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What type of education do you need to become a midwife?

#midwife #healthcare #hospital

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Doc’s Answer

HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE (CNM)
Those wishing to become a CNM need to complete formal education at the undergraduate and graduate levels and then pursue certification in the field. Nurse midwives are considered advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who provide primary and specialty care to women. These nurses are specifically trained to provide family planning services, prenatal care, and gynecological exams for women. They also provide care for newborn babies and mothers after delivery.

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
Nurse-midwives need a minimum of a master's degree to practice. Midwife schooling usually begins with an RN (registered nurse) credential. This can be accomplished by earning a diploma, associate's, or bachelor's degree in nursing and then passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). However, those considering becoming an APRN should pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing, as that is the preferred education for APRN candidates. There is a wide range of RN colleges available around the country. After becoming an RN, aspiring midwives should earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a nurse-midwifery program. Some of these degree programs are available in hybrid formats and some nurse practitioner schools may offer joint programs in nurse midwifery and women's health nurse practitioner. Nurse-midwives work in hospitals, private practices, birthing centers and home birth services. After completing your master's in nurse midwifery, graduates can sit for the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) examination to become a CNM. Once they earn their certification, CNMs must recertify every 5 years through AMCB's Certificate Maintenance Program. CNMs must also meet their specific state requirements to practice, but this typically requires an RN license, master's degree, and certification in their specialization, which CNMs will have already.

MIDWIFE EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY INFORMATION
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a job outlook of 26% for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners from 2018 to 2028, which is much faster than the national average. The BLS also reported a job outlook of 16% specifically for nurse midwives during the same period. The website notes that nurse midwife is a small occupation, so this growth may only mean about 1,000 new jobs for the specialty. In general, the high rate of growth is attributed to the growing need for health services. The average Midwife (CNM) salary in the United States is $111,000 as of September 25, 2020, but the range typically falls between $102,100 and $125,800. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. These nurses most commonly worked in offices of physicians and made an average of $102,100. Nurse midwives that worked for local governments, excluding schools and hospitals, made the highest average salary at $125,800. These salaries could vary based on factors like location, specific skill sets, and experience.

Hope this was Helpful Gabriella
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Mary Jane’s Answer

In the US, Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) have a graduate-level degree. Most students will first complete a BSN-RN program and then continue on to Masters-level CNM program. There are, however, some programs that will take students who complete a Bachelors degree in a non-nursing field, train them as MSNs, and then offer additional coursework and training to become certified as a nurse-midwife; these are typically called "graduate-entry programs". A good resource is The American College of Nurse-Midwives: https://www.midwife.org/Become-a-Midwife

Mary Jane recommends the following next steps:

Check out the FAQs on the ACNM website to learn more about the different educational pathways
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