https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 13:21:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-353079 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 20:40:15 +0000 ChitownRo 353079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a nurse practitioner working in GI oncology (adults), so I don't have much experience with becoming a CNM but do in the whole schema of nursing education.</p> <p> After undergrad, I worked as an RN on an inpatient heme-onc floor. I started my master's part time after about a year of working. I continued to work full time and my hospital paid my tuition (score). Now I have been working as an NP for two years - I like it most days, but I definitely miss being a floor nurse. One benefit now is the regular M-F, no holidays schedule :) Of course, working with oncology patients can be tough, but it's very rewarding. You just have to redefine success (ie - an easy transition to hospice etc). </p> <p>Anyway - in your situation, I would recommend a BSN program, especially since you seem to be considering a master's at some point. As other's have mentioned, there are accelerated BSN programs that are 1.5-2 years of intensive class/clinicals. However, one struggle may be that they require many prerequisites... it can take a year plus to finish those prereqs. My friend who went back NYU's accelerated program took most of the prereqs at community colleges and that seemed to work out fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-353051 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 20:18:54 +0000 SAHM0811 353051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a Bachelors in Psychology and got my RN and Masters in Nursing via an accelerated program. It was an intense 1.5 years of full-time schooling and clinicals. Most accelerated programs are at least 2 years long though. Luckily I also had a minor in Biology, so I already had a lot of prerequisites for nursing school. </p> <p>Associates vs BSN? Strive towards the BSN... The more prestigious hospitals/institutions only hire BSN nurses. And in my experience, those are the better places to work (job satisfaction, benefits, better nurse/patient ratios, etc). If you can finish your Bachelors, you also should look into getting your Masters like I did. This opens up your options to the world of advanced practice nursing (more autonomy)... becoming a midwife or nurse practitioner, for example.</p> <p>A few years ago I might have dissuaded some from going into nursing. The job market for nurses in the US really took a dive. No one was hiring nurses especially those straight out of school. Hospitals were closing and a lot of experienced nurses that were now laid-off were taking all the limited number of jobs that were out there. It's been looking better though in the past year or so. Nursing school is still very competitive to get into though. But if you have the drive for it, go for it. Our healthcare system needs good nurses!!</p> <p>It's a hard job, but I can't imagine being in another field. I love that there are so many facets to it. I've worked in both the inpatient and outpatient fields. I've worked nights, days, weekends, and normal M-F hours too. I'm a SAHM now, but have no qualms about jumping back into it in the future. And it pays pretty well... Eight years ago I started at $80K/year in CA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352910 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 17:43:35 +0000 QBbride 352910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini - I'm a NICU nurse too! Where do you live?? </p> <p>@zippylef -<br /> 1. I love my job! Although I don't always love the shift work (DH works mon-fri so we don't see each other a lot), I find it really rewarding. I love the teaching aspect of it. And I really like that it can be so varied - I've worked in Canada and Australia, with adults and babies...<br /> 2. I have my Bachelor's degree. Like @msmini said, they dont have associate degrees here in Canada. I like having a degree though because it keeps my options open. Many of the older nurses who don't have degrees can't apply for many of the interesting jobs. I make an extra $100/month for having a degree.<br /> 3. I'm an RN. I wanted to become an RN because you make way more money, and you have a way bigger scope of practice. Plus it keeps your options open re:working in critical care etc.<br /> 4. I chose my specialty (NICU) because I love babies, working with families etc. and because I was a preemie and spent 7 weeks in the NICU when I was born. My family had nothing but good things to say about the NICU nurses. I love it. I can really see the difference we make. Cheesy but true! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352810 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:14:27 +0000 loveisstrange 352810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: im actually from St Louis, which is only about a 5 hour drive from The Farm. We'll be back home by the time we have our next baby and Ive considered looking into having them there.</p> <p>@MsMini: Thank you so much for the information! </p> <p>I sent a quick message to the midwife who saw me through most of my pregnancy and we're going to get together and talk about it. She recommended I enroll in distance learning to get my BS and then also take the courses to become a doula and a certified LC in the meantime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352790 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:36:32 +0000 Arden 352790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: Have you considered the possibility of becoming a Midwife's Assistant? If you get your RN and then take a short midwifery assisting class (they have one taught by Ina May Gaskin at The Farm), you would be well qualified to be one. Then you can assist midwives at birth center and home births.<br /> If I was going to stay in the USA, that's probably what I would do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352784 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:31:49 +0000 MsMini 352784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am an RN, and I work in NICU (so I can't help with any of the midwifery classes). </p> <p>I opted go get my BScN (Bachelor of science in nursing) degree because here RN's make at least twice as much money, and LPN's are not permitted to work in critical care areas in many parts of Canada (ICU, NICU, LDR, OR, Recovery Room) and I definitely wanted to work in NICU.