Difficulty in the Decisions of the Future
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| Author: Tima Miroshnichenko |
There are many stressors that arise with age. Finding the career that is the best fit for me is one of them. Throughout my middle school and high school years, I consistently participated in programs as a volunteer and joined a variety of clubs. This was because I wanted to work hard to experience a little bit of everything before fully committing to one field. Through these clubs, I could see myself working in any type of role and profession. This would prove counterproductive, though, as I developed a wide range of interests in many employment options as I got older.
Two clubs had the most influence on my indecision today: Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). FCCLA was focused more on dealing with families, education, childcare practices, and nutrition. Through this club, I got interested in teaching because of their volunteering opportunities at elementary schools. Through these opportunities, I was able to tutor and educate kindergarteners one-on-one on many types of subjects. FCCLA overall set the path for my interest in elementary education. As for HOSA, this club was more focused on healthcare and health research. With the many distinct types of careers in healthcare, I was extremely overwhelmed. However, I decided that if I were to pursue a career in healthcare it would be in midwifery. The reasoning was that every project revolved around a career, and I would always get a calling for midwifery. Overall, the influence of both clubs has led me to be torn between Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and Elementary School Teacher.
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| Author: Jonathan Borba |
When attempting to make my final decision, I need to consider several different things. Although these careers are vastly different from one another, nursing is medical, while becoming a teacher is educational, they do have a few things in common. Both careers require connecting with people and guiding them through their journey, which is life. Teachers have a school year, roughly eight to nine months, to bond with their students and provide them with the correct education for the next year: “Elementary School Teachers work mostly on educating children between ages five to twelve years old in a variety of subjects, such as math, science, reading, etc.” (“Becoming”). While a CNM has 9 months, if the baby is on the right track, to bond with the mother and educate her about the future of her baby: “CNMs educate women on their reproductive health, and through their labor and delivery, and their postpartum care” (“Certified”).
How to get there
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| Author: Emily Ranquist |
These two career choices require several types of education, certificates, training, and skills. Academically, both require a High-School Diploma, and what comes after that is what sets both careers apart. The first step to becoming a nurse midwife is to attend a pre-licensure nursing program. By doing so, you would be completing four years of undergraduate work allowing you to become a Registered Nurse (RN) or obtain your bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN). Afterward, you would be required to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to begin practicing. Already having your BSN, you would now need to get into a master’s program and complete your degree. Finally, you would need to take the American Midwifery Certification Board exam, which would determine your eligibility to be licensed to practice midwifery in all 50 states (“Certified”). Typically, becoming a CNM takes up to six to eight years overall.
As for a teacher, you would need to have a Bachelor's in Elementary Education (BS) Degree or another accredited program. Moving on to complete a full semester of student teaching where, “you’ll complete supervised fieldwork at local Georgia schools, working with students in the age range and specialty that you’re seeking certification in” (“How to Earn”). Afterward, you would need to receive certificates from Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GACE), and pass their Ethics assessment and their Content Pedagogy Test. In these tests, you are measured on your knowledge and skills in areas like student development, instruction, and assessment. Lastly, you would be required to apply for a GaPSC certificate which would allow you to become certified as an educator. You could also pursue your master’s degree, but that depends on the individual. The process of becoming a teacher takes just over four years total (“How to Earn''). Based on the educational requirements for both careers, becoming a teacher seems more appealing. It does seem shorter and less complicated overall, but the education is not limited to only four years. You can always further your education in a field, and this also has a significant impact on the salary earned. My confusion continues here because more education does eventually increase your salary. I could just continue my education and come close to the salary of a midwife. Overall, it leaves my educational pathway unclear to me and adds to my frustration when it comes to deciding.
