Questions for Nurse Midwives (trying to make life decisions here) - Page 2

[CEG]

Originally Posted by MsElle07

At some schools (like Frontier), it's a requirement. Other schools offer just the CNM with no Masters, and all you need for admission is a BSN.

I think maybe my state requires the MS for licensure.... I remember hearing something like that. Anyway, thanks for the clarification

[Synchro246]

according to allnursingschools.com my current school (university of south florida) offers a RN to MSN (direct entry MSN?) program, but when I look at our catelog it seems you must have your RN to get admitance. I don't get it.

At least I have until next fall to figure all this out.

[CEG]

Originally Posted by Synchro246

according to allnursingschools.com my current school (university of south florida) offers a RN to MSN (direct entry MSN?) program, but when I look at our catelog it seems you must have your RN to get admitance. I don't get it.

At least I have until next fall to figure all this out.

Usually when they say "RN-MSN" they mean people who have RN licensure but no BSN-usually an Associates Degree (ADN) or sometimes a diploma (aren't too many diploma programs these days). And those people are admitted to an MSN program with a few extra classes (like statistics, research, etc) to "bridge" between the lower and the MSN. So you would have to do a traditional associates program or a hospital diploma program first.

The website www.allnurses.com has an extraordinary amount of information on nursing. There is a pre-nursing student forum where you can get a lot of info on applying, etc. There are a couple of long threads on graduate/direct entry programs too. I remember doing this same process and it is amazing how confusing it all is. Good luck!

[MsElle07]

Originally Posted by CEG

I think maybe my state requires the MS for licensure.... I remember hearing something like that. Anyway, thanks for the clarification

That's a good point... the programs are going to be based on that particular state's licensure requirements. Another thing I have to consider, particularly if I want to do an out of state program, I'll have to look to see if it meets my state's license requirements.

And meanwhile, there's a critical shortage of nurses. They certainly do not make the process easy to understand!

[Midwife Kris]

Originally Posted by MsElle07

At some schools (like Frontier), it's a requirement. Other schools offer just the CNM with no Masters, and all you need for admission is a BSN.

Frontier has a bridge program now where Associate Degree nurses can apply for the BSN to MSN w/midwifery certificate.

[Sweeney]

There are degreed programs for DEMs too. I know Utah College of Midwifery and National College of Midwifery both have MSM programs. I like to fantasize about all the research I want to in the future too!

[MsElle07]

Originally Posted by metromidwife

Frontier has a bridge program now where Associate Degree nurses can apply for the BSN to MSN w/midwifery certificate.

Right. I was talking about the Master's... Frontier doesn't offer just a CNM, their program results in both the certificate and the MSN.

[MsElle07]

Looks like all people graduating in 2010 or after will have to get their Master's...http://www.midwife.org/siteFiles/pos...ments_3.06.pdf

[Midwife Kris]

Originally Posted by MsElle07

Right. I was talking about the Master's... Frontier doesn't offer just a CNM, their program results in both the certificate and the MSN.

I'm not sure how your clarification changed what I wrote about having a bridge program for nurses with the ADN? FWIW, my preceptor graduated from Frontier with the MS sans nursing concentration just a few years back. Students who choose/chose this option can earn the MSN with completion of a few classes depending on when they graduated CNEP.

[MsElle07]

Originally Posted by metromidwife

I'm not sure how your clarification changed what I wrote about having a bridge program for nurses with the ADN?

Sorry if I was unclear. What I was trying to say is that you can't get into the Master's program w/out taking additional coursework. (At Frontier, at least.) They don't admit RNs without a bachelor's of some kind, or without the additional coursework.

[Midwife Kris]

Originally Posted by MsElle07

Sorry if I was unclear. What I was trying to say is that you can't get into the Master's program w/out taking additional coursework. (At Frontier, at least.) They don't admit RNs without a bachelor's of some kind, or without the additional coursework.

I suppose I am still confused. Frontier has a ADN to MSN program so it is possible to be admitted into their program without a BS or BA. From the Admissions page:

• Registered nurses with a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing will be considered for admission to the MSN Program.

• Registered nurses without a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing, who have completed a diploma or associate degree nursing program and have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, will be considered for admission to the MSN Program with the additional requirement of a portfolio of relevant employment and academic experience.

• Registered nurses who do not have a baccalaureate degree in any discipline will be considered for admission via the ADN to MSN Bridge.

Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing ADN to MSN Bridge. Am I totally missing what you're saying? lol I am really not dense

[MsElle07]

Originally Posted by metromidwife

I suppose I am still confused. Frontier has a ADN to MSN program so it is possible to be admitted into their program without a BS or BA. Am I totally missing what you're saying? lol I am really not dense

Sorry!

I am trying to say that you cannot get into the MSN program with JUST an ADN. If all you have is an ADN, you must do additional coursework. (Either the bridge program, which takes a year, or a program that grants your BSN.) You can't start the MSN until you've completed either the bridge program or have your BSN.

Does that make sense? Sorry if I'm not communicating clearly -- I've got a two week old in my lap.

[Midwife Kris]

LOL, well it just seems to me you're making the ADN to MSN bridge way too complicated while saying the same thing

[junglefamily]

hey! i haven't even read all the post but wow! i'm in the exact same situation.......finishing my BA in anthro with a thesis about birth about want to be a midwife....but which path to take?

[AntoninBeGonin]

Originally Posted by BeckiCNM

. Or you could do a master's direct entry program - look at Yale for an example.

Do you have a personal opinion of this type of program?

I'm in the same situation as the OP. I've decided I want to get a CNM and my lifelong goal is to have a PhD in Anthropolgy. Maybe we should start a tribe .

I don't have any degrees yet because I've changed my mind a few times over the past several years. My husband has helped me look into CNM information and he's read that the best path is for me to get my Associates at the community college, then get a BSN from Illinois State University, and then decide on step three from there. Does that sound right?

[BeckiCNM]

Originally Posted by AntoninBeGonin

Do you have a personal opinion of this type of program?

I'm in the same situation as the OP. I've decided I want to get a CNM and my lifelong goal is to have a PhD in Anthropolgy. Maybe we should start a tribe .

I don't have any degrees yet because I've changed my mind a few times over the past several years. My husband has helped me look into CNM information and he's read that the best path is for me to get my Associates at the community college, then get a BSN from Illinois State University, and then decide on step three from there. Does that sound right?

My personal opinion is that these programs are fine if you have some experience in the birth world - doula, CBE, something. My experience has been that some students who think they want to be a CNM with no birthing experience of their own sometimes find that the intrapartum care is less appealing than they thought it would be. But this might be biased because 2 of the 3 graduate entry students that I went to school with both dropped out because of they didn't like catching babies.

Your plan sounds like it should work just fine. Good luck!

[CEG]

Originally Posted by AntoninBeGonin

Do you have a personal opinion of this type of program?

I'm in the same situation as the OP. I've decided I want to get a CNM and my lifelong goal is to have a PhD in Anthropolgy. Maybe we should start a tribe .

I don't have any degrees yet because I've changed my mind a few times over the past several years. My husband has helped me look into CNM information and he's read that the best path is for me to get my Associates at the community college, then get a BSN from Illinois State University, and then decide on step three from there. Does that sound right?

I am in one of these programs. I have a prior BA and just completed my RN licensure. I have gotten the question several times "How could you possibly know you want to be a midwife without working in the field first?" My response is "How did you know you wanted to be a dentist (or teacher or nurse or zookeeper or mailman) without working in the field first? That's the same way I knew!" I think the question is funny when the majority of people who go to college and choose a career do it right after high school when they have zero experience in the field (or in life for that matter). Doctors don't have to work in the field, nor do nurses or lawyers. No one has ever been the president before they are elected.

That said I think it is good to gain some experience either before or during school, it is helpful and it's nice to have that first experience under your belt before it counts for a grade. I have doula experience as well as lactation educator certification.

But I knew I wanted to be a midwife when I had babies and I had a midwife. If I had worked in OB first as a nurse I would probably be more into a medical model and support OBs and hate midwives (like 99% of the OB nurses I know). I think this method is a great way to bring midwives into the field that are choosing midwifery for the right reasons and not because it is a logical career progression.

You don't need to worry about getting your BSN- most programs that offer MS degrees offer the RN-MSN program as well (at my school it involves taking a few extra credits during the program). I am in Illinois as well and there are a few options to become a CNM although I think all are in Chicago. I would also consider that doing the ADN- MSN that way will take awhile- part of the lure of combined entry programs is that they are much faster and save $ in the long run because you are in school for less time and can start working sooner. Good luck.