&D/Birth Center experience, volunteer work, leadership, etc.. What do you think is most important?