Certified Nurse-Midwife Training
Learn about certified nurse midwife training, research top schools and understand the education you'll need.
Certified nurse-midwives play an integral role to the health and welfare of mothers and babies. Working as a certified nurse-midwife requires advanced nursing knowledge and skills attained through master's-level midwife training. Before you decide on a college, however, it's important to learn as much as you can about midwife schools and midwife training programs to help get your nurse-midwife career started in the right direction.
Nurse Midwife Training Programs
Questions for Midwife Training Schools
At the beginning of your search for the right midwife training program, make a list of questions to ask school advisers, and even students that you meet, when you visit midwife schools. Most importantly, think about what matters most to you when it comes to midwife schools, from midwifery courses to campus environment.
Some questions that you might consider asking about midwife schools include:
- What are the standard tuition costs for the midwife training program?
- What additional fees does the midwife program require?
- What sort of financial assistance does the midwifery school offer students?
- Is the midwifery school accredited?
- Does the school prepare you for national certification as a nurse-midwife?
- What midwifery courses does the school offer?
- What other class requirements must you fulfill to graduate?
- What is the average class size?
- What is the experience level of the midwifery school's faculty members?
- Does the school provide job placement services?
Earning Your MSN
As advanced practice nurses, certified nurse-midwives hold a two-year Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN). In the past, some states did not require an MSN for midwives. However, the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), which sets the standards for education and practice for nurse-midwives, has released a position statement indicating that as of 2010 nurses seeking the CNM designation must have earned a graduate degree from an accredited institution.
Typical Courses
Midwifery courses will vary among midwife schools. With that in mind, following is a list of the typical midwifery courses you can anticipate as part of your midwife training program:
- Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology
- Breastfeeding
- Genetics
- Gynecology
- Health and Social Policy
- Health Research
- Laboratory Medicine
- Management and Advanced Practice Nursing
- Management of the Antepartum, Intrapartum and Postpartum Periods
- Newborn Assessment and Care
- Pharmacology principles
- Primary Care of Women
- Reproductive Health Care Management
You can also expect midwife training programs to include a clinical CNM component in which you gain practical experience, under the supervision of instructors, managing patients before, during and after the delivery of a baby.
Sources: ACNM.org; Midwife.org; OHSU.edu.
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Education Resources
Career & Degree Information
- Certified Nurse-Midwife Careers
- Education & Training
- Salary Information
- How to Become a CNM
- Difference Between
a Doula and a Midwife - Nurse-Midwife Q&A
- State Boards of Nursing
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