What will I do in this job?
For centuries, women have looked to midwives to advise and assist them in childbirth. Today’s certified nurse midwife (CNM) carries on this tradition of personal, family-centered, understanding care.
To be a Nurse Midwife, you are responsible for:
- prenatal care
- labor
- delivery management
- postpartum care
- well-woman gynecology
- normal newborn care
Although CNMs independently manage the care of healthy women and newborns, each CNM is affiliated with a physician who is available for consultation of referral if needed. Approximately 4,000 CNMs practice in all fifty states.
Nurse Midwifes typically work in:
- hospitals
- birthing centers
- health maintenance organizations (HMO’s)
- public health departments, clinics
- private practices
- deliveries in the home
What type of education will I need?
Each CNM is educated in nursing; has received advanced instruction in clinical midwifery, normal obstetrics/ gynecology, and newborn care; and must pass a rigorous national certification examination administered by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Will I need a special license?
Nurse midwifery education is focused in two areas: (1) Providing health care to healthy women and their infants and (2) recognizing significant deviations from the norm that require intervention by a specialist. In addition to the required classroom work, the programs include a strong clinical component, often one-on-one with an experienced CNM, designed to develop the skills needed to translate knowledge into practice. Individual programs may also include research, administration, or public health classes. To enter a master’s program in midwifery, an individual must be licensed as an RN and have a baccalaureate degree.
Will I find a job?
In Illinois and nationally, faster than average growth in the employment of RN is expected through 2006. Increased awareness among medical professionals and the public regarding nurse midwifery, there is an increased need for nurses trained in this area. Opportunities for nurse midwives exist in a variety of practical settings, such as hospitals, birthing centers, health maintenance organizations, public health departments, and clinics.
How much will I make?
Median Salary: $73,973 (Ranges from $67,000-$79,000)
(2000-2003)
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