Who is a Certified Nurse Midwife?
A certified nurse midwife is a sort of advanced practice registered nurse that specializes in childbirth (APRN). They work in hospitals, birthing centers, and private offices, providing care to women from conception to delivery. Most CNMS have received a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in midwifery in addition to their training as registered nurses.
And considering the high qualification and experience required, you must have advanced practice licensure at the state level, along with nurse-midwife certification before starting.
What will be your role as a certified Nurse Midwife?
As a nurse midwife, you’ll be responsible for a variety of tasks. Where you work has a big impact on what you do. If you run a private clinic, for example, you might take on more responsibilities than you would if you worked at a large hospital. CNMs, in general:
- Test prospective, expecting, and new parents for STDs and other diseases.
- Provide breastfeeding knowledge and training.
- Provide prospective parents with information on newborn care, covering topics like SIDS and colic.
- Mothers should be prepared for labor and delivery.
- During and immediately after childbirth, provide care for new moms and infants.
- During labor, use low-intervention pain treatment and keep an eye out for issues that may necessitate medical intervention.
- Provide postpartum care for mothers and infants.
How much will I make as a nurse-midwife?
As a certified nurse midwife, you will earn a mean annual pay of $108,810, which is much greater than the average RN salary of $72,180, according to the BLS.
This pay can vary greatly depending on geographic area, job demand, cost of living, kind of company, role responsibilities, and years of experience.
However, the top 10% of earners had annual incomes ranging from $69,000 to over $158,000.
What is Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Job Outlook Like
The demand for licensed nurse midwives in the United States is increasing due to a statewide scarcity of maternity care providers.
Nurse midwives are expected to see a 12 percent increase in job chances by 2029, three times the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) could be beneficial for nurse midwives who desire to advance in their careers.
A DNP is the highest level of education in the area of nurse midwifery, and it can assist midwives qualify to teach at universities and take on leadership or management jobs.
Nurse midwives with a DNP could also help enhance maternal and newborn health globally, given the huge demand for women’s healthcare around the world.
Where Can I Work as a Certified Nurse Midwife?
With your certification, there are so many places you can work. You can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Also, you can work for healthcare groups.
Similarly, as a CNM you can be permitted to deliver babies in a variety of settings, including hospitals, free-standing birth centers, and people’s homes.
Note, you will need to collaborate with licensed professional midwives when practicing in out-of-hospital birth settings (CPMs). The only challenging thing that you’ll have to get used to is working day and night. You may even be required to work on-call or at odd hours depending on their position.
