Hire Certified Nurse Midwives
A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is a licensed healthcare professional who specializes in the care of patients with obstetric and gynecologic needs. They play a vital role in the healthcare field to bring new life into the world. Besides assisting in childbirth, they perform regular examinations of their patients and provide them with the necessary counseling. They work on a team and usually report to the supervisor, manager, or the practicing physician. CNMs are hired in hospitals, clinics, health maintenance organizations, free-standing birth centers, and private practices. Becoming a CNM is a perfect path for nursing professionals who have a strong interest in women's gynecological healthcare and want to make their profession. The compensation package for the position is quite lucrative, with CNMs drawing an average salary of $96,795, an average bonus of $5,134, and an average commission of $22,500 per year.
Certified Nurse Midwife Essential Duties and Responsibilities
CNMs work with many different types of employers. They have a wide range of responsibilities, including: performing gynecological exams, attending births, giving initial care for reproductive health, parent education, and providing family planning services. The duties performed by the CNMs can be further broken down into: the monitoring of fetal development, prenatal, postpartum, intrapartum, newborn care, and even post-menopausal care. Additionally, they are responsible for educating and counseling expectant or new parents. They are in charge of maintaining medical records and collaborating with healthcare professionals in providing specialized care. In hospital settings, CNMs have to work with physicians to treat emergency patients. In order to provide the best diagnosis and treatment, the CNMs have to be well informed and keep themselves up-to-date on the latest scientific discoveries in reproductive or birth-related medical procedures. They should be able to follow practice guidelines and maintain clinical practice standards. In some healthcare institutes, they offer training programs to junior nurses.
Certified Nurse Midwife Background, Skills, and Personality Traits
A graduate degree is a prerequisite for a career as a CNM. Most healthcare institutions prefer applicants to have a master's or a doctoral degree or a certification accredited by the Accreditation Commission of Midwifery Education (ACME). Since the position requires specialized training and application of best practices to handle potential complications, certification or licensure is mandatory when shortlisting candidates for the role. Candidates with experience are preferred, especially those with a background in full-scope practice and tertiary level care. Due to the sensitive nature of the job, employers seek CNMs who have the right attitude and personality. The essential skills that hiring managers look for in applicants are communication, social perceptiveness, critical thinking skills, and most importantly, the ability to stay calm under pressure. CNMs must be available to be on-call at all times and work irregular hours.
