Thinking about becoming a midwife?

[WhatToDo]

Hello all-

This is my first time to post on this website, but I have read many of the posts in here over the last couple days.

I finished a master's in public health in May of this year and now I am working at the Baylor College of Medicine. I absolutly love public health and I am really good at it. I have been interested in becoming a nurse for quite some time and I have finished all of the prerequisites. I would like to do public health nursing and/or women's health / midwife nursing.

The issue is, I'm sort of a weird person going into all this becuase I already have a graduate degree. I qualify for accelerated BSN programs that last a year or so (I have applied to 3 programs already), but these programs are very new and very competitive to get into, especially since I applied to places like Johns Hopkins. I have a 4.0 in all the prerequisites, but who knows whether I will actually get in. If I can't do this, than I would like to apply next year for alternate entry type graduate programs that take three years to get a BSN and a CNM. I figure if I can't get into the one year programs, then I don't want to spend two years getting a BSN when I could spend three and have a more advanced degree. Any advice about this?

Also, if I get a graduate degree in nursing, I would want either a FNP, CNM, or and women's health NP. I love women and children, but I would enjoy working with women more. I want to be able to deliver babies, do well woman checks etc. It is my understanding that CNM are the only NP that get to deliver babies, is this true? The FNP is a nice degree to have becuase it makes you very versatile, but you can't deliver babies with it right?

[mitchsmom]

As far as I know, you're right - only CNM's and direct-entry midwives (non-nurse midwives) deliver babies.

A couple of schools now have a combination of FNP and CNM - I know that Emory University has a "family nurse midwife" program that covers all of it! :)

[RN2CNM]

Hello WhatToDo,

I am a ADN RN currently in the process of obtaining my BSN from Texas Tech University School of Nursing. I am doing the online RN to BSN program that is only 2 semesters long and is completely online. When I was at orientation, the dean of the nursing school informed us of a new program that they have just started for people who already have their Bachelors degree in something other than nursing. The program is only 1 year long and is also online. I have posted the website link to the program description and prerequisites courses for you below. Hope this info helps.

I am also going to pursue my Masters degree in nursing to become a certified nurse midwife after I complete my BSN. I, like you, want to deliver babies and work with women and children. I know in Houston, there are a lot of opportunities for CNMs and I just wish some of those opportunities would come to San Antonio. Good luck in your adventure! :)

http://www.ttuhsc.edu/son/undergrad/secWbsn.aspx

[eak16]

University of Washington School of Nursing (ranked #1 in the nation, woohoo!) has the MEPN program, where people with a non-nursing degree already can take classes for three years and leave with a RN and advance practice degree. You get to choose the advance practice specialty, and they have a very good CNM program. The program is very new though (this is first year) and prohibitively expensive if you dont have good financial aid. Congratulations on choosing nursing!

[JenMarie]

HI

I am not sure how I go about starting a new thread.

My question is kind-of related.

I have just found out I am 7 weeks pregnant.

In New Zealand antenatal, the delivery and postnatal care is all basically done by "independent midwives" who are either RNs as well as midwives or just midwives.

What has amazed me is how difficult it has been to find a midwife. So far I have rung a few and those that got back to mostly said they were booked for JULY 2005 births already! Maybe people pre-book them before getting pregnant??

I understand your education system in the USA is different, but if any were me, would you go for an Midwife who was an RN too. Or would you go for someone who is just a midwife. As an RN myself, I am worried about experience, competence and safety.

Does anyone have any thoughts

Thanks in advance.

Jenny

[BETSRN]

Yale has a three year midwifery program that you would qualify for. Another option for you would be Frintier Nursing/Midwifery School. http://www.midwives.org/Default.htm. Try that link. That is also an excellent program I have known and worked with midwives and student CNM's from oth programs. Good luck.

[naggytabby, BSN, RN]

There's always PENN- they are tied for the #1 CNM program in the country- they have a BSN/MSN program. Some of the MEPN/Direct Entry programs don't award a BSN. So you might do some research and decide whether the basic nursing credential you want is a BSN or not. I was accepted to the Yale program and one of the reasons I didn't go was the noBSN- it is an INCREDIBLE program though. The poster above suggested the ACNM site which has lists of all the programs and describes whether they are a combined basic and master's program, just master's etc. Check it out!

Best wishes to you on your journey :balloons:

[mitchsmom]

I understand your education system in the USA is different, but if any were me, would you go for an Midwife who was an RN too. Or would you go for someone who is just a midwife. As an RN myself, I am worried about experience, competence and safety.

I would look at the letters behind their name, but that wouldn't be the only thing. I don't think that alone is an indication of how good they will be since there are good and bad everywhere, you know? I would ask around for references, look at all of their qualifications, training, and experience, I'd ask nurses from the hospital where they deliver if possible (ask which midwives the patients seem to like best or have the best outcomes with), after narrowing it down I'd interview them, etc. etc. Good luck!