Regretting an APRN degree

[LunaBuna, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I'm posting this because I really want to know if others have had a similar experience - with that said, please no mean comments. I started nursing as a second career. I got into community health nursing and actually truly loved what I was doing. I thought I wanted to be a midwife so I went ahead and left my job to pursue this degree. I went through all of the hoops and a pretty intense clinical and finally graduated with my degree. I thought, well great, now I can be a midwife! WRONG! All I found were crap jobs. And I know some may say "well you have to do the crappy ones to get the ones you want" but at this point in my life, I don't have time to be doing things I don't want to do for less pay and more hours. I am SO disappointed in midwifery. I ended up taking a job at Planned Parenthood, which I actually really liked even though I wasn't practicing full scope. However, I got furloughed! APRN degrees can't even guarantee you stability! And now I've moved to California and there are barely any open positions here. Even the clinic positions, (which is what I ended up doing last year) won't take me here because most of them require a WHNP (and I was doing all this role without this certification because, as you may know, CNMs do everything WHNPs do plus intrapartum care). I regret going down this road SO much. All the time and the money and the loss of a great career that I had in front of me. Every day I sit here applying to jobs full of regret about my career path. It's not the end of the world, (well it might be with everything else that's going on)...I've been applying to mainly nursing gigs since moving here. Even those are hard to come by seeing as my resume jumps around. All I qualify for right now is home health and I don't want to go into that. I really want to get into the bedside and just try to forget I ever got this degree in the first place. If you are considering midwifery, I won't say don't do it, but please have meaningful job prospects in mind before going through with it. If you live in the Bay Area and have some contacts you wouldn't mind sharing or some advice that is helpful for me in my job search, please PM me. In need of some good thoughts and inspiring words because I'm trying not to cry about all of this.

[HiddenShadow20]

I just wanted to say thank you for posting but I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. Just wanted to send good vibes your way

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

On 9/21/2020 at 10:27 PM, LunaBuna said:

I thought, well great, now I can be a midwife! WRONG! All I found were crap jobs. 

I'm sorry you are going through this.  Unfortunately, this is a tough time for healthcare providers, as many have been laid off due to COVID.  The jobs will come back, eventually.  

I'm also in California.  Have you considered locums?  It could be a way to make some money until the job market improves.  If possible, consider applying to jobs in the Central Valley and North State, from Redding to Bakersfield.  There are often more job openings, because these are less "desireable" locations.  Rural areas are very short on providers and many would love to have someone in women's health.  Maybe you can provide part-time services to 2 or 3 FQHCs in more remote areas that can't justify a full-time women's health provider.

If necessary, consider moving to another state with better prospects.

Hang in there and best wishes.

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

I have been telling my RN friends this for a few years.  It is all based on supply and demand.  Schools have been churning out APRN degrees for quite a few years at this point.

I am also a APRN.  I had to start my own practice.  You are correct that their are no decent jobs out here.  

I would think being a midwife would be a good field to start your own practice (I am not a midwife).

So many have no insurance or insurance does not pay that I started my own practice seeing low maintenance patients for a $65.00 visit.  No one breathes down my neck about seeing a patient every 7 minutes.  

I am closer to retirement (what is that?) than most.  I make less than my RN kiddo.  That said it is somewhat rewarding and I get to know alot about my patients.  This has been almost a 5 year venture.  Lots of mistakes and everyone assumes you are rich (not!).  

However, I can see myself doing this until I can't anymore.  I have to even do my own phlebotomy as I cannot afford a $15 an hour employee.  I do not mind as I was always very good at it.

Anyway, just thought I would share my experience.  I am also a third career.  Marketing, BSN, MSN.  I am done with formal education.

[TITRITE, MSN]

That it is how it is in the bay area not only for a midwife but for FNP  jobs as well.  Although I graduated from a well-known bay area university and did an on-campus FNP program, it is hard to find a position for new grads. I am also in the same boat as you and  I recently quit my job as an RN.