Babylove2012

I JUST got an OB position after years of trying.... I would definitely talk to the manager and make yourself known. The thing is, with only psych experience it will be difficult for your application to even make it through HR. Talk to the manager, tell her that you're willing to do what it takes to make yourself a good candidate and explain your passion and enthusiasm for women's health. When I just got hired my impression was that there were two main things they were looking for (not necessarily OB experience in particular): 1)strong assessment skills and the ability to recognize and intervene when a patient is declining (this obviously comes from nursing experience in general) and 2) the sincere desire for a person to "want to be there". I was told by several individuals that the OB portion could be taught. I wish you luck, I know the frustration and am happy to at least now have my foot in the door.

Well, it is kind of sad overall, no? I understand what you may possibly mean about the paradigm one is using when considering it and doing it and growing from it etc, but it probably evokes negative feelings more often than not... no? Wouldn't it be best (in a utopian world, I know) that there would never be any unwanted pregnancies and there would be no need for such drastic measures? Yes there is a stigma attached to abortion, there is also a stigma attached to keeping an unplanned pregnancy depending on the outside variables. Women should not be ashamed of any of any of these choices but rather try to learn from them (all the different choices) and try to ever improve their lives and the lives of their families and the rest of society. But what I really want to say is that I only have compassion towards people and their pain and am interested in lessening it in the present moment as well as future. For me, personally, that means putting thought and energy into birth control, strengthening families, promoting self-confidence and independence for women, the family unit, education, etc. Wow, I better get busy!

Oh boy, sensitive stuff. In case anyone needs yet another opinion.... First of all, I do believe that one can be pro-life and still be an effective, professional, thorough, and caring midwife. I mean, it's not so ridiculous to think that someone going into this profession wouldn't want to play any part in a baby, or fetus, or whatever, being terminated (or killed). Yes, the appropriate response would be some type of referral, and how about going further and being extremely involved in support for those mothers who do chose not to have an abortion? When I was 25 I became pregnant out of wedlock and was basically treated like a teen mom at first by everyone...I went on and had the baby and married the guy on our third now etc. (I know that is not the most common outcome). What bothers me is that, in the upper middle class area I am from, it is much more acceptable to have an abortion than to actually make the commitment to have the baby. With an abortion it's almost seen as responsible and people have empathy for you and are there for you cry with you etc., but those few women who chose life are more judged (this is how it seems in my area). That's what I don't like...it would be nice if there was more support for those women who do decide to keep their pregnancies, and as far as women who choose to abort part of the counseling should be just how much emotional pain they will possibly incur which may be considerable and long-lasting. Regardless of whatever choice a woman makes life will be forever changed... I am mainly pro-life but I think there are circumstances when an abortion is more understandable. I choose to focus my energy and thought process on unwanted pregnancy prevention rather than political rights. I am also vegan, so why would I be against taking animal life but be ok with taking human life? That being said there are circumstances when I would kill and eat an animal (starvation, saving my kids.. you know) It is sad that abortion is part of our world, that there are situations when women are raped, when mothers have a serious illness and can't carry a pregnancy, that a single mom has no support and the multitude of other reasons why a woman may choose this path. I think we need to keep the context of many of these complex problems when we are having the abortion debates and making laws etc. It's not enough and not ok to just be against abortion but take no interest in the factors that contribute to unwanted pregnancy as well as support and assistance for women who do keep their unplanned pregnancies, and it's also not ok to get so wrapped up in "rights" that we lose sight of the sadness of what abortion is and it becomes more socially acceptable and much "easier" to choose this path. We need try to prevent and heal all the situations that contribute to these outcomes (outcomes of abortion as well as unwanted pregnancies). We also need to provide more support for moms and babies as well as the poor women who have abortions so that they may never need to make that choice again. Not well written but I am tired :)

Thank you so much for your detailed and thoughtful response! That information is helpful and not always easily obtained from a phone call. I hope to get in to Frontier Bound for November or December, if not I will have to postpone things a little as I am due with my third child in early February. I know the timing of taking classes and having another baby seems a little unusual, but there is often no "best" time to do things, especially when considering family, money, childcare, and general aging. I appreciate the information on your personal perspective and situation going into this program, and I do hope to be accepted as well!

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I probably will be applying to Frontier with the intention of completing the DNP. I was never interested before but it seems like this may be a good course of action with the current trends in nursing and healthcare in the US. What I'm really excited about however is the extra clinical hours for the DNP... my biggest concern is the idea that I may not get L&D experience before becoming a midwife. I'm sure I'm in the same boat with every prospective and current CNM student in that I want to become the safest and most proficient practioner possible, so with that in mind extra clinical hours training would be very favorable. I don't how competitive jobs are for CNMs but I have a feeling that for me getting my masters of science in nursing might be a safer option. I still need to interview some midwives in CT (so far I've only summoned the confidence to call one practice ha ha) and hopefully this will help me feel more confident and informed. Can anyone comment on how confident and competent graduate CNMs are after completing minimum clinical hours in school? I wonder how many births (and different kinds of births) one needs to witness/take part in to be safe.

Hello Everyone, I am an RN working on a Med/Surg unit in CT and haven't started my CNM journey yet as I am trying to get into L&D or OB (as I know many others are).. I have a few questions that I hope someone can help with. Does anyone know, or is anyone, a CNM in CT and can you comment on the market for CNMs in this state? I was doing a casual google search and it looks like there was only one job posting for a CNM and it required L&D experience prior to the MSN! I found that really disconcerting as I don't know if I'll ever be able to get this. So I am curious to know if there is demand for CNMs in general in this state and also about the L&D component.. I wanted to get L&D experience just to make me a more comfortable and experienced CNM, but to know that it might make a huge difference on job opportunities has me worried. Does anyone have any information or experience with federal loan repayment or loan forgiveness specifically for CNMs (and specifically in CT)? What I'm really curious about is if there was an opportunity would it be only clinic work or would there be a delivery component as well? I am concerned that opportunities which did not include deliveries would result in one losing CNM skills.. Does anyone know about these "Masters of Science in Midwifery" vs MSNs and if they would cause someone to be less desireable for potential employers? Example is Baystate.. Does anyone know if it would be appropriate to call random cnm practices and ask if someone can meet to discuss the career and ask questions (or dare I ask shadow?) I'm feeling a little unsure about what path to take in the next five years... throw in a few kids and a husband and the hope to have one more (baby) plus a new house coming up. I'm leaning heavily toward frontier and can't wait to start this chapter of my life.. but I need some clarity. Thanks in advance!

Hi! I did an accelerated nursing program (UConn), though there was no CNM opportunity, and it was my impression that they weren't concerned about where the prereqs were completed but rather what grades were obtained. Personally I did most of my prereqs at UConn but there was one that I did (genetics) that was online and at a community college. Others in my class did complete most of their prereqs at community college. I think that the important thing for a lot of these programs is to try to get as many A's as possible.