Nurse midwife? Or another path....HELP! :)

[brightness]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I posted this in another area but didn't get very many replies. So I am going to try again here. I am thinking very seriously about getting a BSN and then becoming a nurse-midwife. Have any of you worked with nurse-midwives or are any of familiar with the position? I am just looking for more info, first person accounts, ect. I am interested in child birth and that whole process and I do think the philosophy of "non intervention" is useful- at the same time I think that when a pregnancy is complicated, its time to make a decision to have the doctor intervene. I think I am the type of person who takes a moderate approach to things, generally.
I am somewhat interested in becoming a doctor- OB/GYN, but it just seems to difficult. I feel like I'm not smart enough by a long shot, even though I haven't really looked into the requirements...part of me would like to do it, but another part feels like it is safer to go the mid-level route. I am terrible at math, but I do like science. What about PAs/NPs? Can they specialize in OB-GYN?
Thank you!
Lindsay

 

[zenman]

My exwife was a nurse midwife who taught at a medical school in Louisiana along with another midwife...I think for about 20 years. Then the Dept head was changed and he didn't like midwives so they were canned. Malpractice insurance is a big factor also. My ex just switched to NP and kept going.

 

[brightness]

So maybe the NP route would be better?

 

[guetzow]

It's a difficult specialty in general. Many OB/GYN Docs have even closed up shop because of crazy liability insurance rates, and the litigeous nature of that specialty. You may also want to consider Peds, or FP with a country doc who also does OB/GYN (As a PA or NP).

 

[Merovingienne]

I am terrible at math, but I do like science. What about PAs/NPs? Can they specialize in OB-GYN?
Thank you!
Lindsay

If you're terrible at math, you will never pass nursing school, let alone grad school (to become a CNM). A BSN program requires a semester of statistics, and before each clinical rotation, you have to take a math test and usually get a 90% or better on the test to even be allowed to participate. Then, before every job in nursing you have, you will also have to take a math test. But more importantly, you will have to use math on the job sometimes to calculate medications for your patients. Even if you have a calculator, if you are given a medication that is prescribed in ml/kg and pharmacy sends up the meds in oz/lb, you will have to know how to convert what they have sent you to accurately dispense the meds. This happens!

Also, you should really research the differences between OB-GYNs and Certified Nurse Midwifes. CNM's aren't 'mid-levels' that are required to work with a physician's licence. Their emphasis is on care of 'well-women'; you could spend your entire life having gyno care from a CNM and never even see a physican. They can (and do) practice autonomously in settings such as birth centers and hospitals. If someone is no longer a candidate for care by a midwife, then they are referred to a physican for care.

As always, if you want more information on nursing than you can possibly process, there is always www.allnurses.com. www.midwife.org is the homepage of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and would also be a good place for someone interested in midwifery to take a look around.

 

[brightness]

I can do math, I just have to practice it and do it carefully. I passed Stats with a C+, which isn't great but that is a very difficult class.
I might think about another specialization and try to get into school to be a D.O., although the CNM track is still attractive to me. I want to be able to get a job, and it sounds like because of the malpractice issues it may be difficult to practice as a CNM or even an OBGYN.

 

[zenman]

I can do math, I just have to practice it and do it carefully. I passed Stats with a C+, which isn't great but that is a very difficult class.

I hate to tell you but stats is pretty basic stuff!

 

[guetzow]

Go PA Peds or PA Neonatal!!

 

[Monika]

If you go PA, you may want to consider applying for a PA residency in OB/Gyn.

There are two accredited PA residencies at APPAP: PA OB/Gyn residencies

 

[brightness]

I hate to tell you but stats is pretty basic stuff!

OK, well what do I NEED to know how to do? Instead of telling me "You can't..." it might be better to tell me what I do need? 🙂

 

[zenman]

OK, well what do I NEED to know how to do? Instead of telling me "You can't..." it might be better to tell me what I do need? 🙂

I didn't say "you can't." Just pointing out reality to you. You do need a realistic assessment of where you're at now and what you need to do to get where you want to be.

 

[Jengirl18]

There's a student in my PA class who was previously a lay midwife. She's now going to PA school and wants to later work in obgyn. She will keep up her license so she can do home births. Being a PA will give her the knowldege she needs to counsel women in all aspects of their care. She's been wonderful to learn from in our Obgyn class.

 

[EMDream]

I hate to tell you but stats is pretty basic stuff!

stats is pretty much all nursing programs require, and some pa programs. 😛