S To Becoming A Nurse Midwife
Students interested in learning how to become a nurse midwife must first hold a registered nurse license, which requires either an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing degree.
While an ADN is the minimum requirement to become an RN, a BSN is required to pursue advanced degrees. Students interested in advanced nurse midwife positions can earn a master of science in nursing or doctoral degree to become a certified nurse midwife . CNMs are advanced practice registered nurses .
The following section provides information on the length of each degree path, exam details, and licensing requirements.
Nurse Midwife Job Outlook
The career growth for this profession is expected to be strong, although it wont be as high as many other areas. The growth for midwives between 2019 and 2029 is expected to be 12%. The career will go from about 7,200 jobs to 8,100. Compared to most careers, this growth is excellent the total for all occupations over the same period is expected to be 4%.
Career growth for nurse midwives could happen because of many factors. The increased emphasis on preventative care in womens medicine will likely drive the growth, as will the desire for healthcare services for aging adults. As many women from the baby-boomer generation become older, there will be an increased need for healthcare and other services, a large portion of which can be provided by nurse midwives. For this reason, the nurse midwife job outlook is very positive.
Different areas seem to have more nurse midwives than others. Large states, of course, have the most. California and New York, for example, are #1 and #2 respectively in the total amount of nurse midwives. But to get a better idea of where the most nurse midwives are found, you need to look at employment per 1,000 jobs. In this category, Vermont is #1, as the state has 0.18 nurse midwives per 1,000 jobs. Second on the list is Alaska, with 0.15, and New Mexico is #3 with 0.14. Maine and Connecticut are tied for fourth place with 0.1 nurse midwives per 1,000 jobs.
What Degree Do You Need To Be A Nurse Laying Out Your Options
By Kirsten Slyter on 02/17/2020
Many consider nurses the backbone of healthcare. The public trusts nurses more than other professionsrating them as having high ethical standards for the last 17 years, according to the Gallup Ethics Poll.1 Theyre in demand, they can work in a variety of settings, and best of allthey make a tangible difference every day.
With all this in mind its easy to see why you might be seriously considering a nursing career. But as youve started researching nursing related roles and credentials and the alphabet soup that comes with them, things can get confusing fast. You just want a simple answer for what education it takes to become a nurseand we can help spell it out.
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Examination Licensure And Certification
After completing graduate or post-graduate education with a focus on midwifery, candidates can apply and test for certification. The American Midwifery Certification Board outlines the requirements for testing/certification such as:
- Submitting proof of licensure as an RN or NP
- Completion of a graduate program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education
- Verification by the director of the NM program confirming all program requirements were met, along with the date of completion
- Attestation by the director of the NM program that the applicant performs at a safe, competent beginner level
Applicants can attempt the exam four times, but all attempts must be within 24 months of program completion. Certification is valid for five years, and the AMCB offers re-certification options.
Certified nurse midwives also must register with their states Board of Nursing. Some states offer certification simply by applying if the graduate program meets the states educational standards. Otherwise, nurses can submit certification obtained through the AMCB. Nurses are encouraged to check their state Board of Nursing to identify specific requirements.
Learn more about midwifery schools and post masters midwifery graduate certificate programs.
Earn Specialty Certification And Aprn Licensure
Advanced nurse midwife schooling allows students to take a national certification exam for the nurse-midwifery specialty. National certification through the American Midwifery Certification Board indicates practitioners possess expert knowledge and skills to serve patients.
To qualify, students must earn their degree from a school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education and hold an unencumbered RN license. CNMs need to apply for recertification every five years. Once nurse midwives pass their certification exam, they can apply for an in their state. Requirements for licensure vary by state.
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How Much Does A Midwife Earn
According to indeed.com, Midwives earn about $101,445 annually. However, this average salary depends on the state youre in. Navigating to the website, you can see whats the average salary of a midwife working in the USA based on the state theyre in.
In some states, midwives are more in demand than in others, which also affects the salary they receive.
The Narm Portfolio Evaluation Process
If you’ve received your education and training from a non-accredited college, or if you did an apprenticeship under a working midwife, you will need to go through the NARM portfolio evaluation process before you can be invited to write the certification exam.
All of your education and work history will be evaluated by NARM, and you may be asked to provide documentation through this process. Once your portfolio has been evaluated and approved, successful applicants will be invited to complete the NARM skills verification. If you pass the skills verification process, you will then receive a letter of completion, which qualifies you to take the CPM exam.
