janna05

I read in another post that this was a great way to gain experience if you want to go into women's health. I have been a CNA for 2 years now and am just about to finish up my first year of college ( I am in a BSN program). Honestly being a CNA in the area I live in limits me to what I have been doing, dementia units in nursing homes and senior behavioral units in hospitals. The idea of a Doula really excites me! I absolutey love the subject of labor and childbirth. I am suprised I have never heard of this because I am always out there looking for ways to learn more about my profession. My guess is that they just aren't popular in this area. This really sounds like a great opprotunity for me though, so if you could give me some advise, maybe I can talk the hospital I work for into hiring its first one! my questions are: what is the best way to be trained as a Doula? I saw there are differnt providers such as DONA among others - is there a better one? How long does the process take? Is the training expensive? Am i elibable? I am only 19 and have not yet had a child. How are they hired? I read that Doulas can charge anywhere from $200-800 do they work for agencies or freelance or for hospital and dr. offices? any other advice your could give out would be greatly appreciated! thanks soo much!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am currently a nursing student and have a ultimate goal of working with pregnant women maybe work in a small practice where I will help other with family planning and care for women who are pregnant and will examine women and provide care for the different stages of pregnancy such as prenatal, delivery of the baby, and postpartum care etc. i am unsure if i a np or nurse midwife would be better - i know both work at the office that i go to for my care - any opinions? i am also very seriously considering double majoring at my college in medical imaging... so that i may administer my own sonograms i am told that many health professionals do this to widen their scope of practice and to be more valuable to their employers... what do you think?? thanks!!!!