Where does a midwife work

Nurse Midwife - Explore Health Care Careers

What does a nurse midwife do?

A nurse midwife specializes in women’s reproductive health and childbirth. Nurse midwives provide care to women from adolescence through menopausal years. For pregnant women, they provide care during prenatal visits, attend the birth, and provide care after the baby is born. Nurse midwives have similar roles to OB/GYNs but focus on natural techniques for childbirth and reproductive care.

Scope of practice

Nurse midwives work with doctors, social workers, dietitians, physical therapists, educators, and nurses. Common tasks and duties include:

Confirming and dating pregnancy
Providing prenatal and postpartum care
Caring for women during childbirth including monitoring the mother and fetus during labor, assessing labor progress, managing complications, assisting with pain management, performing episiotomies if needed, and delivering the newborn and placenta
Providing education for new parents on infant care
Supporting new mothers that are breastfeeding with education and training
Preparing pregnant women for what to expect during the birthing process
Performing preventive health screenings and tests
Diagnosing and treating gynecological disorders such as sexually transmitted diseases and infertility

Work environment

Hospitals, clinics, birthing centers, health departments, and private practices hire nurse midwives to provide care for patients in regards to women’s reproductive health and childbirth.

Typical working hours can vary depending on the organization the nurse midwife works with and can include eight or 12-hour shifts. Depending on the facility, they may be required to work evening, weekend, holiday, and on-call hours. Nurse midwifery can be a stressful and emotionally draining role, but it is also found to be quite rewarding to help new parents prepare for childbirth and welcome their newborn into the world.

Becoming a nurse midwife

Nurse midwifery may be the career path for you if you enjoy promoting holistic health and working with women of various backgrounds. Nurse midwives are great and building relationships, work well in stressful situations, and are able to provide unbiased support during emotionally charged situations.

Higher education requirements

Individuals interested in becoming a nurse midwife must first obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) and pass the NCLEX-RN licensing exam to become a registered nurse. After that, you can complete a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (DNP), then apply and test for certification to become a nurse midwife.

Certification process

To become certified, you must take the certification exam through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). In order to qualify to take the exam, you must:

Submit proof of licensure as a registered nurse or nurse practitioner
Complete an accredited nurse midwifery graduate or post graduate program

Certification is valid for five years.

Career opportunities and outlook

Nurse midwives can expect a median annual salary of $112,830.

Nurse midwives are in high demand to provide obstetrics and gynecology services for low-risk patients. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of nurse midwives to grow much faster than average.

With additional training and experience, a nurse midwife may move into a managerial or administrative role or go into education. Others may even own their own practices.

By the numbers

Nurse midwife programs at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic offers a Nurse-Midwifery Clinical Rotations Program that prepares students for a career as a nurse-midwife as well as a Nurse-Midwifery Fellowship for current professionals seeking additional clinical training and experience.

Browse similar careers

Certified Nurse-Midwife Job Description and Salary

Certified nurse midwives are a part of 9% of all births in the United States. Of births that certified nurse midwives attend, roughly 94% of them happen in a hospital, 3% happen in a birth center, and 2% happen in homes. Certified nurse midwives are becoming more common for women and mothers around the country, and it’s valuable to understand what they do and how they are part of the health care system.

Certified nurse midwives don’t just deal with births, they can also provide gynecological services and counseling beyond the delivery of babies. Many nurses may find they want to pursue certain specialties, and certified nurse midwifery can be a great option for RNs or future RNs.

A certified nurse-midwife or CNM is a health professional who provides care and practices in a variety of settings. The care they provide is focused on gynecological services, reproductive health, labor and delivery, postpartum care, and peri-post menopause care. CNMs work as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), so they are able to prescribe medication and take on a few more responsibilities compared to RNs.

