EmmKay

hi Kcarm, Thanks for your post! That really helps those of us hoping to apply...I'm also wondering does anyone take public transport into Burlington? I just can not afford to get a car the next few years and I'm wondering if I can do my clinicals without or car pool or something?

Thanks for your post sjsa, I wouldn't mind doing L and D for a year at all, but I think most of us are stressed that we wouldn't be able to find employment in this area- I'm in the Boston MA area and it's full of hospitals, but I check the job postings almost daily and I've never seen an opening for L and D AND if I do, it asks for at least 3 years exp! Kind of a catch 22 huh?

Thanks everyone! Asteck: the price for this online course can't be beat, thanks! I'm sure I can find somewhere to take a proctored exam in Boston, but did you have to go through a whole admissions process for just a few courses? I see they also offer nutrition which I also need to do, but doesn't look like any microbiology offered online at the moment Thank you, much appreciated

Sounds like a plan! Good luck hun, I'm sure it will go by super fast and your kids will have a HAPPIER mama which I think, in the end, makes you a much better parent right? Are you planning on getting someone to stay with the baby at home or are you thinking day care? Mine is two and I'm really not sure what to do with him- I even thought about doing the ADN- but full time it takes 2 years, so it's not really helping my situation per se... Any way- best of luck on your journey, I think it's awesome.

Rosalei, That's fantastic! 10K sounds like a steal to me! Go for it girl! I unfortunately don't qualify for instate tuition anywhere but even if I did, I think in MA, the UMASS degree is still more like 25-27k! I can understand the worry about the family- what are your plans for child care while you are in the school? I do think the 15 months will fly by for you as you'll be so busy, but maybe they will drag for your partner? So maybe make sure he is a 100% on board, after all in the greater scheme of things, 15 months is nothing right? :) I live no where near any family and my husband travels sporadically but long trips for work, so for e.g, he may be at home working from home Jan-March but then he'll be away 3 weeks mid July type, so I'm not too sure yet what I would do with our toddler. I can't really afford full time help, especially while paying for nursing school! We're all going to get there in the end! Em

Bumping this for you because it sure would be good to get a response! Emily

Rosalei, I am a lot like you, MSW, small kid :) As much as I would love to just get into one MSN program and become a CNM in 3 years, I'm leaning towards an ABSN first also... I feel like it just gives me more flexibility with my kid. I do worry that it involves a whole other applying cycle for the masters portion but I worry about signing up to a 3 year MSN commitment and then for some reason, needing to stop or move or something...I'm trying to figure out how the cost breaks down for ABSN + Distance MSN in CNM ( say from Frontier) vs a 3 year direct entry MSN .... the ADN route doesn't make sense for me as it would actually take me longer then the ABSN.... so if anyone knows how much the MSN from Frontier costs, I would love that info! How much is your ABSN costing? The program I'm looking at is about 57,000$ ( yikes) but is an online flexible format so means I could minimize the days my kid would need to be in daycare, which is important to me emily

Hi Tiasilsil, I think it's great that you know your passion so early. I'm just starting out myself so probably not in a good place to guide you, but thought I would mention the ABSN programs are only for people who already have a bachelors in something. Have you done that already? The only other thing I have heard is that it is good to get a BSN for job purposes but having said that, it seems fresh grads from ABSN programs are having a hard time finding jobs. If you become a CNM then you will have an MSN so I should think it makes no difference if you have a BSN or not. I think the issue might be IF You think you may take a break after the ADN and have your babies and then go back to school for the MSN for CNM- then it may make sense to have a BSN so you can work if need be. The other thing is write to Frontier and ask if they need you to have worked as a nurse after for ADN before you apply for the masters, because I know for other programs they do. Good luck Emily

Just thought I would update this since someone was kind enough to PM me the information I was asking for. It seems in your first term you have 1 day/week lab, 1 day/week clinical and 1-2 days/week of exams. The skills lab is on the Boston campus and the exams are at the Burlington one. Clinicals obviously, can be anywhere....you also have 5 classes first term but they are all online and self paced. Second term you have 4 online classes 2 clinicals 1 skills lab 1/2 days of exams ( Burlington) total of 4/5 days commuting Third term 3 classes 2 clinicals 0 labs 1/2 exams ( Burlington) Commuting: 3/4 days a week Final term ( for BSN) 2 classes 2 clinicals 1/2 exams I'm sorry I don't know how many hours per day the lab skills are or how many per day the clinicals are yet, but if anyone knows and would like to share that would be great. If I find out that information I'll post here.

@asteck: is the lab online too ?

Yes, I would be very interested to know how often one needs to be at the Burlington campus...is there a convenient public transport way for that if you're in Boston?

Does anyone know of a good A and P with lab online?

How true- so many of us are having to choose between a rock and a hard place because of the politics involved...but what do you do if you need to make a living and justifiably, want to do that doing something you love and are connected to?

