SUNY Downstate-Midwifery: Anti-Nursing?

[ibambamama]

Hello All,

So I have been long trying to figure out which school to go to in order to finish my midwifery degree. I started at Columbia but stopped when I had my second baby. I am now expecting #3 and know for sure that Columbia is no longer an option (crazy expensive and not very family-friendly as a program!).

I have been going back and forth between Frontier and Downstate (I live in Brooklyn), both of which have excellent reputations and present certain advantages. My question though, is this:

A few months ago I went to an open house at Downstate. There were about 12 people in attendance and I was the only one who was actually a nurse.

Now maybe the director was really just pandering to her audience, but I was seriously discouraged by the fact that she completely downplayed any need for nursing education, skill or background for their program. (Downstate is one of the few programs that has both RNs and direct-entry students in classes together) I worked hard to become a nurse and am very proud of that fact - as well as the fact that I have actually worked as a nurse (both in L&D and community health) for the past 3 years. I know that my experiences and skills will bring a great deal to my contributions as a student as well as my practice as a midwife; and, quite frankly, I resent being lumped in with a bunch of inexperienced doulas (nothing personal against doulas - many of them are great - but they are not clinical professionals!)

I really want to like Downstate (so close! So cheap! Such a good reputation!) -but I don't know if I can really get past this issue.

Is there anybody here who has gone to Downstate or has experience with them that can either confirm or deny my suspicions that they are anti-nurse?!

Thanks

[nursology]

ibambamama,

I love what you're doing. I'm also interested in working in the developing world one day. From your experience, what nursing specialty is most needed in developing countries? Is there one in particular that stands out, or are all specialties pretty useful? In particular, what do you think about anesthesia versus midwifery? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[ibambamama]

Hi Nursology,

I just noticed your post (we've been traveling for the past few weeks) and wanted to give you some thoughts.

It's quite an interesting question - anesthesia and midwifery are....well, pretty much as far opposite on the healthcare spectrum as you can get. What do you do at the present?

I can tell you though, that there is definitely a need for both in developing countries. Different needs - although somewhat related. Pretty much all specialties are needed in Africa, where there just aren't enough healthcare providers, training facilities, infrastructure, or health systems support in place to provide good care and save lives. Nursing especially, seeing as most healthcare in the developing world is delivered by nurses, is especially needed - and especially those who can teach and train other nurses in low-resource settings.

My passion has always been helping women, and working towards the goal of building a world where no woman has to die while giving birth. From my experiences and my own preferences and beliefs, I have come to feel that becoming a midwife is the best path for me towards achieving that. Many of the interventions that can have a huge impact on global maternal mortality are very low-tech, basic childbirth care principals (attendance by a trained healthcare provider, management of different labor patterns and dystocias, and recognizing when further help is needed) Training of future midwives also plays a huge part.

That said though, there is definitely a need for more docs, surgeons, and anesthesiologists. It is something of an elephant in the room (especially a chat room full of midwives!), but the fact of the matter is that c-sections save lives. All over the world, in any and all birth settings - some labors will get to the point where surgery is absolutely necessary to save a woman's life (and, if your lucky, to save the baby as well). Lack of any one of these key healthcare providers is a limiting factor (along with many other factors that come into play - like having facilities with OR's and good roads to get women to those facilities) that prevents women from accessing life-saving surgery.

In, I believe it is Malawi (or it could be Zimbabwe), they are actually training midwives to perform c-sections (of course, they would still need anesthesiologists!)

So there you go. Don't know if that was helpful but just thought I'd put it out there.

Best of luck to you - and to everyone wanting to do international work!

[nzickler]

@ Ibambamama: Thank you so much for sharing about your experience working internationally. One of the reasons I am pursuing a CNM is to ensure that I have an opportunity to work internationally. I am just researching Master's programs as I plan to go directly into my Masters after I finish my BSN next year. I am also in the tristate area. I'm curious about what program you settled on for midwifery?

Also, I would like to hear more about your involvement with Partners in Health. I am looking for an organization that would allow for my family to travel with me. I checked out the PiH website but did not see many jobs posted specific to midwifery. As you mentioned, Doctors Without Borders does not allow for family members to accompany.

Thanks for any information you can offer.

Best,

Nicole Zickler