Nurse midwife
US Navy CNM checks on a mother
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nurse midwifery |
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In the United States, a certified nurse midwife (CNM) is an advanced practice registered nurse in nurse midwifery, the care of women across their lifespan, including pregnancy and the postpartum period, and well woman care and birth control. Certified nurse midwives are exceptionally recognized by the International Confederation of Midwives as a type of midwives in the United States.
The American College of Nurse-Midwives accredits certified nurse-midwifery education programs and serves as the national specialty society for the nation's CNMs. CNMs in most states are required to
In 2010 the first wave of CNMs graduated from Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) estimates that soon, one in ten babies in the U.S. will be delivered by CNMs. In 2010 the first DNP program available for CNMs graduated its first class.
CNMs function as primary healthcare providers for women and most often provide medical care for relatively healthy women, whose health and births are considered uncomplicated and not "high risk," as well as their neonates. Often, women with high risk pregnancies can receive the benefits of nurse midwifery care from a CNM in collaboration with a physician. CNMs may work closely or in collaboration, with an obstetrician & gynecologist, who provides consultation and/or assistance to patients who develop complications or have complex medical histories or disease(s). CNMs provide health care for sexual health, as they also see women for routine exams and are able to initiate all types of contraception.
CNMs practice in hospitals and private practice medical clinics and may also deliver babies in birthing centers and attend at-home births. Some work with academic institutions as professors. They are able to prescribe medications, treatments, medical devices, therapeutic and diagnostic measures. CNMs are able to provide medical care to women from puberty through menopause, including care for their newborn (neonatology), antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and nonsurgical gynecological care. In some cases, CNMs may also provide care to the male partner, in areas of sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health, of their female patients. In the United States, fewer than 1% of nurse midwives are men.
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