Jennifer Drawbridge, MSN, RN, CNM, worked for years as a writer for women's magazines. After delivering her first daughter at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Rockport, ME, in 1988, she was so impressed with her midwife, Susan Harris, RN, CNM, she decided to enter the profession. She recently joined Penobscot Bay Ob/Gyn Associates, a department of Penobscot Bay Medical Center, and replaced Harris, who retired last year.

"After working for years as a writer I had a 'midwife' crisis," Drawbridge joked to ADVANCE. "I wanted to do more service-oriented work - more face-to-face and hands-on care. I believe in the job I'm doing and I'm incredibly fortunate to be doing what I love - even when I'm on call at 3 a.m. without sleep."

From Writer to Nurse-Midwife

Drawbridge, who majored in English at Brown University, Providence, RI, began her career as a researcher, associate research editor and staff writer for various women's magazines, including Glamour, Mademoiselle, Mirabella, Entertainment Weekly, Longevity and Self. Today, she continues to work as a freelance writer, contributing to Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health, YM and Self.

She went on to earn a MSN with a nurse-midwifery concentration from Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, in 1999. In her 9-year clinical career, Drawbridge has worked as a certified nurse-midwife at North Central Bronx Hospital, Bronx, NY; a student midwife at Fair Haven Community Health Center, New Haven, CT; and a maternal newborn nurse at Penobscot Bay Medical Center. Most recently she was employed as a family planning specialist at Rockland and Damariscotta Family Planning until December 2006.

Continuing Her Good Work

In addition to her current position at Penobscot Bay Ob/Gyn Associates, Drawbridge works as a per diem midwife at Family Planning Association of Maine clinics in Rockland, Belfast, Damariscotta and Augusta.

"Getting back to OB is wonderful," Drawbridge said.

As a certified nurse-midwife, she works alongside physicians and RNs to provide routine and high-risk pregnancy care, gynecological surgery, menopause support, infertility and family planning, routine gynecological care and ultrasonography.

She is also working to help start up a local midwifery program.

"We have great nurse and nurse practitioner programs in the area but no midwifery program. Many of my friends are involved in teaching and it would be fun to be part of the training," she said.

While Drawbridge has never taught, students regularly shadow her on the job.

"When students shadow me it makes me appreciate what my day is like," she said. "I'm so busy, but students force me to slow down and think about the important things I do."

Drawbridge is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Maine Chapter of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Calling Future Nurse-Midwives

Drawbridge has several tips for nurses interested in midwifery. For one, visit the Web sites of the American College of Nurse-Midwives http://www.acnm.org/ or the Maine Association of ACNM http://www.mainemidwives.org/, which can point them in the direction of quality education programs. She recommends shadowing a nurse-midwife, as well as looking into long-distance programs. "Long-distance programs are nice for nurses in rural areas, especially, because you can participate in a quality program without having to move your entire family," Drawbridge said.

"Where you practice changes the face of what you do," she said. "I love where I am and what I'm doing."

Emily Marchesani is a frequent contributor to ADVANCE.