Nurse-Midwifery (NMW)
Scope of Practice
Overview
The Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is a Master's prepared advanced practice nurse who independently manages the health care of women focusing on common primary care issues, family planning, gynecologic needs, childbearing and care of newborns in a variety of settings. Nurse-midwives practice within a health care system that provides for consultation, collaboration or referral as indicated. Nurse-Midwifery practice is founded upon the principles of continuity of care, empowerment of women, family-centered care, respect for cultural variations and promotion of natural physiological processes in the absence of complications. Upon completion of an accredited nurse-midwifery program, graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification exam to ultimately achieve the credential of CNM.
Credentials and Certification
Students take a cumulative comprehensive examination at the end of their last semester to prepare them for the certifying examination of the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). Successful completion of the comprehensive exam is required for graduation. Information concerning the AMCB examination is provided to students enrolled in the final course of the curriculum. The cumulative pass rate of our students taking their first AMBC certification exam is 94%.
Functions Performed by the Nurse-Midwife
In addition to performing many of the general functions of the Advanced Practice Nurse, the Certified Nurse-Midwife may also provide these functions:
- View pregnancy as a normal life event
- Provide compassionate, family centered-care
- Encourage women’s participation in decision making
- Use technology and intervention appropriately
- Determine risk status of women and newborns
- Write inpatient orders and progress notes
- Consult, collaborate and refer appropriately when management falls outside of the scope of nurse-midwifery practice (according to site specific guidelines)
- Maintain statistics regarding practice outcomes
- Perform specific interventions as prescribed by mutually agreed upon practice guidelines; such as but not limited to application of internal fetal monitoring devices, amniotomy, episiotomy, repair of perineal lacerations, insertion of intrauterine contraceptive devices
- Perform spontaneous vaginal delivery of fetus in vertex presentation
- Manage women/newborn with complications or emergencies until arrival of physician, e.g. fetal distress, breech presentation, shoulder dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage