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What Kind Of Schooling Do I Need To Become A Midwife
Midwives have been helping women safely give birth to babies for thousands of years. In todays modern world, midwives work with hospitals, doctors and mothers to care for pregnant women and newborn babies. To become a midwife, you must undergo years of education at a college or university, work with an experienced practitioner and follow licensure requirements in your state. The exact kind of schooling that you require depends on your state, previous medical experience and desired level of certification. Regardless of the exact requirements, your training will require classroom and hands-on training
Funding For Your Midwifery Degree
From 1 August 2017 new students in England on most nursing, midwifery and allied health professional pre-registration courses will have access to the standard student support package of tuition fee loans and support for living costs, rather than getting an NHS bursary.
The Department of Health have published information on NHS bursary reform.
The Funding Clinic provides more information on the new system and the funding available.
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Graduate Programs: Masters Versus Doctorate
Certified nurse midwifes are advanced practice registered nurses , a category that requires nurses to hold a graduate degree. Like other APRNs, such as nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives must have at least an MSN to practice. While theres been discussion in the industry about requiring CNMs to have a doctoral degree, the American College of Nurse-Midwives says it opposes such a requirement.
While the outcomes for masters-level education have been well-established, there has not been sufficient research to show that adding a doctoral-level education requirement influences outcomes, says Sharon L. Ryan, CNM, DNP, director of Midwifery Practice, Education, and Global Outreach for the ACNM. We also take into consideration the additional burdens, in terms of finances and time, that a DNP requires.
The American College of Nurse-Midwives opposes proposals that would require a DNP for certified nurse midwives.
Time To Complete A Graduate Degree
Earning an MSN can take between 18 to 24 months for full-time students who are starting with a bachelors degree. Part-time options are available and usually take between three and four years. Some schools require that you finish your education in a set amount of time, so if you attend part time, make sure to find out what that deadline is.
Depending on how you pursue your education, it will take a combination of the following years in full-time study to complete a masters or a doctorate.
Associate degree
Fast-Track Programs
There are several programs that can help you complete your education faster than traditional routes. They may save you money as well.
Bridge programs
Students with an ADN can complete their nurse midwife certification requirements sooner by enrolling in an RN-to-MSN program. Called bridge programs, these education pathways can take two to three years of full-time study to complete, potentially saving students time and money compared to traditional BSN or MSN programs.
Another bridge program is the BSN to DNP, which can take three to four years of full-time study.
Accelerated programs
These programs are for students who have a bachelors degree outside of healthcare but want to earn an MSN for a healthcare career such as midwifery. These tracks typically take three years of full-time school.
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How Much Do Nurse Midwives Make Per Hour
Multiple factors can influence earning potential for midwives. Students may want to consider geographic location, workplace setting, education level, and experience. For instance, candidates with a DNP can command higher salaries than MSN candidates. However, nurse midwives earned $54.91 per hour on average as of May 2021, according to the BLS.
Victoria Pratleys Pathway To Becoming A Midwife
Deakin student Victoria Pratley was initially interested in going down the double degree route.
However after speaking to current students, she decided shed be better off doing nursing first and completing midwifery as a postgraduate degree. I liked the idea that I could start working sooner and have some experience first, she says.
Pratley completed her Bachelor of Nursing at Deakin in 2016, and worked as a nurse for two years. She then studied the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery, while working two paid shifts per week on a hospital postnatal ward and picking up casual shifts as a theatre nurse. She graduated in mid-2020.
There were plenty of positives in completing her nursing and midwifery degrees separately, including more flexibility, Pratley says.
The double degree is a lot of placement and makes it difficult to do paid work during the degree, she says. Completing the Bachelor of Nursing degree first meant that I was able to maintain a good part-time job to support myself and gave me time to save some money before going back to study.
It also allowed her to consolidate her general nursing knowledge and skills before entering midwifery and she feels better equipped as a midwife, as a result.
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Nine Where Can I Find The Best Nurse
Because of the nature of a CNMs expertise, finding work shouldnt be a challenge no matter where you live. Add to that the fact that the demand for nurses overall is strong as much of the workforce is reaching retirement age.
CNMs are also not limited to hospitals, as many run their own private practices, or work in groups with OB/GYNs.
Take a look at some current openings for nurse jobs in your area to get an idea of the positions available.
Job Growth & Career Outlook
A nationwide shortage of maternity care providers is fueling increased demand for certified nurse midwives across the U.S. The BLS predicts job opportunities for nurse midwives will grow 12% by 2029, three times the average for other jobs.
For nurse midwives who want to move into leadership or management, earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice could pay off. A DNP is the highest educational level within the field of nurse midwifery and can help qualify midwives to teach at the university level and assume leadership or managerial roles.
And because of the high need for womens healthcare worldwide, nurse midwives with a DNP could step into positions to help improve maternal and newborn health globally.
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Are Doulas In High Demand
The demand for doulas has been growing since at least 2016, when the World Health Organization recommended that doulas assist all births globally. Their acceptance has also increased as more expectant parents choose natural childbirth and birth center or at-home birth options, and as Medicaid and private insurance coverage for doulas becomes more widespread.
