The Role of a Certified Nurse-Midwife [INFOGRAPHIC]

What Is a Certified Nurse-Midwife?

Certified nurse-midwives are licensed healthcare practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery and are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

Although unknown to some, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) play an essential role in women’s health. Not only do they serve women from adolescense onward, but they also play an active role throughout pregnancy and childbirth. And not to mention beyond menopause.

What Is a Certified Nurse-Midwife?

Certified nurse-midwives are licensed healthcare practitioners educated in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery and are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

Although unknown to some, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) play an essential role in women’s health. Not only do they serve women from adolescense onward, but they also play an active role throughout pregnancy and childbirth. And not to mention beyond menopause.

What Exactly Do They Do?

As illustrated below in this visual by University of Cincinnati’s Online Master of Science in Nursing, a CNM has advanced training in women’s health issues, with particular focus on primary and maternity care services.

These professionals provide a wide variety of care that includes:

• Delivering babies and providing newborn care
• Monitoring fetal development and attending to pregnancy-related issues
• Managing preventative, acute and chronic illnesses of women through all ages and stages of her life
• Conducting physical examinations
• Performing diagnostic tests
• Prescribing pharmaceuticals (varies by state)
• Counseling and educating patients

Where Do They Work?

CNM’s may provide care or deliver babies in a variety of settings:

• Hospitals
• Academic instituitions
• Private practice clinics
• Birth centers
• Homes

Why Become One?

The prospect of a specialized career in nursing is rewarding–both on a personal and professional level. Jobs are expected to increase by 26% within the next years and have the largest projected employment growth in the next decade.