Torn, need some advice....(kinda long)

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First a little background. I am 28 years old, single, no children, and I have my BSN,RN, and I have worked in L&D since graduation about 1.5 years. I absolutely LOVE my job and what I do, and am planning to be a travel nurse for a while to make some extra money and to see the US, as well as, gain some other experience.

I have been interested in nurse midwifery since being in nursing school and this was a goal in the back of my mind. I am still very interested, but my question is this, I enjoy what I do now so much, do I really need to become a nurse midwife? While, I think I would enjoy being a midwife, I think I would also miss the bedside nursing, and I hope that my practice would allow me to continue with 1 on 1, bedside care, that may not always be the case. At this point, I can't see myself working in an office day in and day out as well as delivering babies in the ungodly hours of the day with no sleep, etc.

I really enjoyed school and took my time getting my BSN, so that is not a factor.

I guess I'm just thinking outloud here, any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks! Shelley

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Hi Shelley, at 28 you are still quite young considering the aging of the nursing profession overall, so I would suggest that for now, go do the traveling nurse gig for a few years. If you find that in a few years you might still like the midwifery, you can do it then. Since right now you really enjoy the bedside care in the L&D...do it!

Good luck!

Kris

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I think I would also miss the bedside nursing, and I hope that my practice would allow me to continue with 1 on 1, bedside care

My advice to you is this....If you really would like to be a midwife, then go for it! MAKE the 1 on 1 bedside care part of your practice. I had a midwife when I had my youngest son and she stayed with me the ENTIRE labor, though she did go over to her office and see patients from time to time, she was there throughout the day, not just at the end. She was the only person to check me and she did a bit of coaching when needed. If I wanted to see her or speak to her: Done!

There are so many opportunities and so much teaching one on one with the patients in the office that you might actually enjoy the whole process of seeing them from start to finish.

Good luck to you!

Gator

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Shelley....

I am kind of in the same situation as you. Except I applied to a midwifery program and was accepted and now I am having second thoughts as to whether or not now is the right time to pursue this. It was always a career goal for me, but now at this point in my life I am so satisfied with my L&D job I wonder why I would want to change all of that. I am truly happy doing what I do now. And we nurses are lucky to have 12 hour shifts and work 3 days a week. If I were to become a midwife it would mean alot of on call time etc. And even though I am even younger than you, I worry now about not having enough time for a family when that time comes. I have such a hard decision to make, but know that at this point in my life I enjoy what I am doing and don't want to change it. It really helped that you posted about this too, I thought I might be going crazy thinking the way I did. Good Luck to you!!! And just follow your heart! ~Elle

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

Shelley I think it is so cool to have a job you like. I finally after years of being burned out found a job I enjoy very much. My thoughts are stick with it. Part of me was sorry I left my job at the hospital as I loved it.

Hindsight is 20/20

renerian

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Thanks for your thoughts, I guess we shall what happens.....I plan on doing travel nursing for at LEAST a year as long as things go well, then I may consider pursuing my CNM. I definately know it's not what I want to do now, but maybe in the future.

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