Table of Contents
- Overview
- Prevention
There are almost 40 ACNM accredited nurse-midwifery programs in the U.S. Applicants for nurse-midwife programs usually must be registered nurses and have at least 1-2 years of nursing experience. As with the nursing profession in general, most certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are women. However, in recent years more male nurses have chosen to become nurse-midwives.
Nurse-midwives have improved primary health care services for women in rural and inner-city areas. The National Institute of Medicine has recommended that nurse-midwives be given more responsibility for delivering women's health care.
Many studies over the past 20 - 30 years have shown that nurse-midwives can manage most perinatal (including prenatal, delivery, and postpartum) care, and most of the family planning and gynecological needs of women of all ages.
Nurse-midwives work together with OB/GYN doctors. They either consult with or refer to other health care providers in cases that are outside of their experience (for example, high-risk pregnancies and pregnant women who also have a chronic disease).
See also:
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
The nurse-midwife is educated and trained to provide a broad range of health care services for women and newborns. CNM functions include diagnosis (taking a medical hystory, doing a physical assessment, ordering laboratory tests and procedures), managing therapy (outlining care, providing prescriptions, coordinating consultations and referrals), and activities that promote women's health and reduce health risks.
Although most of the CNM practice focuses on childbearing, family planning, and gynecological care for well women, CNMs may also check and manage common illnesses in adults. All services are done together with the patient.
As with the
PRACTICE SETTINGS
Certified nurse-midwives work in a variety of settings, including private practices (either by themselves or together with a physician), 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
As with many other professions, 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 (such as nurse practitioners), license requirements for CNMs can vary from state to state. The current trend is to require a master's degree and national certification.
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 American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) are eligible to take the certification exam given by the ACNM Certification Council, Inc.
Review Date: 09/02/2009
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound,
Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
