Peyton
Should I get a dual Masters Degree?
Eventually, I am looking into getting my Masters degree in Midwifery. There are multiple programs where you can get double certified to be a Midwife and Nurse Practitioner. Are there any benefits to getting being dual certified? #nurse #midwife #dual-masters-degree #masters-programs
6 answers
Suzanne Lowe
Suzanne’s Answer
Hope this is still relevant.
First question is do you want to deliver babies? Is yes then a midwifery path will need to be completed. There are ways to different types of midwifery.(CNM,CM,CPM) Check your state and different locations in your area that employ both NP's and midwives. See what the scope of practice is, what type of certification, license is necessary etc. Ask about salary. Dual degree may cost much more than is necessary and not reimbursable unless you work for a health system that pays for student loans. Here on the east coast NP's and CNM's make about the same with and without a Master's degree. However, most job opportunities usually now require Master's prepared. I'm old so I get a pass on the masters due to experience.
I have precepted NP programs that include gyn and some limited ob instruction. There may be other NP programs that give you more experience in obstetrics. This could make you valuable in a setting where full scope is a necessity.
Best of luck on your journey. Both NP and CNM careers are very rewarding and greatly needed in our health care system now and in the future.
Naomi Andrews
Naomi’s Answer
There are multiple pathways towards midwifery and first you'll want to decide if you want to be a nurse first or not. If you do go the route of being a Certified Nurse Midwife in which you would have the broadest scope of practice and are eligible to work in all 50 states, then you would be considered an advanced practice registered nurse. I chose to be a nurse first even though I wanted to be a midwife eventually so that I could get experience in my field and understand what being an important member of the birth team felt like from a nurse perspective. My nursing experience greatly helped me on my journey towards becoming a midwife and NP. Many programs offer the opportunity for dual certifications and it depends on what your long term goals are to know if one of them is right for you. I got my education through Georgetown University and became a dully certified in both Nurse Midwifery and as a Women's Health NP. I believe this makes me more marketable to my patients and to potential employers although the scope of practice of the two overlaps almost entirely so that the WHNP itself does not add much as far as possibilities since I already am a CNM. What I mean by this is that a CNM can do nearly everything that a WHNP does, but WHNP's cannot deliver babies. Some programs offer dual family nurse practitioner and CNM which would definitely broaden the scope of practice and could make you more marketable and valuable in a small community where more primary care is required in addition to midwifery care. As far as salary I do not expect that I will be paid significantly for being dually certified and that is unfortunate since I certainly paid more for the education which also took more time. I hope that helps answer your question and good luck in your journey!.
Anna Norwood, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
Anna’s Answer
Hi Peyton! Great career choice. As a Family Nurse Practitioner who has worked with many midwives, I can tell you that the two are very different career paths. The way that a midwife looks at a patient is very different from the way a nurse practitioner looks at a patient. Having both perspectives would be absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend it. Now, it really does depend on what you are looking to do with your degree. Do you absolutely have your heart set on being a midwife and feel certain that you will never want a career change? If so, many not be worth it to get both degrees. Would you consider yourself wanting to at some point transition to working with babies or pediatrics? If so, you would really need your NP degree. Do you see yourself working in private practice, or would you want to also work at a hospital or with a large group? You would be a more attractive candidate to a hospital system with both degrees.
victoria ofulue
victoria’s Answer
yes, im working at getting my dual degree.
Chelsea Velovich
Chelsea’s Answer
I am a Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Nurse Midwife. I use both my degrees daily as I work in both Internal Medicine and Gynecology. I do not currently do deliveries. I focus on the GYN aspect where I perform in-office colposcopies, endometrial biopsies, and other procedures that are essential to Women's Health. Additionally, I care for my patient's other chronic conditions, such as Diabetes, Hypertension, etc. This allows for me to care for my patients in a very comprehensive way, gives me a larger knowledge scope and more job stability and flexibility. I hope this gives you insight into how being a dual certified APRN can work in a clinical setting.
Best,
Chelsea
