Rural CNM?

Specialties Rural

Published

Hi all,

In your area do they have any Certified Nurse Midwives, or just MDs? I want to be a CNM for the primary care and family planning as much as the labor and delivery part of it, and I would love to practice in a rural area where you know all your patients and their families. I'm getting my schooling in the city but I'm a real country girl... I left my heart on a small farm in central Illinois :1luvu:

I would just like to know if this is realistic, anything about the possibilities of getting a job, what the practice is like, etc... any thoughts?

I'm also thinking about working for the Indian Health Service or something similar for a while to pay back my loans.

Thank you!

I'm so with you- only several years behind you I am picturing big, old farm house with an office adjacent- all the usual farm critters. Maybe a small office in town- for the folks who live in the "city", you know. The prospect of caring for families over the years is so dreamy. I will say that I know a woman who has done this as an MD. I also know of women who have CPM practices in rural areas that do just fine. They do homebirths and basic reproductive care and counseling. I don't see why it couldn't be feasible if you were in a state that was friendly to a CNM having a private practice and could handle the insurance peice of it. I think you would have to have a partner though....... wink wink.

Best wishes to you!

I have a friend who is a CNM in a small town and she has NO life. She's constantly on call because she's the only midwife. She never leaves town, and she is called out at all hours of the day and night. I don't think I'd like it, and I know it drives her nuts. Just something to think about.

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I used a midwife when I lived in rural Iowa. She was FABULOUS. She worked out of a clinic that was part of the Mayo health system. I don't know exactly how busy she was. The hospital I delivered in had only 3 beds for L&D and she was far from the only practitioner, so it didn't seem that she was swamped.

I live in a fairly rural area. I don't know. They don't think they are rural though. I just moved here a few months ago. They do not have an CNM's and only one home birth midwife. The midwife here tells me that the MD's have pushed the CNM's out of town. Since I recently moved to Texas I am not sure of it's laws as to if a CNM can have her own practice. But, I sure hope so!

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