Is A Midwife A Nurse Practitioner

How To Become A Certified Nurse

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.

Academic requirements.

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. WGUs prelicensure program helps you earn your Bachelors of Science in Nursing and prepares you to get your nursing licensure at the same time.

If you are currently a registered nurse, youll still need to get a bachelors 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.

Its 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.

CNM continuing education.

Earn Your Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Degree

The first step to becoming a nurse-midwife is earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree . A BSN program will take about four years to complete unless youve already earned your associates degree in nursing . Students whove already earned their ADN can enroll in an RN-BSN program which can be completed in as little as 20 months.

Scope & Model Of Practice

The specific scope of midwifery practice varies by country and jurisdiction, and is discussed in further detail in chapter 3 Midwifery within the Health Care System. In Canada, midwives specialize in normal pregnancy, intrapartum and postpartum care, from conception to six weeks postpartum. The midwifery scope of practice reflects the internationally recognized scope of midwifery care, as defined by the ICM, which states, in part,

The midwife is recognised as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwifes own responsibility and to provide care for the newborn and the infant. This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures.

In addition to being primary care providers, midwifery care is shaped by five basic principles: continuity of care , informed choice, community-based, choice of birth setting and evidence-informed practice. These five principles form the foundation of the midwifery model of care across the country, and together are what make midwifery care unique in the Canadian health care system.

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How Long Does It Take To Become A Certified Nurse Midwife

BSN graduates may earn a master’s in two years or less or a BSN-DNP in approximately 3-4 years. Those entering the field with only an RN can choose RN-to-MSN or RN-to-DNP programs that may take longer. Direct-entry programs for students with non-nursing undergraduate degrees may require between 2-4 years of study, including prerequisites and clinical requirements.

Certified Nurse Midwife Salary

A certified nurse-midwifery career can be lucrative and rewarding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average hourly wage of a certified nurse-midwife is $55.55, as of May 2020 from the Occupational Employment Statistics Nurse Midwives report. Additionally, the average annual wage in the United States is $115,540.

Of course, a CNM salary varies state-by-state. The BLS shows that California stands as the highest-paying state for certified nurse-midwives, with an average annual wage of $159,590. After California, Utah is the second highest-paying state, where CNMs can earn up to $133,680.

The BLS also reports that the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area pays most competitively, with an hourly wage there is $92.04. The Los Angeles area is followed by Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA where the average hourly wage is $82.21 and the average annual wage is $171,700.

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Promotors Of Health & Wellbeing

Wellbeing includes physical health as well as emotional wellbeing and a sense of security, hope and optimism. Optimal health is the best health for each individual, in their individual context, and given their individual health care needs. What makes this a more complex concept in maternity care is the balance between the womans health and that of the baby. Holding both of these in mind, not placing the health of one over the other, is critical in considering the appropriateness of interventions to maintain optional health in maternity care. Midwives do this by supporting physiological processes, whenever possible, while keeping in mind the overall context and preferences of each individual woman and case.

Central to midwifery practice is that we recognize the need to support normal human physiology by helping women to have a normal birth, and supporting them so that they can, if possible, avoid the use of unnecessary interventions . Meanwhile, if these interventions are needed , then the midwifes role becomes to support the woman to have the best birth experience possible for them: physiologically, but also emotionally.

What Are The Typical Working Conditions For Nurse

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.

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How To Become A Certified Nurse Midwife

CNMs must earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees to become a certified nurse midwife, acquire an RN license, and get national certification and licensure in the state where they intend to practice.

Graduate with a bachelor of science in nursing .

Pass the NCLEX-RN exam to receive RN licensure.

Apply to an accredited masters or doctoral midwifery program.

Graduate with your master of science in nursing or doctor of nursing practice in midwifery.

Pass the AMCB exam.

Why Should I Become A Nurse Midwife

February 13, 2020 By Frontier Nursing University

Are you considering a career in the healthcare field? Do you have a passion for serving women and families? A passion for providing holistic and patient-centered care? If the answer is yes, consider becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife .

A nurse-midwife is a primary health care provider to women of all ages throughout the lifespan. CNMs offer gynecologic and family planning services, as well as preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care. They also provide primary care such as conducting annual exams, writing prescriptions, and offering basic nutrition counseling.

Frontier Nursing University is the countrys premier university for nurse-midwifery education. Our distance education model is ideal for prospective nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who do not want to leave their home communities to obtain a graduate education to fulfill their professional goals.