</p> <p>In Canada, there are no associated degrees, just bachelors. You get paid extra per hour for having a bachelor's degree.</p> <p>I did 2 years of a chemistry degree prior to starting my nursing degree, so I did an accelerated program, which at my school was 3 years. It was 3 nursing courses (1 theory, and 1 practical theory that was to be done at the same time as 1 practicum), per semester for 9 semesters (fall, winter and spring, so I had 2 months off per year).</p> <p>I chose NICU based on personal/family experience (my cousin had a baby who only lived for 6 weeks in NICU before he passed away) the NICU nurses were so amazing and made such a difference to our family. I just wanted to be able to pay it forward and give that to a family who needs it.</p> <p>I love NICU, it fulfills me, and gives me as much or more than I give it. The good days outnumber the bad, and especially on bad days I know that I am there for a reason and that I am providing something to families, that they may not appreciate on that moment, but that they will be thankful for later. I will never work in another area of nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352724 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:38:07 +0000 Dapple Grey 352724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: I hear ya! Well no matter what, that coursework you did complete should help in most any program! You can shave probably most of your gen eds out and just focus on sciences and nursing specific coursework. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352671 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:34:30 +0000 Mrs. Pen 352671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to follow this thread as I'm looking into going back to school for nursing as well and midwifery is definitely a possibility later on in the future. I for sure want to get my doula certification after completing my RN.</p> <p>I would love to pursue working at the birth center that I went to for my prenatal care. I loved it there, and the nurses were incredible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352660 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:14:59 +0000 loveisstrange 352660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dapple Grey: See, the issue with my bachelor's is that I didn't finish it. I was one semester away and had a life/identity crisis and dropped out. Yes, I know... I'm an idiot. So, I have all of my gen ed courses completed but didn't finished the last bit of the classes for my major. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352659 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:11:34 +0000 Boogs 352659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dapple Grey: Some great info! Especially about some of those accelerated plans, thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352651 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:05:41 +0000 Dapple Grey 352651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love this thread! </p> <p>I only have Medical Assisting under my belt ( you can work in OBGYN office), but I do love health care..the hours/flexibility, pay and uniforms ;) </p> <p>I too am looking to go back to school ( have a useless 4 year degree) to go into Nursing so I can do L&amp;D type stuff. and go from there, perhaps an NP or CNM. </p> <p>There are also some accelerated BSN programs that will take non nursing 4 year degrees and within a year of full time study grant you the BSN which is RN + batch. I think it depends on your area and who's offering what.</p> <p>I say see what credits they will accept from your 4 years, and tackle the ones you need and can do online. And then when your in the states do your clinicals.</p> <p>I don't know if finances play a part but most hospitals will reimburse all of your tuition/ pay for it while you go if you agree to work for them for X amount of time. Something worth looking into as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352642 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 13:03:13 +0000 Boogs 352642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You sound just like me! Because you already have a 4 year degree I don't think you need to complete another for nursing. I believe that if you're an RN with any type of bachelors degree you still get the higher pay. I could be completely wrong and an actual RN can correct me, that's just what I have found so far in my research. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352611 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 12:47:18 +0000 Arden 352611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a nurse or a midwife, but I've long considered going into this field and looked into it quite a bit. Since I am also usually overseas, I also looked into what I could do from there.<br /> I personally would recommend starting an RN program online, and then completing the practical when you get back to the states. One of the ones I've heard great things about is Excelsior College, they have a really large nursing faculty and it's a good program from what I've heard for distance learning. I'm sure there are many other good ones as well.<br /> Once you get your RN, you can then become a nurse practioner and work as that while you get your masters to become a CNM. </p> <p>Let me know if you decide to do this, I'd love to keep in touch and hear about the program and how you like it! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-any-nurses-or-midwives#post-352603 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 12:40:51 +0000 loveisstrange 352603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, I went to college for Education. I decided that the field wasn't for me (after 4 years. *sigh*) and then I got married and moved overseas for a couple of years. Well, we're still living overseas but are going to be moving back to the states in about a year and a half.</p> <p>I'm considering going into nursing and maybe specializing in midwifery from there. I know there are universities that are connected to the base here (I'm a military spouse) that offer nursing degrees online. They are legitimate schools (University of Maryland, etc) that offer some coursework online and then you must go to the states to do your practical stuff. </p> <p>My questions:</p> <p>How do you like your job?</p> <p>Is a bachelor's degree program worth it or is an associate's enough?</p> <p>Are you an RN, LPN, etc? Why did you choose what you did?</p> <p>Why did you choose the specialization you did? </p>