WHNP wants to be CNM?

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Hi ,

I will be graduating this year from a WHNP/FNP program and I am thinking about going for CNM. Is this a crazy idea?? I found a school in my state that would only require 15 more credits to be a CNM, since I will already be a WHNP. There are plenty of WHNP's in this area and the job seems pretty nice, but I feel like I am missing out on the full experience by not being able to deliver. On the other hand, the benefits are no call time. The other issue is that I have no L&D experience, which concerns me but I do have 13 years of ER experience. I read the other posts regarding experience, so it doesn't seem like it will be an issue. I was also wondering if the pay is higher for a midwife than a WHNP, since the midwife is on call and taking on more responsibility. Money isn't my motive but I do want to be compensated for all of the extra hours on call! Any advice would be appreciated because I am very confused about which path I should take. Thanks!

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Specializes in Rural Health.

I would find a CNM in your area and talk to them. Get a feel for what they do. It really can vary from locale to locale as far as practice, services, etc.... Some CNM's do all the "office work" while the doc catches, others do all the catching while the doc doesn't. It also depends on whether or not you are interested in hospital only births, birth centers or home births.

I found what has helped me more than anything was to check out http://www.midwife.org. SO MUCH info on that page about Midwives. Check out the job listings too and see what's available where you live (or would like to live).

As far as pay - generally speaking, CNM's have some of the lowest starting salaries of any APN positions out there. For example: I work in state that has one major insurance carrier that does not provide reimbursement for CNM's and Medicaid has a very low (lowest in the nation which = bare min required) reimbursement rate for CNM's. So the salary where I live for a CNM is generally MUCH lower than lets say a staff RN in L&D. Assuming you can still find a CNM in practice in the state where I work, there are 5 or 6 left here - most have had to move on to other areas to work when *major insurance carrier* stopped paying CNM's. On the flip side, if you area WHCNP or FNP in the state where I work - your salary is one of the best in the nation because *major insurance carrier* pays very well for that type of APN.

So, morale of the story - do lots of research and talk to lots of people!!!!!

And check out more with them about the call. It's been my experience call is part of the job and you are not compensated more for it.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

The average starting salary nationwide for a CNM is between $60,000-80,000 per year (this range has been reported by a variety of sources, including the ACNM). I know several CNM's in several states, and they all started near or above the top of this range. I have never heard that CNM's make the least of APN's, but I would imagine they are competitive with NP's and also with CNS's. Also, as a clarification, Medicaid now reimburses CNM's at the same rate as NP's. Just an FYI!

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Specializes in C-EFM, L&D/Postpartum/AP/PACU.

Where I live, CNMs get paid very poorly compared other other APNs. I am sure pay is a regional thing. Also, being a midwife is a calling in my opinion. If you are not sure if you have a passion for it, then hold off until you are sure.

For me, 15 credits to go from no OB experience to midwife is sort of disurbing. As a CNM the ACNM governs the body of professional knowledge, but you might also consider taking a look at the web page below. It is a page for midwife candidates of the North American Registry of Midwives. Click on the Candidate Information Booklet link. It is a PDF file. Scroll down to page 32 and read to page 53. While it is intended for CPM candidates, not CNMs, it is an excellent and thorough list of everything you would be expected to know as a midwife. I think you can see that it would be difficult to fit the additional knowledge that a jump from WHNP/FNP to CNM requires into a short 15 credits worth of course work. The clinical experience necessary to gain all of those skills is significant.

http://www.narm.org/certification.htm

Good luck with your decision.

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Does anyone know anything about becoming a CNM AFTER becoming a WHNP?

I am hoping to begin a Direct-Entry MSN program with a WHNP specialty, but I want to know what my options are to become a midwife after this program. The program doesn't offer a CNM program (Salem State College), and the only one in my area that does is Boston University (which is out of my price range).

How much additional school would be required to become a CNM also? I am hoping that an online school such as Frontier might be a good option after getting my MSN.

The material must overlap significantly, right? Does anyone have any experience with taking this path?

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Specializes in ER.

I don't think you not having any L&D experience will make a difference..You are going to learn everything and be trained regardless. I live in Michigan, detroit area..CNM's starting salary is around $80,000.

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