A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with training as both a Registered Nurse (RN) and Midwife. The Certified Nurse Midwife definition may seem confusing because the role of a Midwife is typically to deliver babies.
However, the full Certified Nurse Midwife job description delves into a whole range of services including prenatal, postpartum, infant care, and also gynecological care. Currently, less than 1% of the midwifery workforce is made up of men.
What is a Certified Nurse Midwife?
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So, to answer the question: What is a Certified Nurse Midwife? An individual who is a Certified Nurse Midwife is a nurse who is certified by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education to perform medical health and wellness services for women and babies, before, during, and after birth.
And, what does a Certified Nurse Midwife do? They serve the unique needs of their patients. Some of the most common functions include:
- The CNM takes a physical exam.
- The CNM manages therapy.
- The CNM consults with the patient about health risks.
- The CNM orders procedures, labs, etc.
- Depending on the state, the CNM may or may not be allowed to write prescriptions
Once a nurse has earned the certified nurse-midwife credential, that individual is eligible to become licensed in all 50 states, which also means that the CNM can have the flexibility to travel and offer the level of nursing and health care that their patients need.
Will Certification Help Me Get a Job?
The job outlook for nursing is very hopeful, with a projected and continued growth of 25% through 2024. Along with the high growth, there’s an even more positive spin for Certified Nurse Midwife jobs.
Since this type of training is a specialization, and since it relates directly to one of the most in-demand fields of nursing (pediatrics), the employment outlook points toward the very high likelihood that a Certified Nurse Midwife certification is one of the best career moves a nurse can make.
Will I Make More as a Certified Nurse Midwife?
The Certified Nurse Midwife’s salary is higher at $113,930 for a mean annual wage (or $54.78/hour), compared with the average nurse. In this position, and with this salary, the CNM may work as a sole provider or as part of a healthcare team in a practice or gynecological care practice. The greatest levels of success, the best employment outlook, and the highest salary outlook are associated with a graduate degree and associated advanced training, specialization, and experience. An estimated 82% of CNM individuals hold a master’s degree.
Where are Certified Nurse Midwife Top-Paying Positions?
For those highest paying employment opportunities for the Certified Nurse Midwife, you should look to the General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, as well as Outpatient Centers, Physicians Office, and Specialty Clinics. The top-paying positions based on geography are Iowa, California, North Dakota, and Oregon. California also employs more Nurse-Midwives than most other states. (It ties with New York, and is well ahead of Massachusetts.)
While General Medical and Surgical Hospitals may be lucrative for this field, many CNW candidates pursue this path because:
- They want to work with women and babies.
- They are passionate about fostering the entrance of the newest generation into this world.
- They want to support the best, most positive, and healthiest natural birth experience for the baby and the mother.
What is the Job Outlook for Certified Nurse-Midwives?
Fortunately, the employment outlook is so positive, and hopeful, that many more women will likely take this career path in the future. It may also be a specialization that experienced nurses pursue as they seek to differentiate themselves in an employment market that is heating up. Either way, as long as women continue to have babies. the CNM will be a great career path.
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