Should you consider a career as a nurse-midwife? Here are a few reasons we think you should:

Robin McHugh, a 2016 FNU graduate, works primarily with Amish and Mennonite women and families.

A few days ago, I attended a beautiful home birth way out on a ranch. The other children I had also delivered came running in, excited to see their new sibling. Its a joy to serve a mother and a family through each birth and get to watch that family enlarge its so exciting and fulfilling, said Robin.

What is a Certified Nurse-Midwife ?

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Nurse Anesthetist Job Duties

CRNAs administer anesthesia and provide patient care before, during, and after diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic, and obstetrical procedures. They may also perform emergency services and pain management for patients. Before a procedure begins, CRNAs communicate with patients to review any allergies, illnesses, or medications that could impact anesthetization.CRNAs monitor patients’ vital signs during procedures, make any necessary adjustments to the anesthesia, and ensure patients remain comfortable after surgery. Individuals interested in learning more about nurse anesthetists’s duties can review this page for additional information.

Two What Does A Nurse

Nurse midwives are focused on womens health care. Among their most common duties include delivering babies, providing prenatal and postpartum care, assisting obstetricians, and performing routine check-ups to pregnant patients.

One of their most important roles is helping mothers birth their babies safely and naturally. They help patients manage their labor and monitor both the moms and babies during the delivery to ensure safety. In some cases, they work under the supervision of, or in collaboration with, physicians during C-section births.

According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, 76% of CNMs identify reproductive care and 49% identify primary care as the main responsibilities in their full-time positions. This includes things like:

• Annual exams
• Patient education
• Reproductive health visits

Also worth noting is that as of 2019, almost 89% of births attended by midwives took place in hospitals, with the rest happening in birth centers or homes.

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Take The Certified Nurse

After completing your program, youll have to apply to take the certified nurse-midwifery exam, which is administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board . You must pass this exam to earn your certified nurse-midwife certification. The exam tests you on your knowledge of antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, woman/gynecology and womens health/primary care subject areas. You must renew your certification every five years. This may involve additional fulfillment of continuing education contact hours.

Nurse Midwife Education Requirements

Nurse midwife education requirements generally include a masters or doctoral degree. Nurse midwives college or university training typically includes both classroom and clinical instruction in a program accredited by an organization such as the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Degrees Needed to Become a Nurse Midwife

The first step in a nurse midwifes education is a bachelors. To prepare for masters-level work, undergraduate college students may choose courses that deal with topics such as the following:

• Nutrition

• Medical law and ethics
• Health assessment

All RNs must hold state licenses that indicate they have the skills and competencies required to perform the job.

In addition to education and training requirements set by each states medical board, applying for a license requires passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses .

The American Nurses Credentialing Center accredits the NCLEX-RN, which is a six-hour, multiple-choice exam. NCLEX-RN exam topics include those related to providing quality care, administering appropriate medication, and mitigating risk. Each state has its own requirements for licensing renewal and continuing education hours.

Certification for Being a Nurse Midwife

Nurse midwives must pass the American Midwifery Certification Board examination within two years of earning a masters or doctoral degree and they are allowed four attempts to do so. The computerized, multiple-choice exam lasts four hours.

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Oregon Health And Science University Portland Or

Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon, is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade mountain range. Many Nurse-Midwifery students appreciate the geographical beauty of the area and the fact that the state has a solid reproductive and maternity care reputation. Nurse-midwives are present in nearly 20% of all births in the Portland area!

The OHSU Nurse-Midwifery program has taught students for over 30 years between the university hospital and surrounding clinics. Students learn by attending many of the births at the OHSU hospital.

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers two options for nurses who want to be nurse-midwives:

• A Nurse-Midwifery-MSN

Certified Nurse Midwife Job Description: Skills And Job Duties

A certified nurse midwifes job description primarily includes tasks associated with assisting pregnant women and their partners before, during, and after childbirth. Certified nurse midwives also may assist female and male patients including those who identify as women as well as transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex individuals with reproductive health concerns and sexually transmitted diseases.

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Work Environment About This Section

Nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners held about 271,900 jobs in 2020. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners was distributed as follows:

Some advanced practice registered nurses provide care in patients homes. Some nurse midwives work in birthing centers, which are a type of outpatient care center.

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.

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What Does A Certified Nurse Midwife Do

You may picture a midwife as a nurse-type of healthcare provider who primarily assists with births, but thats only one part of the job.