Being an RN doesn’t immediately qualify you to be a midwife, and being a midwife doesn’t mean you’re a nurse-midwife. There are many different paths to midwifery and it’s important to understand the distinct differences:

CNM: Certified nurse-midwives are registered nurses who have additional certification as a midwife. That double licensure gives them additional opportunity and training in the medical field. Specific midwifery education is the same for a CNM and CM.
CM: A certified midwife is someone who is certified as a midwife, but doesn’t have a registered nursing license as well. The certification is identical for a CM and CNM, the only difference is the registered nursing license.
CPM: A certified professional midwife is certified and must have particular experience in home-birth or out-of-hospital settings. The certification requirements are much less than that of a CM or CNM. A midwifery program may still be involved, but often it is less detailed and intense.
Doula: Doulas are not maternity care providers, but provide informational and emotional support for a mother during childbirth. Doulas provide services to mothers while they are pregnant, during their labor and delivery, as well as after the baby is born. Some doulas work directly for birth centers or hospitals, while others are hired directly by expecting mothers. Because doulas don’t provide medical support, there aren’t direct legal requirements regarding their practice. Some doulas get formal training, though it’s not required.

Certified midwives have many specific responsibilities as part of their work including:

Primary care for expecting mothers and women
Diagnosing and treating patients
Providing references to specialists
Collaborative work with physicians
STD testing and treatment on expecting parents
Education and preparation for new parents
Handling labor and delivery
Care for newborns during the first 28 days of life
Assisting during cesarean sections
Emotional support for expecting mothers
Prenatal examinations
Postnatal examinations
Training to deal with complications that may arise during labor and delivery
Prescribing medicine to patients
Advanced practice training with physicians
Overall health evaluation

A CNM has many responsibilities and they are a crucial part of the health care process. They are qualified to be the main and only provider in labor and delivery situations, and are a great asset to any hospital or birth-center.

CNMs deal with sensitive work, and there are many qualities and skills that can help them be successful in their role. Some of these skills include:

Critical thinking
Communication
Social perception
Empathy
Ability to stay calm under pressure
Quick thinking
Strong decision making
Ability to adapt to changing medical technology
Ability to create good relationships with patients

CNMs may expect to work in many different health care settings and conditions. Certified midwives may work in public and private hospitals, university or military hospitals, birthing centers, private practices, public health clinics, or homes. Certified nurse-midwives may not have predictable hours. Babies are born at any time, day or night, weekends or holidays. Nurse midwives may be called in to work to help deliver babies at any time, may be on-call to care for patients, or may have scheduled appointments with patients. CNMs need to understand that they will likely have demanding hours as part of their work.

Nurse midwives can expect a fairly high salary and a lucrative career. The average annual salary for nurse midwives is around $115,000. Entry-level CNMs may earn around $70,000 per year, and the top 10% earn more than $170,000 per year. Salary levels can vary for this position depending on where you work. Top hospitals will have higher salaries for CNMs than smaller birthing centers. The location where you work, the education you have, and your experience are also key elements in determining salary for nurse-midwifery.

There is a very specific path to follow when it comes to midwifery education. There are specific academic requirements that you have to meet in for nurse-midwifery certification, and then continuing education to keep your licensure. Midwifery programs can be done in-person or online.

The first step to becoming a nurse midwife is to become a registered nurse. You can attend a prelicensure nursing program, like the one offered at WGU, and get your RN and BSN at the same time. WGU’s prelicensure program helps you earn your Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and prepares you to get your nursing licensure at the same time.

If you are currently a registered nurse, you’ll still need to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing to be qualified to continue the journey to becoming a CNM. WGU offers many BSN degree programs that can help you be ready to take the next step toward becoming a CNM.

It’s valuable for registered nurses to pursue specializations while they are working. Nurses can earn additional certifications that will give them the skills and experience they need to be prepared for a future as a CNM. Working with newborns, expectant mothers, and other specializations can help you be prepared.

Next, RNs need to earn a master’s degree or DNP with a nurse midwifery program concentration. Either degree can lead to certification, and you should weigh the pros and cons of each for you. After earning a degree, The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) offers the CNM credential to complete your training and prepare you for your career. The American Midwifery Certification Board certification exam is the final test that will determine certification for a CNM candidate.

Each state differs in continuing education requirements for certified nurse-midwives, but it’s important to understand what your requirements will be. At minimum, CNMs must retain their RN license and CNM certification to continue to practice. It’s important to stay up-to-date on new methods of training and learning as a CNM, so continuing education hours are key.

If a future as a certified nurse-midwife sounds exciting to you, get started on the path today. A bachelor’s degree from WGU can help you get the education you need, while allowing you to continue to work. CNMs change lives by helping mothers and babies have safe, healthy deliveries. You could be a part of this exciting field by starting with a BSN from WGU.

