Career as Certified Nurse Midwife
Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) provide quality health care services to patients. They also provide emotional and physical support to pregnant women during childbirth and as needed. Certified Nurse Midwives are RNs (Registered nurses) that have specialized training in assisting pregnant women during pregnancy and after childbirth. Continue reading to learn more about careers as a certified nurse midwife and how online nursing degree programs can help you reach your career goals.
Training and Job Functions of Certified Nurse Midwives
To become a certified nurse midwife, you will have to complete an accredited nursing program and receive clinical experience in maternity and newborn care. You will also need to successfully pass a written examination that is provided by the American College of Nurse Midwives. Some primary care functions of certified nurse midwives include the following:
- Providing gynecological services
- Breast examinations
- Pap smears and other examinations
- Educating women about reproductive health care and child birth options
- Advise women on personal health care during and after pregnancy
- Perform prenatal care
- Family planning education
- Advice women about birth control options
- Provide prenatal and postpartum care
- Perform pelvic examinations and evaluations
Required Skills of Certified Nurse Midwives
Certified nurse midwives also work with doctors to obtain medications and treatments for patients. They play a very important role in helping pregnant women and reducing the risk of infant death rate and complications during pregnancy and child birth. If this sounds like a career path that you would like to take, you must have excellent communication skills, ability to work under pressure and in all types of stressful situations and emergencies, have a friendly attitude, and like to help people.
Working Conditions and Career with an Online Degree as a Certified Nurse Midwife
Due to the current nursing shortage, this is an excellent time to become a certified nurse midwife. There are many wonderful benefits and career fulfillment that you can achieve with this career. As a certified nurse midwife, you also get to work in comfortable work environments like hospitals, private homes, public health departments, birth centers and private practices.
Demand for Certified Nurse Midwives
There is a high demand for nurse midwives due to more women choosing to give birth at home and require professional help. They are also qualified to do most of the same job duties as doctors. Employment opportunities for certified nurse midwives are excellent according to government statistics. This field is expected to grow through the next decade. So, aspiring midwives who want to pursue this career should do so now.
Study Nursing Online
Some of the top online nursing schools offer online programs in nursing that can lead to a rewarding career as a certified nurse midwife. If you would like to complete your nursing degree from the comforts of home, an online degree in nursing is a perfect fit. Browse through the list of online nursing schools listed on this website and begin your nursing career today.
