Midwifery Today Community

I haven't told the whole world yet in "real life" because I haven't had a chance to tell my dance director (because doing this means moving away), but I have to tell someone:  

I got into Vanderbilt!  This whole midwifery thing is really truly going to happen for me!  They chose 20 students out of a total pool of over 1700 applicants, and one of them was me!  I just don't even know how to wrap words around how great this feels.  

Wowie zowie!  Congratulations!  I'd toast you with chocolate but all I have at the moment is a box of Cheezits.  So I'll raise my Cheezits to you!  Well done!!!

That's awe inspiring.  Congratulations!

CONGRATS!

Am I correct in assuming that your entering via the bridge program or are you already an RN/BSN?

I recently, like this past weekend, attend an admissions open house for like the 5th time in 10 years. Trying to wrap my mind around the expense. But as always I leave impressed with the prespeciality year training and skeptical regarding my ability to manage the distance clinical training semesters. But where there is a will there is a way!

So kudos to you and if you wouldn't mind please share what aspects of you application where particulary stand out components for the selection committee. I know it will just be a guess as I assume they don't write back with a letter of praise regarding why you were selected.

Again, bravo!!!

Thanks!  I'm waiting on one more letter from one other school and hoping to have a final decision made by the end of the month.  You are correct in that I have a bachelors degree in a non-medical field and (in either school) will take the accelerated RN program and then track into the MSN in midwifery.  

I honestly couldn't tell you what specifically stood out from my application.  Before sending in my application I had the opportunity to speak with the director of the midwifery program for about 30 minutes on the phone (she was very warm and encouraging! I, however, was actually shaking from nerves).  We discussed my background and one of her recommendations was to include in my essay what things drew me to my other degree (Biblical studies) and what drew me toward midwifery.  She said to definitely include how I could see the two blending together and what I hoped to do in the future with them.  Since I absolutely see midwifery as a ministry to women and their families, and since I hope to one day take what I learn back into work in impoverished countries again, that was not hard to write about.  She really encouraged me to make my essay very personal and show them who I am, not just try to write what I thought they wanted to hear from from a future academic student.  I think following her advice probably helped a lot.  Definitely call and speak to her (I have her contact information, and it's on their website) because I know she would be encouraging to you too.  

So excited!  I'll let you know what the final outcome is as soon as I know it. =D  

congratulations on being accepted! have you heard from the other school yet?

Well, I heard back from the University of Florida and it was also a yes.  Which sounds great! In theory.  The tough part now is deciding which one to go with.  

What I like about Vanderbilt is that the program goes straight through from pre-licensure to MSN-midwifery with no stops, it's a smaller school so the class size and professor:student ration is much smaller, it's got a great reputation, and the philosophy of care seems to really emphasize being "with women" in all aspects of care.  Down sides are that it means an out-of-state move and uncertain job prospects for my husband, who will also have to pursue his own education more slowly if I do this.

What I like about UF is that it is in my home state near my family, less expensive, and allows for the possibility for my husband to pursue his degree full-time (maybe - we are still working that out).  Down sides are that the accelerated RN program ends in a BSN, then I would have to reapply to hopefully gain a spot in the midwifery program.  The university itself is ten times the size of Vanderbilt so the student:professor ratio is much bigger, and the overall emphasis seems to really be more on the technology than on personal care for the patients.  

Those last two paragraphs make up one seriously dense little nutshell.  The good news is, one way or another I get to go to school to become a midwife!  The bad part is I'm stuck in the decision phase.  I am really, really open to any advice, experience, words from God anyone might care to share! Really!

Congrats again!

I can somewhat understand your dilemma but there are a few things to consider some that have a lot to do with actually becoming a midwife and some that don't that are more like creature comforts.

My opinion is coming from a place of high regard for Vandy and as a resident of TN but there are some other real things to consider some trivial some huge:

1. When it gets cold here it gets cold, sloppy wet messy cold. Bried but cold none the less.

2. If you have kiddos public schools in our state are struggling and even more so in Davidson county

3. Jobs pay less here than in FL as a whole and our cost of living really isn't much cheaper. Not sure what profession your hubby is in but...

4. We do not have mass transit and parking at Vandy is a beast

5. Your hubby will be subject to out of state tutition to continue his education on top of Vanderbilt's astronomical tuition for you ( which I believe is at least 2x as much as UF)

6. At the most recent open house I was directly told that integration/practicum rotations are out of town 2-3 hours away and out of state (at least 1 semester) to get in your experience, this is without exception. The nurse midwifery group at Vandy has very few slots for rotating students through and once the mamas are risked out they go to the OB residents. Additionally, the state of TN is still not as midwifery friendly as it ought to be and even during orientation they stress that you may need to move outside of city or state limits to find work which means one more interuption to hubby's education path if his credits will transfer.

7. The campus and immediate community is not diverse and you will note major disparities in all sorts of arenas within the city limits. But this may also hold true for Florida.

8. We do not have a beach!!! Our lake is called the cumberland punch and swimming in it is at your own risk, seriously.

Above are the major cons I come up with. Not to scare you but to keep it very real considering you have a huge decision to make.

My pros are from personal experience. I completed a public health internship at Vandy more than 10 years ago and had a awesome experience with a stellar preceptor from maternal fetal medicine. I also, despite all the cons above plan to apply there, go into major debt and then pray that I get a choice NHS, Rural Health Service or Indian Reservation assignment to help repay my loans.

The Dean of the Graduate Nursing Program as well as the faculty for the Midwifery and FNP program are very very approachable

Local Vandy grads that I have met are well respected in the rural communities and outside the state and find awesome opportunities for international training. Also have no difficulty securing employment in rural areas and outside the state.

Local MANA folks are wonderful and receptive

I've not noted any CNM vs. CPM vs. CM tension and I've lived here over 10 years circulating mainly on the periphery of the "movement" but very much aware.

Stellar simulation labs for practicing skills before touching real folks

Mama and Babas are very very receptive to the midwifery model here and it is of course becoming envogue, however there are those that would say the Vandy version is still a bit too medicinalized

Vandy recently opened a new birth center, though it is only used for preantal care, but they call it a birth center

Vandy also offers a DNP and a PhD for MAsters prepared nurses and there is also an CNM/FNP option if you want to broaden your scope of service.

Good luck on the decision making process. Hopefully my input has been some help. If not scrap it all flip a coin and say a prayer!

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