Specialty Obstetrics, training of specialists, direction code 31.02.02 - Ucheba.ru

Training of specialists, direction code 31.02.02

Students of the specialty "Obstetrics" study chemistry, biology, basics of surgery, gynecology, pediatrics. Among the most important subjects are anatomy, physiology, the basics of nursing, Latin. Also an essential part of the preparation of midwives for independent professional activity are two types of practice - preclinical and clinical. The first takes place in specially equipped classrooms. The second is on the basis of maternity hospitals and women's clinics. nine0003

An obstetrician accompanies a woman from the beginning of pregnancy to childbirth. He examines the future woman in labor throughout the pregnancy, prepares her for childbirth, provides assistance during childbirth and in the postpartum period. Obstetricians work in maternity hospitals, maternity wards of hospitals, antenatal clinics, feldsher-obstetric stations. They know everything about the specific features of the female body, methods of examination and diagnosis of gynecological diseases, the features of the course and management of childbirth, the methods and techniques of caring for newborn children. nine0003

Education: on the basis of 9 classes (term of study 3 years 10 months), on the basis of 11 classes (term of study 2 years 10 months)

Forms of education: full-time, part-time, part-time

Colleges

in this specialty

on average for other

passing score

for this specialty

2-4.31

on average for other

3.4-4.15

for this specialty

On average for other

colleges in the specialty

Medical College No. 6

Program

Budget Places

of 4. 31

dated 139900 r.

for the year

The educational organization is the legal successor of the Clara Zetkin Medical College of the Moscow City Health Department, the Medical School No. 15 of the Moscow City Health Department, the Medical School No. 30. nine0003

Voronezh Basic Medical College

for the year

Voronezh Basic Medical College was founded on November 15, 1870. Currently, students are provided with solid knowledge by 130 full-time highly qualified teachers and 20 part-time teachers, among whom there are many veterans of pedagogical activity, as well as promising working youth. The college is equipped with 48 classrooms, 4 computer classes, a gym, a library with a reading room. nine0003

Medical college

Budget Places

dated 4.15

Passing score

Our college - the oldest forge of medium -sized medical personnel from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean, which began its history as far back year. In our team, among teachers, there is a doctor of medical sciences, a candidate of pedagogical sciences, an honored teacher of the Russian Federation, five excellent students of public education of the Russian Federation and four masters of pedagogy. A significant part of the team was awarded other no less honorary titles and awards. nine0003

Togliatti Medical College

program

Budget places

dated 4.1

Passing score

History of the Togliatti Medical College began in July 1974. Today Togliatti Medical College - this nurse and feldshera. dentists and technicians, obstetricians and pharmacists, medical laboratory technicians, well-equipped rooms of preclinical disciplines equipped with instruments, models, phantoms, dentists' offices and dental technicians' workshops, computer classes and laboratories for future pharmacists. nine0003

Tomsk Basic Medical College

program

Budget places

of 4

Passing score

Tomsk Basic Medical College of Siberia and this even diminishes its advantages. Today TBMK: these are long-term traditions preserved for 140 years; experience and skill of teachers; improved material and technical base for honing manipulations; rich student life, the opportunity to prove themselves in any activity; a chance to get additional specialization during or after training. nine0003

Similar specialties

Nursing

Training of specialists

292

Colleges

2-86

Passing point

15481

Budget Places

Dentistry 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000

4.17-9

passing score

400

budget places

General medicine

training of specialists

215

Collections

2-4.9

Passage score

5445

Budget places

MK Avicenna - Specialty: "Obstetro" Case "

Qualification (Oblast)

Lessons for graduates for graduates for graduates for graduates 9th grade 3 years 10 months, for 11th grade graduates 2 years 10 months.

Admission is based on the results of entrance examinations of the College

The development of the educational program in the specialty is based on school knowledge in the subjects: biology, physics, chemistry, the basics of life safety. nine0003

The child's health begins to be taken care of from the period of pregnancy of the expectant mother. And a significant role in this belongs to the midwife, who observes the woman during the entire period of pregnancy, as well as the child of early childhood. The midwife works in obstetric and gynecological institutions and at the sites. It establishes the fact of pregnancy, its terms and terms of maternity leave. Conducts consultations and activities for the prevention of pregnancy and health education in the field of women's hygiene, maternal and child health. The midwife performs surgical dressings, injections, compresses, etc., assists the doctor during operations. nine0003

A midwife should be: