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Nurse Midwives

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

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.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Speaking
  • Active Learning
  • Monitoring

How to get there

Extensive preparation: most need graduate school, such as a master's degree or higher

Also called

  • Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
  • Nurse Midwife
  • Staff Certified Nurse Midwife
  • Staff Nurse Midwife
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