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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.
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.
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.

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!

Love this thread!

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

I too am looking to go back to school ( have a useless 4 year degree) to go into Nursing so I can do L&D type stuff. and go from there, perhaps an NP or CNM.

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.

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.

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!

@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.

@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.
If I was going to stay in the USA, that's probably what I would do.

@MsMini - I'm a NICU nurse too! Where do you live??

@zippylef -
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...
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.
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.
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!

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.

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).

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.