katiethwaites1

Hello i'm currently studying for a degree in midwifery in the UK. After gaining my degree, I would like to move to the US and work here, however I dont know how to go about this. Does anyone know how I would find information about this, and how likely it would be that I would obtain a visa.
Also, because I dont live in America, I dont really know all that much about state specifics, only what i've seen on tv/read about. If i give a basic description on what I would like out of a state, would anyone be able to advise me on what states fit this description. Thank you.

STATE IDEALS: hot weather in summer, cold in winter, friendly people, good value for money property wise, possibly near beach, and finally a low crime rate (a must).

PeaceOut

If you find that ideal state, please let me know!

("Good value" and "near beach" usually aren't found together.)

You might want to do some research and see what certification you will need to complete in order to practice midwifery in the States.

katiethwaites1

thanks for the reply! Do you know what kind of state would fit my description minus the 'near a beach' part? Also do you have any idea how I would find out about what certification I will need? thank you

PeaceOut

I really don't know, except we have a friend who is a midwife in Oregon.

There are beaches in Oregon, obviously, and better values to be found than in California. Weather can be difficult, I hear.

Google Midwife Certification in Oregon, and see what you find.

katiethwaites1

Thank you I'm looking into it now How do you mean difficult, too hot?

nytraveler

I'm sorry - but what you want to do is practically impossible. You will need to contact the US embassy in London to find out the process for applying for immigration - but expect it to be very time-consuming and unlikely to be successful. Typically the only chance to do this is to have a talent or training that is not readily available in the US - not true in this case.

Separately, I'm afraid that a degree in midwifery from the UK is useless in the US. You would need to meet educational requirements and pass a licensing test here. Typically here - that would be an advanced nursing degree - which means 4 years for an RN degree and then another year or two to become a nurse practitioner. (One of my cousins in a pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in neonatology - and her course was 3 years on top of her 4 year RN degree. She is now an associate director of nursing supervising obstetrics and pediatrics as well as the largest NICU in the state.) (The same is true of FMGs - foreign medical graduates - and it often takes a considerble time and additional schooling before they can qualify in the US.)

Also, here is most states nurse midwives are required to work with an obstetrics practice if they are to obtain hospital privileges (and many hospitals do not encourage NMs due to risk/insurance issues.) There are some states in which licensed NPs can set up individual practices - but they are typically rural areas that are severely underserved by physicians and healthcare practitioners in general.

As for where to liv e a lot will depends on the state's laws regarding midwifery - here this is a state and not a federal matter - and Florida - with it's very large geriatric population is not likely to be a state really in need of midwives. Separately, although summer are hellishly hot, winters are not cold, property values are low - but so are salaries - and the crime rate varies by location. Property near beaches is esepcially expensive and property taxes can be very high.

But - your first step really need to be the US embassy to find out if you wold qualify for immigration at all.

PeaceOut

Probably every US state has different requirements.

Using Oregon as a 'for instance:

http://www.alliedhealthworld.com/bec...in-oregon.html

"Becoming a Midwife in Oregon"
By Karen Weil, allied health world contributing writer
Published: October, 21 2010


Are you interested in learning how to become a midwife in Oregon? Training includes a combination of education and practical experience. There are multiple entry points into the profession. If one is already a practicing nurse, he or she will want to look into a master’s level program in midwifery. Those just beginning their college careers may also find this to be the best option. Ultimately, aspiring nurse-midwives can expect to finish their education a couple years sooner than if they went to medical school.


Some people find direct entry midwifery a better option. Oregon does not mandate licensure for such midwives. Licensure is, however, highly recommended for several reasons. Only licensed midwives (LDMs) are authorized to administer certain medications or use devices such as IVs that may be helpful in the birth process. Furthermore, if a mother is looking for reimbursement for birth-associated medical costs through the Oregon Health Plan, a licensed midwife must assist her.

Certification as a direct entry midwife is a shorter path for some, but one still must demonstrate a high degree of professional knowledge. This includes practical experience. Before certification, a midwife must have participated in a total of 50 deliveries, 25 of them as an assistant, and must have completed a requisite number of prenatal and postnatal examinations. Aspiring midwives in Oregon must also pass a certifying exam through NARM (National Association of Registered Midwives).

