Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Career
What Do You Do In This Career?
Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) work with pregnant women and families throughout a pregnancy to ensure the best health for both mother and child. A nurse midwife may conduct tests on both the mother and unborn child to monitor the progress of a pregnancy, determine risk factors, and provide treatment for any issues that arise during pregnancy. Nurse midwives are often present when their patients give birth to provide support and administer treatment such as epidural injections.
Salary and Career Information
- Salary: Nurse Midwives earn between $67,521 and $103,623.
- CNM Requirements: To practice as a CNM you must first earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing, and be able to practice as a registered nurse. Then you can complete a Master of Science in nursing with a specialty in nurse midwifery. CNMs must be certified at the state or national level to practice.
- Work Environment: CNMs can work in cooperation with a physician or as part of an independent midwifery practice, or in a hospital or other large medical facility. Long hours on your feet and frequent phone calls in the middle of the night are par for the course, but the rich rewards of helping mothers have happy, healthy pregnancies are a strong motivating factor for CNMs.
What Kind of Coursework Can You Expect in This Program?
MSN Nurse Midwifery programs include both scientific and sociological courses relating to motherhood and childbearing. Nurse midwives need to learn basic nursing skills as well as antepartum and postpartum care techniques for mothers and children. Nurse midwives learn to detect signs of problem pregnancies, and can provide counsel on whether a totally natural birth is advisable, or whether painkillers or even surgical intervention is necessary.
Health promotion, pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, and medical data management classes are all part of a CNM’s coursework. Midwives historically advocate to empower women and promote their self-determination during pregnancy, and by extension, in the rest of their lives.
Earn an Online Nurse Practitioner Degree
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who holds a graduate-level degree. While in most states RNs currently need only a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) degree to become nurse practitioners, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has proposed that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) be the minimum requirement for all advanced practice nurses by 2015. Listed below are the best online colleges offering accredited MSN and DNP degrees.
 |
Georgetown University — The Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies offers two online Master of Science in nursing degrees. The MS in family nurse practitioner program prepares students for careers as family nurses. The MS in midwifery / women's health nurse practitioner program perpares students for careers as nurse practitioners who specialize as midwives and caring for female patients. |
 |
Kaplan University — The MSN nurse administration, nurse education, and nurse informatics degree programs from Kaplan allows nurses with bachelor's degrees to take their careers to the next level. Students of these programs will learn advanced nursing theory, health policy, evidence-based decision making, financing, and more. |
 |
University of Phoenix — The Master of Science in nursing for nurse practitioners from the University of Phoenix is a flexible online program from an accredited school. Students will learn advanced nursing skills, finance, change management, and evidence-based nursing research. Upon completion, graduates will be well prepared to advance their nursing careers. MSN specialties are offered in health education and health informatics. Dual degrees (MSN + MBA and MSN + MHA) are also available. |
 |
American Sentinel University — American Sentinel University offers a basic RN to MSN degree, as well as several specializations within this program, including case management, infection prevention and control, management and organizational leadership, and nursing informatics. Graduates of these programs will all have a fundamental understanding of health and illness and will be able to provide direct care to individuals, families, and groups with a variety of health needs. |
 |
University of Cincinnati — The MS in nursing degree program with a specialization in women's health practice offered online by the University of Cincinnati is geared toward nursing students wanting to receive expert training on women's health issues. Cincinnati also offers many other nurse practitioner degree programs, including MSN specialties in clinical nursing, nurse midwifery, and psychiatric & mental health nursing. |
| Click here to see more nurse practitioner degrees... | |
Looking for a nurse practitioner degree?
Use the degree finder below, and we'll help you find a nursing practitioner program.
