Certified Nurse Midwife Career Overview
A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) plays a crucial role in providing care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.
In this guide, we’ll explore the path to becoming a CNM, including the CNM educational requirements, and delve into the CNM job outlook and employment opportunities available for Certified Nurse Midwives.
How Long Does It Take to Become a CNM?
- Educational Journey: 6-8 years
- Job Outlook: 7% growth from 2021-2031
- Average Earning Potential (CNM salary): $122,450
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
What Does a Certified Nurse Midwife Do?
Certified Nurse Midwives work in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, community clinics, and birthing centers. While their primary focus is on women’s health care during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period, CNMs also provide primary care, gynecological services, and family planning services for women throughout their reproductive years and during menopause. Some of the key responsibilities of a Certified Nurse Midwife include:
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Primary Responsibilities
- Providing prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care to women and monitoring newborns
- Offering assessment, diagnosis, and treatment
- Treating both males and females for sexually transmitted diseases
- Providing education and counseling on health promotion and disease prevention
Skills Acquired
- Patient care for all aspects of pregnancy, labor, and delivery
- Communication and leadership skills
- Technological proficiency
- Patience and compassion
Where Do Certified Nurse Midwives Work?
CNMs play vital roles in various workplace settings, some of which include:
- Hospitals: Collaborating with obstetricians to handle vaginal and surgical births, providing personal care to pregnant women and infants.
- Birthing Centers: Diagnosing and treating gynecological conditions, monitoring women during pregnancy, offering family planning and contraception counseling, and treating sexually transmitted diseases.
- Public Health Clinics: Similar to the responsibilities in birthing centers, CNMs diagnose and treat gynecological conditions, offer family planning and contraception counseling, and treat sexually transmitted diseases.
How Is a Certified Nurse Midwife Different From Other Midwives?
A CNM is required to hold a graduate midwifery degree, possess a valid registered nurse (RN) license, and be certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). This certification allows them to apply for licensure in any of the 50 states.
In contrast, direct-entry midwives include both certified midwives (CMs) and certified professional midwives (CPMs). Unlike CNMs, direct-entry midwives may obtain certification without first becoming licensed nurses. CMs may enter the field without nursing training, although not all states permit their practice. Most direct-entry midwives hold the CPM credential, which provides training for out-of-hospital deliveries.
Traditional midwives, on the other hand, lack formal nursing education but have acquired training through direct experience. These unlicensed midwives, often working with underserved and rural populations, rely on their experience, knowledge of traditional medicine, and the trust of the communities they serve. The legality of their practice depends on the state in which they live and practice.
How to Become a Certified Nurse Midwife
Becoming a CNM involves several key steps:
- Graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): This typically takes four years, although an associate degree option is available, which can be completed in two years.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam: This is necessary to obtain RN licensure. State nursing boards use exam results to determine a nurse’s qualifications.
- Apply to an Accredited Master’s or Doctoral Midwifery Program: RNs with BSN degrees can enter either master’s or doctoral programs with midwifery specializations.
- Graduate with an MSN or DNP in Midwifery: A master’s degree takes approximately two years to complete, while a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) may require four years or more. It’s important to ensure that the coursework and clinical hours meet state licensure and national certification requirements.
- Pass the AMCB Exam: Before entering nurse midwife practice, most nurses obtain CNM certification, which necessitates an RN license, a graduate nursing degree, and a passing score on the AMCB exam.
How Much Do Certified Nurse Midwives Make?
As of May 2022, the average annual salary for CNMs was $122,450. The demand for Certified Nurse Midwives is projected to grow by 7% from 2021 to 2031. CNMs tend to earn the highest salaries in major metropolitan areas, ranging from $169,530 in San Francisco, CA, to $169,190 in Los Angeles, CA.
The employment outlook for CNMs is positive, with hospitals and clinics increasingly hiring them to manage low-risk pregnancies and reduce costs. Additionally, the growing preference for natural childbirth and birth center options contributes to the demand for midwives.
Top-Paying States for Certified Nurse Midwives
| Top-Paying States | Average Salary | Total Number of Certified Nurse Midwives |
|---|---|---|
| California | $169,530 | 910 |
| West Virginia | $165,780 | N//A |
| Hawaii | $156,020 | 490 |
| Massachusetts | $143,870 | 290 |
| Oregon | $136,150 | 150 |
Source: BLS
| Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas | Average Salary | Total Number of Certified Nurse Midwives |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco — Oakland — Hayward, CA | $191,470 | 180 |
| San Jose — Sunnyvale — Santa Clara, CA | $184,180 | 70 |
| Sacramento — Roseville — Arden-Arcade, CA | $182,440 | 80 |
| Charleston, WV | $180,890 | Data Not Available |
| Los Angeles — Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $169,190 | 250 |
Source: BLS
| Industry | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Outpatient Care Centers | $153,310 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $129,960 |
| Local Government (excluding schools and hospitals) | $121,430 |
| Offices of Physicians | $120,120 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $111,580 |
Source: BLS
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Frequently Asked Questions About Certified Nurse Midwives:
- Do nurse midwives deliver babies? CNMs working with low-risk pregnancies may deliver babies in various settings, including hospitals and out-of-hospital locations like home births and birthing centers. However, CNMs do not induce labor and aim to minimize the use of pain medication during childbirth. In hospital settings, they collaborate with obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) doctors who manage both low-risk and high-risk pregnancies.
- What are the benefits of earning a doctorate for nurse midwives? Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) can enhance career prospects in administrative and educational roles, and it may lead to higher salaries. The nursing field recognizes the link between doctoral-level training and improved healthcare delivery, quality, and safety.
- How long does it take to become a certified nurse midwife? The duration of the educational path can vary. BSN graduates may earn a master’s degree in two years or less, or a BSN-DNP in approximately 3-4 years. Those entering the field with only an RN license can choose RN-to-MSN or RN-to-DNP programs, which may take longer. Direct-entry programs for students with non-nursing undergraduate degrees may require between 2-4 years of study, including prerequisites and clinical requirements.
- What skills are important for nurse midwives? Nurse midwives acquire specialized nursing and technological training in reproductive and gynecological healthcare, along with the skills necessary to provide primary care during pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, they need “soft skills” such as the ability to work with diverse populations, function in high-stress situations, exhibit strong communication skills, demonstrate leadership qualities, and maintain a caring and compassionate approach to patient care.
Resources for Certified Nurse Midwives:
- American College of Nurse-Midwives:This professional organization represents CNMs and CMs in the United States. Members receive benefits like discounted registration fees for annual meetings and access to the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. The association promotes education, research, and networking through an online news site, weekly newsletters, and an online discussion forum.
- Midwives Alliance North America:Established in 1982, MANA provides resources for advocacy, research, and professional education for midwives from diverse backgrounds. The organization offers membership to midwives, students, and other healthcare providers and consumers. Benefits include liability insurance discounts, subscriptions to professional journals, and continuing education opportunities. MANA midwife members may join the Mothers Naturally registry.
- American Midwifery Certification Board:AMCB is the leading national certification agency for the midwifery profession. They manage the certification program for nurse midwives with graduate-level degrees accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. The organization develops and administers the national certification examination, awards initial CNM and CM certificates, and administers the certification maintenance program for certificate renewal.
- Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses:AWHONN supports RNs caring for women, newborns, and their families through research, education, and policy initiatives. The association advocates for laws and regulations that improve healthcare for women and newborns and strengthens the nursing profession. Members benefit from professional development opportunities, awards and scholarships, podcasts, and collaborative industry and community partnerships.