In a survey reported by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, certified nurse midwives and certified midwives stated their main responsibilities as:

• Reproductive care
• Primary care

Above all, the main responsibility for certified nurse midwives is to provide gynecological and maternity healthcare services to women. With the nursing certification, they can also act as primary care providers for women and their newborn babies.

Some day-to-day tasks can include:

• Performing gynecological exams

• Private practices
• Urban or rural areas

Not all midwives work in direct contact with patients. They can also assume leadership roles as clinicians, researchers, educators and administrators in womens healthcare.

What A Nurse Is

Nurses are essential health professionals who care for people in all health care settings.

The NMBA works with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to regulate the nursing profession.

People must be registered with the NMBA before they can use any of the following protected titles to describe themselves:

• enrolled nurse
• registered nurse
• nurse practitioner.

You can check if a nurse is registered by searching the national register of nurses and midwives registered with the NMBA.

Nurses work with many other health professionals in the public or private health sectors. Settings where nurses work include:

• public hospitals
• rural and remote communities.

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Nurse Midwife Job Skills

Nurse midwives must have the dedication to provide patients with outstanding care and support. The BLS cites the following specific skills as valuable for nurse midwives and other APRNs:

Communication

Nurse midwives and other APRNs must be able to effectively communicate with patients and other healthcare providers to provide appropriate care. Good communication skills are key in evaluating patients conditions, discussing care with other medical staff, and attending professional conferences.

Critical Thinking

To quickly determine the best action to take in treating patients, nurse midwives must have the ability to assess health changes. Critical thinking also helps nurse midwives make decisions about care, on their own and in consultation with others.

Compassion

Nurse midwives should be caring and show empathy toward patients. This skill is particularly important since many of their patients are experiencing one of the most important moments in their lives: giving birth.

Attention to Detail

Even small changes in a condition or treatment can dramatically affect a patients health. Nurse midwives must be thorough in exams and in determining appropriate courses of action and following proper procedures.

Interpersonal Skills

Nurse midwives must have the ability to interact well with patients and families to educate them about healthcare. They also need to show good teamwork with other medical professionals in establishing and providing treatment.

Leadership

Resourcefulness

What Is A Midwife

There are four types of midwives: certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, certified professional midwives, and traditional or unlicensed midwives. Certified nurse midwives are the most common type. Theyve attended nursing school, have a graduate degree in midwifery, and can work at home, a hospital, or a birth center. They can also write prescriptions nationwide and provide additional reproductive healthcare.

Training differs among the other midwives, as do their scope of care and which states they can practice in. Those known as traditional midwives dont rely on a license and follow more historical midwifery practices. They help families deliver at home and often work with specific groups, such as Indigenous communities and religious communities.

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Nurse Midwife Job Duties

CNMs often serve as women’s primary care providers, both for maternity care and general health. Common responsibilities include family planning assistance, providing prenatal care, and performing gynecological exams.CNMs deliver babies and handle emergency situations during labor and delivery, repairing lacerations and sometimes providing physicians with surgical assistance during cesarean births. These nurses also care for their patients’ partners when facing reproductive or sexual health issues. Additionally, CNMs may provide health education with an emphasis on disease prevention and nutrition.Readers interested in learning more nurse midwife jobs can review our nurse midwife career page for further information.

Nurse Midwifery Programs Versus Womens Health Nurse Practitioner Programs

Due to the overlap between the duties that WHNPs and CNMs perform on a daily basis, many accredited nurse midwifery programs also prepare students to become womens health nurse practitioners, and vice versa. Such programs, sometimes called CNM/WHNP or NM/WHNP programs, prepare their students to take either the American Midwifery Certification Boards certification exam for nurse midwives, or the National Certifying Commissions certification exam for womens health nurse practitioners. CNM/WHNP programs may be a good option for students who are not sure whether they want to become a nurse midwife or a womens health nurse practitioner.

However, some accredited WHNP and CNM programs reflect the differences between these two medical professions. For example, accredited WHNP programs may include courses such as contemporary issues in womens health and primary care of the elderly, while nurse midwifery programs might have in-depth courses on the birthing process and neonatal care. Nevertheless, both accredited WHNP programs and accredited CNM programs cover core topics within advanced practice registered nursing, such as advanced health assessments, advanced human physiology and pathophysiology, and the management of chronic and acute illnesses in women from adolescence to adulthood.

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