The personal statement seems the most challenging by far...how come it's so hard to answer: why do you want to be a ---NP?

midwife tobe, Can I just tell you how awesome you are? You really articulate my thoughts for me! I am sending you a big big cyber hug- and I'm going to harass you over PM, be warned! I'm really struggling with the ABSN option too because I KNOW that will be 100% medical model and I will really struggle there Is it true that you need one years L and D eperience before Frontier will accept you? Also, how hard it is to find a preceptor? I was really worried when they said you have to find your own because I don't know how that would happen....plus do you have to pay the preceptors separately?

Wow. I think anyone who has ever wanted to do midwifery has struggled with this- what it makes me realise is that the whole fragmentation between where CPM's practice and where CNM work is kind of ridiculous....ultimately, it's in every woman's best interest that she can go to a practice where they can offer her ALL the choices- homebirth, hospital birth- natural, epidural whatever. For me midwifery is about supporting women's choices in birth and it's sad that you need to be in one school or the other... Most other countries now separate midwifes from nurses completely- you still need a 3 year midwifery degree, but it's not taught the same way as general nursing plus two years NP I feel for you, I'm struggling with this too- I've decided I have to go the CNM route like Queenanne, because I just can't work around the clock or be in a situation where the family needs to move and suddenly I am unemployable. But like you, I feel I will have to fight to keep my holistic focus on birth. Maybe we can set up a support group for people like us? EMily

It's probably too soon to start this thread- anyone else out there? Emily

Also- at the risk of being boo-ed of the forum- I don't actually want to be a nurse. I very specifically want to be a nurse midwife. So going a ABSN route kind of freaks me out to be honest....does that make any sense?

Hi Fellow Birth Junkie, My restriction is that I need to do a direct entry program as I do not have a nursing degree- so Frontier is not an option for me. If I don't get into a direct entry CNM program like Yale, then I'll have to look at doing a ABSN in Boston where I am based and then figuring out what to do for the CNM portion. I couldn't handle living in NY, esp cost wise as I have a family.... How hard was it for your to find a preceptor for Frontier? They told me I would have to find my own and I'm not even sure I could do that! Congratulations on being on the way to midwifery! EMily

Hi Everyone, I'm applying to CNM school and I was hoping to connect with Yale alumni who are CNM to see how you found the program. I have heard mixed things about the MSN at Yale but I haven't heard anything specifically regarding the midwifery route. Thanks Emkay

Thanks everyone- I'm in the Boston MA area and DONA is very popular but I'm not sure it's for me. I do like the Childbirth International idea as online would be very helpful but I also want to network with some birth workers in the area. Any ideas how to go about doing that? I've just moved here and I emailed a bunch of midwives, doulas etc I found online and so far no one has responded. I've been told Bostonians are a bit cold, but I'm hoping that's not the case!

Hi, I'm looking for the same info! Emily

Wow, thank you all SO much! There is so much great information here! Queenannelace, I'm sorry I don't know why I didn't get your PM yet, but will reply when I do, thanks for taking the time out to respond! I say this with the greatest respect for people who went the ADN route, that it is not really for me; because I'm very, very certain I want to be a midwife and not really work in a general nursing capacity ( although of course if this experience helps in the short term, I am not averse to it). I'm not from the US and I'm basically the equivalent of a CPM in my country but my credentials are not being recoignized at par and from what I hear, the job options in MA for CPM's are limited ( if you need to make a living doing midwifery, which I do). So at the risk of sounding callous, I'm basically trying to figure out a route that gets me the training and back out working as soon as possible. Soulshine, thank you for your advice- I think that is really sound, looking at it as a job. Putting my kids in daycare ( other then the insane cost) is I guess some sort of possibility. The worry I have is if my partner is out of town ( as he often is) then if there is a kid emergency etc, how does one resolve that....do you know if DURING school you have to do irregular hours in clinicals? nights etc? You've all given me something to think about and I think now I can ask questions to the schools in particular in regard for eg to child care... I would also love to hear from any nurses of color what their experience has been...I am hearing mixed things about how it affects your chances of getting in to school, work etc. Sadly... Thank you again! Em

Thank you all so much, that's really helpful. My situation is a bit unusual ( or maybe I just think so) because I already have two non nursing bachelors and a masters but am doing a later in life career change...The other big issue for me is that I have two small ( under 5 ) kids and a husband who travels for work so I have no idea how I am going to manage a full time accelerated BSN year, plus the 2 that follow- financially, emotionally or child care wise...I'm also new to the US, so that adds a whole other dimension to it.... Right now I am thinking of only applying to Columbia and Yale for CNM, because these are the only two areas my family could ostensibly move and husband still keep his job ( which obviously we need him to!). We currently live in Boston MA and ultimately, that is where we will be, but there are CNM schools in that area... If there is anyone here ( and I'm sure there are lots) who juggled family and nursing school, please let me know how you did it! Thank you all again for taking the time to respond! Emily

Admittedly, this is a bit early, but I'm planning on applying 2013 Fall for next year and was wondering if anyone else here is? Or if anyone here is in a direct entry MSN program and wouldn't mind answering some questions? I am hoping to do CNM Thank you Emily