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Nurse Midwife
A certified nurse midwife is a registered nurse with advanced training and clinical experience in obstetrical care. They are part of a medical team in the prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care of women with normal pregnancies. The nurse midwife participates in the initial examination of the pregnant woman and works in collaboration with the physician to determine responsibilities during the period of the pregnancy, labor and delivery.
Today's nurse midwife is a highly skilled professional carrying on the tradition of personal, family-centered, understanding care.
Nurse midwives often work independently, but are affiliated with a physician who is available for consultation or referral if needed.
The nurse midwife provides ongoing care for women and newborns during all stages of childbirth.
| The stages are: |
| Before and after pregnancy - the nurse midwife performs abdominal, pelvic and breast examinations and advises women on conception and personal care |
| During pregnancy - the nurse midwife monitors the health of mother and baby |
| During labor - the nurse midwife evaluates the progress of labor and provides emotional and physical support |
| At birth - the nurse midwife assists throughout delivery and examines the newborn |
| After delivery - the nurse midwife provides follow-up care and advice on self-care, breast or bottle feeding, and infant care |
Nurse midwives work in hospitals, birthing centers, health maintenance organizations, public health departments, private practices and clinics.
Job Outlook
There is a definite demand for qualified nurse midwives. In the past few years, more and more women are choosing the professional and personal attention of a nurse midwife when considering natural childbirth.
Educational Requirements
Individuals interested in becoming a nurse midwife must first be a registered nurse with a bachelor's degree. Certification programs are approximately eight months long. Master's degree programs are available and range from one to two years. Certification is administered by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Educational Programs
University of Illinois at Chicago
845 South Damen Avenue
Dept. Code 2-3400
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 996-4350
http://www.uic.edu/
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Other Programs
Georgetown University
3700 Reservoir Road NW
Washington, DC 20057
(202) 687-4772
http://www.georgetown.edu/
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Marquette University
530 N. 16th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 288-3844
http://www.marquette.edu/
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University of Kentucky College of Nursing
501e-5 Health Sciences Learning Center 0232
Lexington, KY 40506
(859) 323-6600
http://www.uky.edu/
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University of Michigan
400 N. Ingalls Room 1160C
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 763-5985
http://www.umich.edu/
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University of Minnesota
308 Harvard Street, SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 624-6494
http://www.umn.edu/
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Additional Information
American College of Nurse Midwives
818 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 728-9860
http://www.acnm.org/
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