Career Overview
Diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. May provide well-woman gynecological care. Must have specialized, graduate nursing education.
Also Known As
- Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
- Nurse Midwife
- Staff Certified Nurse Midwife
- Staff Nurse Midwife
Alternate Job Titles
- Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
- Direct-Entry Midwife
- Nurse Midwife
- Postpartum Nurse
- Postpartum RN (Postpartum Registered Nurse)
- Registered Nurse Midwife
- Staff Certified Nurse Midwife
- Staff Nurse Midwife
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients.
- Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.
- Document patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.
- Provide patients with direct family planning services, such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers, including cervical caps or diaphragms.
- Prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations.
- Develop and implement individualized plans for health care management.
- Explain procedures to patients, family members, staff members or others.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Evaluate mental health of patients.
- Screen patients for gynecologic conditions such as infections.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Therapy and Counseling
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Empathy
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Epic Systems
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Tools & Equipment
- Allis clamps
- Baby scales
- Bag valve mask BVM resuscitators
- Blood drawing syringes
- Bulb syringes
- Colposcopes
- Curved forceps
- Curved hemostats
- Curved needle holders
- Digital medical thermometers
- Episiotomy scissors
- Evacuated blood collection containers
- Fetal doppler units
- Fetal heart rate monitors
- Hypodermic syringes
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Physical Proximity
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $74,670 |
| Median | $128,790 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $177,040 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 8,280
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Midwives
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $64,030
Nurse Practitioners
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $129,210
Registered Nurses
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $93,600
Acute Care Nurses
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $93,600
Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: >$239,200
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.