The Salaries
The differences in salaries are the leading factor in me being so confused and hesitant about what to become. Is it worth risking being an elementary teacher and getting paid minimally, or do I take up the higher-paying job even though I would only be doing it for the money? The demand for nurse midwives is growing every year, and in this specialty, there is never going to be a decline. This makes the demand for nurse midwives grow by 45% from 2020 to 2030 (“How to Become”). With such career growth, not only will more positions be available, but the pay may also increase. Currently, the average salary of a CNM is $111,130 per year. That is extremely high compared to the pay of an elementary school teacher. The demand for a teacher will be at an all-time high too, but they are usually paid less. Teachers are highly underpaid for the work they do, and it would be extremely risky to take on this work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of an elementary school teacher is $63,930 (“How Much”). Although teachers make roughly $40,000 less than a midwife, there are also chances for a salary increase. However, as mentioned before, teachers can also pursue a Master’s, Specialist, or Doctorate to earn significantly more than the average $60,000. Since there are always growth opportunities in both career fields, just comparing salaries alone is overwhelming. When it comes to salary, education has a substantial impact on it, and that is something I need to look at. I could always continue my education in teaching, which would make my salary higher, but it would never reach the salary of a CNM. The reasoning is, I could also further my education in the field of midwifery, and the salary could also climb up from where it currently is.
Different Schedules
When it comes to the different schedules of both CNMs and teachers, there is a clear difference. The schedule of CNM depends strictly on the type of workplace chosen hospitals, private offices, homes, etc. Typically, nurse midwives that are employed in clinics have different hours than those who practice in hospitals. Clinical nurse midwives commonly work only eight hours, Monday to Friday, and the workload depends mostly on the employer. Clinically, they might also not work weekends, but that is up to the managers (Schlette). In hospitals, however, nurse midwives typically work 12-hour shifts, and this could even include weekends and holidays. This is because babies are always being born at every hour, and that is why they are needed more. Overall, the schedules of midwives are always unpredictable. On the other hand, the routine for teachers is set and formulated. Only in the classroom when school is in session, which is usually from September to May. They have breaks, holidays, and weekends off, with breaks and holidays being paid for. Although I am attracted to teaching because of the more predictable schedule, I still question whether it is worthwhile.
The Environments
The type of environments that midwives and elementary teachers work in is what sets these careers apart the most. Midwives typically work in healthcare settings including hospitals, private or public clinics, birth centers, and they can even work in homes (Schlette). This makes their environment more unpredictable and hectic. Meanwhile, an Elementary Teacher works only in one type of setting, a school. More specifically, teachers work in a classroom with students one-on-one. They are in charge of making their classroom the safest, and most welcoming, possible for their students ("Kindergarten"). Going back to my indecisiveness, teaching seems to have the upper hand here too. It's ideal to pursue a more serene career; however, I am always up for a challenge.
There are many pros and cons to both career fields that I am stuck on. Both careers are a chance to make a lasting impact on society that many people, including me, would find rewarding. While I would like to say that these careers are more alike than they are different, that would be incorrect. Which is what has made this decision-making process so much more complicated than initially planned. In addition to educational and financial considerations, I hope it is something that I am passionate about and that I enjoy. However, there is no telling what the future has in store. The only thing I can hope for is to choose the right career for the right reasons.
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| Author: MaxFicher |
As for a teacher, you would need to have a Bachelor's in Elementary Education (BS) Degree or another accredited program. Moving on to complete a full semester of student teaching where, “you’ll complete supervised fieldwork at local Georgia schools, working with students in the age range and specialty that you’re seeking certification in” (“How to Earn”). Afterward, you would need to receive certificates from Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GACE), and pass their Ethics assessment and their Content Pedagogy Test. In these tests, you are measured on your knowledge and skills in areas like student development, instruction, and assessment. Lastly, you would be required to apply for a GaPSC certificate which would allow you to become certified as an educator. You could also pursue your master’s degree, but that depends on the individual. The process of becoming a teacher takes just over four years total (“How to Earn''). Based on the educational requirements for both careers, becoming a teacher seems more appealing. It does seem shorter and less complicated overall, but the education is not limited to only four years. You can always further your education in a field, and this also has a significant impact on the salary earned. My confusion continues here because more education does eventually increase your salary. I could just continue my education and come close to the salary of a midwife. Overall, it leaves my educational pathway unclear to me and adds to my frustration when it comes to deciding.
