Midwifery Program

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Natural Childbirth and the Hippie Midwife In blog posts, videos and everyday conversation, I am often comparing the two seemingly opposite worlds of "medical/hospital birth" and "holistic/midwifery care/natural childbirth/homebirth". I have been focusing, as you may know, on the differences in actual healthcare between the two, as well as reasons to consider one or the other. There is one huge, underlying point which I am afraid had gone undetected by some readers/watchers of the opinion I have been putting out there. I totally take the blame, as I am continually reminded (by lack of addressing this point) that I cannot gloss over anything or assume that anybody already has certain information. This one eluded me, though ironically, because if you know me it is the foundation of how I operate both with my homebirth clients and in providing natural birth education to the internet world as well.

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So, I know I am killing you with suspense. What is all this about? I guess I have forgotten to spell out my underlying philosophy. Well, here it is. Information-it's for everyone and anyone that wants it. Natural childbirth, homebirth, midwifery care-I do not draw any boundaries, cultural or financially, or based on any stereotype. I have attended births and cared for women in teepees, Amish women, Lesbian women, etc. I could care less who you are (in a stereotypical way) or where you come from. We, as WOMEN, are ALL entitled to information and we are all entitled to birthing our babies as we see fit; and in gaining our own empowerment from that experience. I am no more "expert" than you are; especially about yourself. Being "midwife" (unlike being "doctor") does not change me in my mind when compared to any other woman. I am a woman- one that has chosen, as my life's work, to educate and love and guide other women and babies.

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So, would it matter to you if I looked or presented myself differently to the world? Seems silly, right? It's hard to believe that a well-meaning reader would be concerned with me having a (purposefully) "hippie" appearance. Actually, she wrote, "it'd be best if you wore some clothes and a hairstyle that's a little more formal." It made me "appear uneducated." So, after I got over wondering where she got that nerve, it got me thinking about the bigger issue. The one that affects all of us.

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It's not REALLY about me. It's about all of us that have chosen, will choose or are choosing our right to birth our babies in love and privacy, not violence. Since when does that have to LOOK a certain way? To make a difference in the world, we have got to get away from the idea that those with "authority" are above us, "formal," more educated. That, as midwives, as WOMEN, we have got to appeal to the doctors and the men out there wanting to tell us how to birth anyway. Let me tell you, a lab coat or scrubs is not going to change anyone's world. And in my world, it's not for the better.

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I know she meant well. This reader, that is. But the truth is, the problem is hers. My appearance bothered her husband; but if either of them, or you, is looking for someone to be the authority, to tell you what to do, and then believe them because they look a certain way... then you are probably not ready for a homebirth. That is the simple truth. Would I address a council of doctors or stand in a courtroom with my hippie midwife attire? No. But when I address the women of this country, this world, about their power as women, I will not try to put myself above them. Above YOU. We are all sisters, if not in this lifetime, then another. There is no one more powerful, more authoritative in your life and your decisions than YOU. So, thank you, dear reader. You have enlightened me to the fact that there is even more work to be done here than I thought. There's no discrimination here-any volunteers?

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Midwifery Resume What are travel nurse jobs? They are jobs available for qualified candidates from countries such as the Philippines, India, Australia, Canada, and others, to work in the United States or Canada. That is because of the lack of qualified nurses in those countries. Your background must include psychiatric care, pediatrics, midwifery, adult clinical medicine and adult clinical surgery. You must have a nursing license in your home country.

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You must not have a criminal record, and you must qualify for a VISA. You need to pass a test for written English, scoring 4.0 or better. You must score 50 or higher on a test of spoken English and must get 540 or higher on a test of English as a foreign language. You will not have to take the exams if you are from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland. You will still have to take the test if you are from Quebec. If you get one of the travel nurse jobs, you can expect to earn much more money than at a traditional nursing job. That is even truer if you come from a third world company. As for benefits, you will receive insurance, including health, life, dental, and vision. You may receive housing benefits and be reimbursed for official trips. You may even receive retirement plans and continued education allowances.

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If you think you would like a job as a nurse and would like to travel, you might first consider why you would like that type of job. That might make it easier to find a job that would meet your goals. List all the reasons you want the job. After that you should update your list of references and update your resume. List all your work experiences, and don't forget to list your specialties. Consider whether you could handle being away from home and your home country for a long time. Who would pay your bills, your utilities? Who would feed your pet, water your plant?

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Once you have submitted your resumes and references, you might expect to get phone calls about nursing jobs. If you receive several, evaluate them. You might be better off picking a company that has a proven record in dealing with nurses. Use the Internet to get travel information. Show recruiters you are flexible. Complete all your paperwork. If you have a place in mind that you would like to work, tell your recruiter.

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Read everything before signing any employment contract. Have a lawyer review your contract. Keep everything your recruiter has sent you. You may wonder how your job will affect your family. Many assignments last only 13 weeks, and many agencies who hire the nurses allow the nurses to pick jobs that meet their needs--as far as location, pay, professional considerations, benefits, and accommodating the nurse's family. You may even work for someone who will provide rooms for your family members.