PeaceOut

Excellent point, nytraveler. Immigration could be a show-stopper for the OP.

tomfuller

Agree with PeaceOut Oregon is the state for you. http://cms.oregon.gov/OHLA/DEM/Pages/index.aspx
How close to the ocean you want to live is up to you.
I live on the east side of the Cascades in Oregon.
This morning when I got up the temp was 40*F. When I got back from the mountains where I saw snow, the temp was 100*F .

katiethwaites1

I looked into working as a midwife in Australia and it seemed that because midwifery was in demand there you could quite easily get a work visa- I thought it would be the same for the US as well. Is there any way that the degree and education I will have in the UK will be relevant in the USA, as I thought this type of degree would be universal.


tomfuller- What is Oregon like as a place? Is it rural or more city? And also do you know what temperature 100f is in *c? Thank you

Marginal

Come on Katie- you can google to convert F to C can't you?

Tomsd

Q please: Why is this post just under Florida and not also under California?

Tomsd

And of course, my home state of Oregon. Double

tomfuller

Most of the large cities of Oregon are within 25 miles of the I-5 corridor. We have a couple of mountain ranges, lots of farm land, lots of high desert, a long beautiful coastline and many friendly people.
100 Fahrenheit is 37.8* Celsius.
I live about 50 miles south of Bend. Bend is a city of about 81000 with a good medical center.
My trip today took me to the top of a butte to the west of Crater Lake National Park.

Jaya

Don't worry about the state, you must find out about how to go about getting licensed to work as a midwife. I assume you would be a nurse-midwife as opposed to a lay midwife? Each state has its own Board of Nursing that you need to be licensed with.

Check into the logistics of working here and the location of jobs will narrow down which states you will live in.

happytrailstoyou

hot weather in summer, cold in winter, friendly people, good value for money property wise, possibly near beach, and finally a low crime rate (a must).

Sounds like North Dakota except that it isn't anywhere near an ocean.

HTTY

nytraveler

No - I wold anticipate that the education would be very different - as it is for MDs.

In the US MDs first go to university for 4 years, then medical school for 4 years, then residency for at least 2 years - and as many as 5 or 6 for the complicated surgical specialties - often followed by fellowship programs. so MDs have at least 12 years of school - and mostly 14 or 15 - after high school.

Nurse midwives would typically have the equivalent of a masters - not bachelor's degree - but licensure and the licensing exam/requirements are different in every state. And if they can practice solor or only under supervision of an Ob.Gyn also differs by state. I would suggest that in Australia NMs probably deliver a significant number of infants - whereas in the US the percentage is very small. (Some hospitals don;t allow them to practice at all based on insurance issues - that is - insurance against malpracice - not payment (although I don;t know if all insurance plans do cover NMs.)

So:

1) Find out info on possibility to immigrate
2) Determine which states have licensure requirements you can meet, allow freedom of practice and need more NMs (and you will have to take the standard tests to get a license and may well have to have additional education)

nytraveler

Sorry - healthcare systems in the US and Australia are completely different.

In the US most is private pay based on insurance provided as part of employment benefits - with a significant percentage for the poor provided by a variety of federal and state programs.

My understanding is that Australia provides healthcare to all citizens.

DebitNM

nytraveler - before moving to New Mexico, I would have also said things about nurse midwives. That was certainly the case in NY when I lived there and had children.

Nurse midwives are very common practice here in NM and most babies are delivered by them in hospitals. Unless you are high risk, a NM delivers you. And yes, insurance pays them. They are associated with ON/GYN practices, but they do the delivering.

So, this is a VERY state specific thing. I think it is far more common in less urban areas, and perhaps here in the Southwest.

nytraveler

Yes, it it much more common in the southwest - where there is often a shortage of MDs. It is also somewhat more common in the Pacific northwest - not for that reason - but because many women there are interested in alternative and out of hospital birthing - which MDs typically won't touch with a barge pole. So there are quite a few NMs.

And the laws do differ state by state - as do the hospital rules/regulations in terms of how NMs are allowed to practice.

Not sure of the rules in FL - but do know that the population has a high percentage of geriatrics who obviously won;t need her services.