The Salaries
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| Author: Karolina Grabowska |
The differences in salaries are the leading factor in me being so confused and hesitant about what to become. Is it worth risking being an elementary teacher and getting paid minimally, or do I take up the higher-paying job even though I would only be doing it for the money? The demand for nurse midwives is growing every year, and in this specialty, there is never going to be a decline. This makes the demand for nurse midwives grow by 45% from 2020 to 2030 (“How to Become”). With such career growth, not only will more positions be available, but the pay may also increase. Currently, the average salary of a CNM is $111,130 per year. That is extremely high compared to the pay of an elementary school teacher. The demand for a teacher will be at an all-time high too, but they are usually paid less. Teachers are highly underpaid for the work they do, and it would be extremely risky to take on this work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of an elementary school teacher is $63,930 (“How Much”). Although teachers make roughly $40,000 less than a midwife, there are also chances for a salary increase. However, as mentioned before, teachers can also pursue a Master’s, Specialist, or Doctorate to earn significantly more than the average $60,000. Since there are always growth opportunities in both career fields, just comparing salaries alone is overwhelming. When it comes to salary, education has a substantial impact on it, and that is something I need to look at. I could always continue my education in teaching, which would make my salary higher, but it would never reach the salary of a CNM. The reasoning is, I could also further my education in the field of midwifery, and the salary could also climb up from where it currently is.
Different Schedules
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| Author: Jess BaileyDesigns |
When it comes to the different schedules of both CNMs and teachers, there is a clear difference. The schedule of CNM depends strictly on the type of workplace chosen hospitals, private offices, homes, etc. Typically, nurse midwives that are employed in clinics have different hours than those who practice in hospitals. Clinical nurse midwives commonly work only eight hours, Monday to Friday, and the workload depends mostly on the employer. Clinically, they might also not work weekends, but that is up to the managers (Schlette). In hospitals, however, nurse midwives typically work 12-hour shifts, and this could even include weekends and holidays. This is because babies are always being born at every hour, and that is why they are needed more. Overall, the schedules of midwives are always unpredictable. On the other hand, the routine for teachers is set and formulated. Only in the classroom when school is in session, which is usually from September to May. They have breaks, holidays, and weekends off, with breaks and holidays being paid for. Although I am attracted to teaching because of the more predictable schedule, I still question whether it is worthwhile.
The Environments
The type of environments that midwives and elementary teachers work in is what sets these careers apart the most. Midwives typically work in healthcare settings including hospitals, private or public clinics, birth centers, and they can even work in homes (Schlette). This makes their environment more unpredictable and hectic. Meanwhile, an Elementary Teacher works only in one type of setting, a school. More specifically, teachers work in a classroom with students one-on-one. They are in charge of making their classroom the safest, and most welcoming, possible for their students ("Kindergarten"). Going back to my indecisiveness, teaching seems to have the upper hand here too. It's ideal to pursue a more serene career; however, I am always up for a challenge.
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| Author: Andrea Piacquadio |
Picture Credits:Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/teacher-teaching-human-anatomy-in-class-5427817/
Jonathan Borba: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-carrying-baby-3259629/
Emily Ranquist: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photography-of-people-graduating-1205651/
Max Fischer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/teacher-talking-to-the-class-5212338/
Karolina Grabowska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-counting-cash-money-4475523/
Jess Bailey Designs: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-white-stylus-768472/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/young-annoyed-female-freelancer-using-laptop-at-home-3808008/
This is a very attractive post, Lally. The images you've selected illustrate and enhance your text beautifully. The only problem is that image credits are missing. When I click on the author links, nothing comes up.
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