If delivering babies sounds like a dream, then becoming a certified nurse midwife might be right for you. It’s possible to use your nursing skills to become a certified nurse-midwife, which means you could provide care and support to mothers and infants, including delivering babies at birth.
The healthcare industry is growing with opportunities. Make your dream of becoming a nurse-midwife a reality by, first, becoming a nurse.
What Does a Certified Midwife Do?
A nurse-midwife provides several types of gynecological, prenatal and post-pregnancy care. A nurse-midwife can perform the following:
- Provide prenatal care and educate women on birth options
- Create a birth plan and monitor maternal health and fetal growth
- Develop treatment plans and writing prescriptions
- Coordinate with medical doctors and specialists
- Assist with breastfeeding and postpartum care
- Treat routine, non-critical health conditions during pregnancy
- Low-intervention labor and pain relief
- Attend uncomplicated births and delivery coaching
- Order tests and review lab results
- Perform physical examinations
Where Do Certified Midwives Work?
Nurse-midwives work in hospitals and for private clinics, HMOs and birth centers.
How Do You Become a Midwife?
A nurse-midwife is a special classification of nursing that will require you to complete an accredited nurse-midwife MSN program or Doctor of Nursing Practie (DNP) and pass the nurse-midwife certification (CNM) exams.
Here are the most important steps to becoming a certified nurse-midwife (CNM):
- Complete an accredited BSN program.
- Pass the certification exam for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).
- Gain one year of experience as an RN in Women’s Health, often in Labor and Delivery.
- Complete an ACME-accredited MSN program.
- Pass the Nurse-Midwife Certification (CNM) exam by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
- Apply to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).
- Start practicing and continue education to retain your license.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Midwife?
On average, it will take between six to eight years to become a nurse-midwife, since you will need to complete BSN and at least an MSN. You’ll also be required to have practiced nursing for at least a year. Some nurse-midwives also opt to complete their Doctor of Nursing (DPN), which can increase the time to finish, but these credentials can become a huge advantage when working in such a dynamic, hands-on area of healthcare.
Certified Midwife Education – Where to Start
If you’re set on becoming a nurse-midwife, then the first step is to start with your BSN and get some nursing practice under your belt. Take the next step by finding a nursing school that can get you started on your journey to becoming a nurse-midwife.