Is It Hard To Get Into Midwifery
Midwifery is competitive you have around 1/10 chance as there are 100 places for every 1000 applications. This sounds scary but actually a lot of these applicants will fall by the way side pretty quickly as they dont have the right qualifications they dont know much about midwifery or midwifery philosophy.
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Are You Ready To Start Your Career As A Nurse Midwife
Pregnancy and childbirth are some of the most important moments in a womans life. Nurse midwifery is a great option for those who are passionate about childbirth and looking to make a career out of providing care to mothers in need. While the educational requirements are extensive, the difference in salary* and job responsibilities will make up for the time spent in school. If youre looking to become a Nurse Midwife, you can start by earning your BSN degree at Provo College.
Click here to learn more about our BSN program.
School Accreditation For Nurse Midwife Programs
When researching schools and programs, make sure they are accredited. This is crucial, because graduates of non-accredited nurse midwife programs arent eligible to take the CNM certification exam. According to the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education , accreditation ensures that programs are performing at the highest level of quality and providing learning experiences that will lead to optimal outcomes for students.
You must attend an accredited school and midwife program to be eligible to take the CNM certification exam.
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Earn A Masters Degree
The next step will be to complete a graduate program that will allow you to become a certified nursing midwife. Graduate-degree programs provide the opportunity to advance your understanding of medical issues, especially womens health, reproduction, and child delivery.
Most institutions provide specialized nurse midwife programs that allow you to learn both midwifery and womens health. These specializations allow you to expand your knowledge and become even more useful to women who are, or are looking to become, pregnant.
While competing your midwifery training and schooling at the masters level, youll complete a variety of course that develop your understanding of the human body , as well your knowledge of the healthcare industry. Each program will have different courses, but you can expect classes to cover topics such as health assessments, antepartum care, well-woman issues, and newborn care, among many others. These programs also include lab hours as well as requirements for clinical experience.
How long does it take to become a midwife? This stage of your training will likely take about two years to complete. When added to your bachelors degree, youre looking at roughly six years of formal education.
The Qualifications Youll Need
To become a midwife youll need a degree in midwifery, which takes three years to complete. If youre already a registered adult nurse, you can undertake a shorter course instead, which takes 18 months. When you qualify, youll be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council , allowing you to practise as a midwife.
Youll spend around half of your degree on supervised practice placements in community and hospital settings, and youll also learn about the physical, emotional, social, political and cultural aspects of maternity care in the UK.
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Visualize Yourself As A Midwife
Can you imagine yourself guiding a first-time mother through her labor and delivery experience? Do you get excited at the thought of listening to a fetal heart rate monitor, measuring prenatal growth signs, and talking with moms and dads about the transition into parenthood? Are you the kind of person who can handle being on call evenings, weekends, and holidays?
Take the time to imagine yourself becoming a midwife to see if it syncs with who you are.
Midwives ensure that the person being cared for is at the center and is active in decisions regarding the care they need, Wilson says. It should be a collaborative, cohesive relationship, and the midwife is there to serve the woman and her familys needs.
Consider whether you have these qualities, which experienced midwives say can help you succeed:
How long does it take to become a midwife: On average it takes between 6 to 8 years to become a nurse-midwife. If you already hold a bachelors degree, earning an MSN degree can take between 18 to 24 months as a full-time student.
Find Your Midwifery Degree
Visit the NHS Careers website to find a university near you offering midwifery degrees in England, or in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales. Then visit each university’s website to learn more about the content of the course. You might want to go along to an open day to talk to lecturers and current students. Once you have decided on a course and university, apply through UCAS.
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How To Become A Midwife
Midwives provide primary health care to women during pregnancy and beyond. Some types of midwives, notably certified nurse midwives and certified midwives , provide gynecological care for women throughout their lives. Other types of midwives, such as certified professional midwives deal primarily with pregnancy. All types of midwives guide women through prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care.
Midwives may work in private practices, hospitals, or birthing centers. Some specialize in attending to home births.
What kind of training is required to become a midwife?
The type of education required of midwives depends on what type of certification one is seeking.
Certified nurse midwives have masters degrees in nurse midwifery, and to enter a nurse midwifery program, one must typically have a bachelors degree in nursing and some experience working as a registered nurse. Some programs accept registered nurses with associate degrees, however.
Prospective nurse midwives should select a program that is accredited by Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. Students in these programs study health assessment, normal pregnancy care, high risk pregnancy care, well woman care, management of complications, nursing research, and pharmacology. Students also complete clinical rotations in different areas of midwifery practice.
Are there any certification or licensure requirements?
How long does it take to become a midwife?
What does a midwife earn?