Nurse-Midwife

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Work Tasks

Certified NURSE-MIDWIVES (CNMs) provide primary medical care and treatment, under the supervision of obstetricians, to women and their babies during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and after the birth. CNMs instruct patients in prenatal and postnatal health practices. They participate in the initial examination of patients by the obstetrician. They are responsible for the care and treatment of patients and the delivery of their child. They counsel patients about the nutritional, behavioral, and environmental effects on pregnancy. Certified nurse-midwives provide physical and emotional support during labor and administer medications as necessary. They check up on new mothers in the hospital, and at home, and maintain records of each patient.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $93,500 average per year ($45.00 per hour)
• A very large occupation (2,655,000 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)

Entry Requirements

Certified NURSE-MIDWIVES must first become registered nurses (RNs). Registered nurses should have a bachelor's degree in nursing and pass a licensing test to practice in the state where they plan to work. Most nurse-midwifery programs require at least one year of nursing experience. Those with a bachelor's degree may enroll in a master's degree program in midwifery that takes from one to two years. Some midwifery programs prefer that registered nurses have experience in obstetrics.