A Certified Nurse Midwife specializes in the management of women’s health issues and works with female patients from puberty to menopause. A CNM finds professional satisfaction in helping women live healthy lives and deliver healthy children. They develop a close bond with their patients and partner with women during some of the most important moments in their lives. Nurse Midwives are equipped to work in hospitals, private practice, and other health care systems.

The primary focus of any nurse midwife is on women’s health issues. Depending on individual state practice laws, CNMs may practice autonomously or in collaboration with other members of the multidisciplinary health care team. In addition, the role, scope of practice, and prescribing authorization of a nurse midwife will vary depending on licensure and where they practice. The nurse-midwife is educated and trained to provide a broad range of health care services for women and newborns. Certified Nurse Midwife responsibilities may include:

• Primary and specialty care for women
• Diagnosing, treating, and managing care of women with acute and chronic illnesses
• Conducting physical examinations and interpreting medical history
• Ordering and managing care based on diagnostic tests and procedures
• Delivering babies and attending to pregnancy related issues
• Providing care to women from puberty through menopause, including newborn care
• Prescribing pharmacologic treatment (depends on state regulation)
• Counseling and educating clients

Practice settings

CNMs work in a variety of settings. These may include private practices, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), hospitals, health departments, and birthing centers. CNMs often provide care to underserved populations in rural areas or inner-city settings.

Regulation of the profession

Certified nurse-midwives are regulated at 2 different levels. Licensing occurs at the state level and falls under specific state laws. As with other advanced practice nurses, license requirements for CNMs can vary from state to state. Certification is done through a national organization and all states have the same requirements for professional practice standards. Only graduates of nurse-midwifery programs accredited by the ACNM are eligible to take the certification exam given by the ACNM Certification Council, Inc.

Job requirements

CNMs must have a compassionate nature and enjoy working with women from a variety of backgrounds, from the teenage years through menopause. They must be able to work well within a team and have excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen to patients with empathy and understanding.

Salary

According to PayScale.com, the median annual salary earned by CNMs was $86,846 in January 2016. The 430 CNMs included in this PayScale.com survey had salaries ranging from $69,140 to $106,517 per year.

• On average, only 10% of a CNM’s time is spent in the direct care of birthing women and their babies
• The other 90% is spent providing primary, preventative care to patients and families
• CNMs work in hospitals, birth centers, health clinics, and homebirth services
• There were over 11,000 practicing CNMs in the US as of 2015

Certified nurse-midwives assist women with pregnancy, childbirth and post-delivery, performing both clinical and administrative duties. They are registered nurses with specialized Master of Science in nursing degrees, and they must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills. Certification is required in most states, and job openings for nurse-midwives are expected to grow by 25 % through the 2014-2024 decade.