FutureNurseKali

@minerwife927 Thats all I've been hearing is how CNM is the best route to take. But then I've read so much information on how CPM's have been so fulfilled and happy on the decision they made to get that credential. I've researched several successful birthing centers that now have staffed midwifery students and no one seems to be regretful about becoming a CPM vs a CNM. I got into the idea of nursing initially because it was thet only way I could fulfill my passion on being involved in the labor and delivery process. There is no other specialty I'm even remotely interested in at all. Dealing with women's health, labor, delivery, postpartum all of these things are what I'm interested in. Which is why the CPM credential was far more appealing to me. I also don't want to make the wrong choice either, which has me on the fence. Especially with everyone saying that I'll be on call 24/7 and I won't ever make any money. I do work full-time and I have 3 children to support, so financials are important as well. I also don't want to have to quit my job to attend school either, I enjoy my household being a two income household. I just hope I'm able to follow the right path and make a sound decision.

@RNsRWe seems we both have very essential views on the perspective. I'm sure with proper preparation this teas obstacle will be a distant memory 😊😊

@RNsRWe the point of the post was not to suggest that academics do not matter when it comes to nursing or any other profession. The point was that with anything worthwhile comes obstacles, and one must work thru those obstacles to get to the ultimate goal. While she may have struggled with the teas test, it does not mean that she cannot adequately prepare and try again. I've read many stories in this nursing forum about people who do not succeed when they initially try, but they prepare and try again and again until they reach the goal. We don't personally know her or her situation or circumstances so we can't hastily judge. What is more becoming is to encourage someone...not bash them!!

I would advise your sister to try to study for the subjects she's the weakest in. Just because she hasn't passed the TEAS test yet does not mean she isn't fit to be a nurse. The exam is given to determine your readiness for a nursing program, but all in all its still a standardized test. And in my opinion standardized test can't really determine your readiness to be nurse, since no nursing material is being covered. I once had a professor that told us about her experience in law school. She stated that one of her classmates was an excellent student in class with a 4.0 GPA, had law down to a science but could not pass the BAR exam. Alot of these test are meant to be obstacles, and some nurses from years ago weren't Even required to take TEAS test, but that doesn't make them any less competent to practice. Take a moment, put some things into perspective... Study if need be and when your time comes you will get in. It won't be easy, but the process will all be worth it in the end. In all actuality, there are nursing students that pass the entrance exams and still struggle in nursing school,the profession itself is hard. But if u want it, you will work hard enough to get it... Don't give up

Cayenne06 Do you regret doing CPM first? Do you still have contact with people who have preferred to stay within the CPM route? I do know that taking the route to CNM is probably the most secure because you can work in any of the 50 states without red tape. I'm planning on moving back to California anyway though, where CPM and CM status is honored and you can practice in a wide scope of places. There are just so many obstacles with nursing school and it's not very flexible here. All of the programs I've researched have been full-time daytime and I currently work full-time. I'm trying to shy away from LPN, which I have been accepted to. Mainly because I'm creating another step for myself to go thru before intimately becoming an RN and being able to practice labor and delivery. At this point things are very confusing 😔

Thank you very much. I appreciate your advice. Looks like I still have some soul searching to do.

So I was all set to start my LPN program next month and low and behold I ran into a site that opened up the door to midwifery. My ultimate goal was to get a BSN and hopefully land a job in L&D because that's where my heart lies. I really have no interest in any other specialties in nursing. Due to sum scheduling and childcare circumstances I would have to take the ladder approach, which is why I was starting with the LPN first. By total accident I exposed myself to the world of Doulas and midwifery. I knew that both existed, but I never researched either of them, until now. I was completely unaware that a CPM certification existed and now that I do know it's made me question the path I'm currently taking. I would like some advice from people who have been thru this phase, what was the deciding factor for you? Do you regret your CPM training? Can you make a suitable living? All of these things cross my mind daily, but I'm just not sure which way to turn. If working with pregnant women and babies is really my passion does it make sense to obtain a nursing degree? Any advice would be helpful at this point, since I don't have much time to decide a path.

I've tried to, but I can't seem to change it... Maybe there's something I'M not doing correctly

Good luck, I hope everything goes as planned

@mscoleman78 How are your maternity clinicals setup? Is it just skills you perform in the lab, or do they actually allow to visit maternity wards? just curious, the school I plan on attending does all of those skills in the skills lab versus the hospital

I briefly researched this school, what are the TEAS requirements?

So I thought I had everything mapped out thus far. I ended up landing a pretty great job as a lab technician in a hospital working full time, and I also got accepted into an LPN program. I am now having second thoughts, ultimately my goal is to become a labor and delivery nurse. For a little while thet nursing path was not going as planned for me so I began to explore other career options just to have a back up plan. In doing so, I ended up getting accepted into a health information management program. I strongly considered entering into the program since I already had an associates in health Science. But something kept pulling me back to nursing. Before I landed my job I was even planning on moving to a different city, since I had applied to a BSN program there. Now I'm in a pickle. I still have that application being considered. I've gotten accepted into an LPN program, but part of me still wants to just shoot for that BSN and be done until I decide to go back. My dilemma lies in finding a BSN program in Illinois that offers evening classes, which is rare for BSN programs. I can't really afford to quit my job, and it's really good job at that. Idk what to do at this point. Advice on any similar situations would help... Also anyone whose went from LPN-BSN would also help. I really want to continue down this path of nursing, but I'm not sure which path is meant for me 😩😩😩

Thanx...

I guess it's all part of the job. Any recommendations on books to get in order to read up on information. Mutt school doesn't even issue books until two weeks into the program. I'd at least like to be partially familiar with some of the concepts.

@amgibson0512 thank you for your advice, I'm looking forward to the journey I'm about to take and I'm praying I'm successful. Nursing has been my passion since forever any I'd be devastated if I couldn't get thru it. But I have faith that I'll be just fine 😊