Teens Graduating Early ... What will you do next?

[cookderosa]

I'm working on getting my AA in Liberal Arts from TE. I hope to have that done by 2011, when I graduate from HS.

I'm also currently working on getting my Midwifery Certificate. After I have my AA, I should have Spanish down pretty well, so in Summer 2011, I plan on going to the Philippines for 3 months, to work as a Missionary Midwife with the Mercy Maternity Center.
After I get back, I plan on getting my Nutrition Certificate, & EMT Certification.
By 2013, I hope to be on the Missionfield, as a Missionary Midwife for God.
(My 3 passion are Midwifery, Missions & Horses.)

Getting a degree is my family's requirement, but because I'm planning on getting so many Certifications, my dad allowed me to only get an AA.
Sarah

>>

Ok, so maybe no one cares about this except for me....but I want to post here about this one teeny-tiny-little-thing that is otherwise off topic.....

There are no legal or accredited midwifery certificates in the United States. How do I know? Because I'm on a 7+ year path to becoming a doctorate-prepared midwife, and I assure you if there was a way to do so with an AA degree and a certificate- I'd be all on it There isn't.

There are LOTS of unaccredited lay midwife "degree" programs- these are not even nationally accredited, just unaccredited. These are diploma mills! RUN don't walk in the other direction. They certainly don't qualify you to hold a state license and practice midwifery. (which is illegal without a license- illegal as in real jail time) It is against the law to practice midwifery/medicine without a license.

Anyway- the route to midwifery is basically:
1) become a registered nurse
2) complete a nursing program and hold a bachelor's degree (many paths here)
3) accumulate no less than 1 year full time nurse work experience
4) enroll in a regionally accredited master's degree-issuing Nurse Practitioner program with your major/concentration/etc as midwifery. (effective 2015 this changes to doctorate requirement for entry level)
5) graduate with a doctorate degree
6) sit and pass American College of Nurse Midwives exam
7) apply and obtain state license as a Certified Nurse Midwife
8) purchase malpractice insurance (roughly $1000/month)
9. Once insured, find a job and catch babies

There are a few slight variations, but that's the Cliffs notes version.

I'm not downing this poster- I promise I'm not. If she is REALLY interested in midwifery, I WANT to help her get on the path. I love midwifery, and while it's not something often talked about here (obviously) it really is a calling. To date, I have watched 1 friend in trial for practicing midwifery w/o a license and another have the contents of her home searched. These two women, friends of mine, were practicing outside of the law. It is what it is- and they are good at what they do- but what they do is currently against the law in my state. That said- there are LEGAL paths to a solid career of baby catching in the hospital under the supervision of a physician. I am proud to call 9 certified nurse midwives friends. You can have your own practice, prescribe medication, take care of women across the lifespan, and earn a nice living...if you do it the proper way. I'm solidly in the "camp" of operating your practice legally.

I'll even admit that I have had 4 midwife- attended births. One and four were in the hospital attended by nurse midwives, and numbers two and three were born at home with midwives operating outside of the law. I have seen both sides, and understand both sides very very well. I do- I know the arguments FOR lay midwifery, I could probably tell you some new ones....but the reality is that you must be properly trained. In my opinion, knowing what I know after 15 years of soaking up this subject, I just must encourage anyone considering this path to do so properly.

So please, I am happy to help. Please PM me and we will chat. But, for the integrity of this thread, I just couldn't let this slip through unchecked.

Now- back to your regularly scheduled chit chat lol.