What does the midwife market look like where you live?

sjoe · Dec 9, 2003

You are wise to thoroughly explore the job market before investing this kind of time and money.

The last article I read on the subject, about 7 or 8 months ago, reported that nationwide there were many more midwives than there were jobs and that a substantial number of NMs were working at regular RN positions. One of the major factors behind this was, not surprisingly, a combination of very high malpractice premiums in this area of healthcare and a dearth of MDs willing to professionally supervise NMs.

Jolie, BSN · Dec 9, 2003

We've moved around quite a bit, so I've seen several "markets". I enjoyed working with a large and thriving midwife group in Charlotte, NC. I spent 7 years in the Philly area, and CNMs were beginning to make some in-roads there. Back home in the Chicago suburbs, there are precious few. Not that we wouldn't like to have them! IL was slow to formalize a practice act for Advanced Practice RNs, so maybe now that it is in place, we'll begin to see more CNMs in our area. I sure hope so. Good luck to you!

BRANDY LPN · Dec 9, 2003

I used to work in the army hosp at Fort Hood TX and they hire CNMs you can either be contract or GS or of course an NCO this may be something you can check on.

THe midwives worked in the clinic and then pulled alternating 12 hour calls (in house)

MinervaB · Dec 9, 2003

The market varies from state to state. I have lived in two midwife friendly states. Please don't ever abandon your dreams based on negative news reports. You should do what you really want in life, even if that means debt (trust me I know all about debt). Eventually things always work out the way they should and if you love midwifery, you will find a job. Minerva

LuvsOB · Dec 9, 2003

Thanks for all of your replies. My head tells me to check out the market and proceed with caution. My heart says to just go for what I want and all the details will work out in the end. I think I'll go for it. The kids are all in college and I'm still young (41). My husband is a pilot and is employable anywhere. We both like adventure so we can move if needed.

Jacki, RN · Dec 10, 2003

At my hospital, we did have midwives when I started...then experienced a sentinel event of one of their patients where the baby eventually died. They were all let go because the OBs did not want to cover them any longer. This is sort of sad because they were a nice alternative to the OBs.

If you and your husband are mobile and adventerous maybe think about England. One of my coworkers who was a labor nurse recently moved to England with her family and was having a heck of a time finding a job because they staff their units with nurse midwives instead. Something to think about.

OBNurseShelley · Dec 10, 2003

Originally posted by LuvsOB
Thanks for all of your replies. My head tells me to check out the market and proceed with caution. My heart says to just go for what I want and all the details will work out in the end. I think I'll go for it. The kids are all in college and I'm still young (41). My husband is a pilot and is employable anywhere. We both like adventure so we can move if needed.

Absoutely follow your dreams.....and if attending school is a challenge, check out this distance learning program, it is accredited and awards a masters degree.

http://www.midwives.org

all the info regarding the school is there....even how apply

takajolily · Dec 10, 2003

And if you're really adventurous you could try New Zealand, we are short of midwives, but have excellent conditions.

http://www.midwife.org.nz/index.cfm

Sarah Kat · Dec 11, 2003

We have a lot of midwives here in WV. They practice out in the country and in the cities. The doctor I go to has about 7 or 8 CNMs in his practice. Midwives fit in here culturally, as they were used for years by the apalachians in the mountains. They were the "witches" known as "granny women". They provided women with birth control methods, midwivery, herbal remedies, etc. Good luck, and if you know you are meant to be a midwife, don't let anything stop you.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Dec 12, 2003

In Eastern North Carolina, midwife market is not so good. Doctors generally don't want to have to cover them in the event a cesarean is needed. There are lots of political and control issues with doctors. One of the midwives I know had to endure a lot of persecution with the local OB-GYN's. For awhile, she was working in the local health department--not in the hospital, and not delivering babies. Recently, she found a position in a hospital, but she has quite a commute.

LuvsOB · Dec 12, 2003

Originally posted by Jacki, RN
At my hospital, we did have midwives when I started...then experienced a sentinel event of one of their patients where the baby eventually died. They were all let go because the OBs did not want to cover them any longer.

Wow! Thats kind of a knee jerk reaction. Hospitals don't let all of the doctors go when one of their pts dies. That shows how much predudice there still is against nurse practitioners.