Roles of Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery: Week 1 Discussion

This discussion post examines the various roles of nurse practitioners in the field of midwifery. It distinguishes between three primary certifications: Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs), and Certified Midwives (CMs). CPMs often focus on home births and do not require a nursing degree, while CNMs are registered nurses with advanced training, licensed in all US states, and possess prescriptive authority. CMs, similar to CNMs in clinical skills, do not need to be registered nurses. The post highlights the responsibilities and educational pathways for each type of midwife, emphasizing their contributions to women's health, including prenatal care, family planning, and overall healthcare. References from reputable sources such as CDC reports and academic journals are included to support the information provided.

Week 1 Discussion
Different Roles of the Nurse Practitioner
Midwifery is a great profession that is rarely recognized as a practice. Midwives are
responsible for caring for mothers and newborns in hospitals, birth centers, or at home. This is a
growing field attributed to the growing number of births attended by midwives. Based on a CDC
report, midwives attend over 8 percent of the births in the US (Hastings‐Tolsma et al., 2018). In
this first discussion for this period, I will discuss different types of midwives and their roles in
healthcare. Currently, in the US, there are three types of midwife certifications that nurses can
consider. The kind of midwife certification needed to be eligible to practice as a midwife varies
from one state to another (Kennedy et al., 2020). Thus a nurse must evaluate their state's
regulations before deciding which path to take.
Certified professional midwife (CMPs) is the first type of midwifery. These are
professionals who are certified through the North American Registry of Midwives. Certified
professional midwives do not have to hold a specific degree or be a registered nurses, but it is the
only midwife certification that requires experience in home births. Most CPMs provide treatment
to women throughout their childbearing cycle at their clients' homes or in private birthing centers
(Schuiling & Likis, 2017). A nurse can obtain the CMP certification in a variety of ways. For
example, you could enroll in a Midwifery Education Accreditation Council-accredited program.
The second category of midwives is the certified nurse-midwife. Registered nurses and
midwives can be trained as certified nurse-midwives. You must enroll in a midwifery education
program authorized by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education if you want to
become a certified nurse-midwife. A nurse-midwife accredited by the American Midwifery
Certification Board supervises clinical education. A state license is required for all CNMs,

generally obtained through the state board of nursing (Hastings‐Tolsma et al., 2018). They must
also maintain state licensing and the CNM designation by meeting particular continuing
education requirements.
CNMs are recognized and licensed in every state in the United States, and they have
prescriptive jurisdiction. CNMs are allowed to diagnose and treat without the supervision of a
physician in eighteen states, while the remaining states require CNMs to enter into a
collaborative practice agreement with a physician. The CNMs have several duties and
responsibilities, including promoting preventing health screening, educating on women's health
issues such as menopause, responsible sexual behaviors, and sexuality (Hastings‐Tolsma et al.,
2018). These professionals also educate women on family planning, including providing
education on available contraception, allowing the patients to make informed choices, and
educating, treating, or referring for infertility.
The third type of midwife is certified, midwife. Certified midwives, often known as
direct-entry midwives, must complete a recognized midwifery program and possess the same
clinical skills as certified nurse-midwives. Although it varies by school, certain schools may
require applicants to have prior experience in a health-related field. The critical distinction
between the two degrees is that certified midwives do not need to be registered (Kennedy et al.,
2020). The critical distinction between the two degrees is that certified midwives do not need to
be licensed as a registered nurses.
Both certified midwives and certified nurse-midwives are needed to have the same
clinical competence. Furthermore, the certification exam for both is the same. On the work, the
obligations are also the same. Individuals with a bachelor's degree and some healthcare

experience but are not licensed as registered nurses may benefit from a certified midwife
program (Schuiling & Likis, 2017).
References
Hastings‐Tolsma, M., Foster, S. W., Brucker, M. C., Nodine, P., Burpo, R., Camune, B., ... &
Callahan, T. J. (2018). Nature and scope of certified nurse‐midwifery practice: A
workforce study. Journal of clinical nursing, 27(21-22), 4000-4017.
Kennedy, H. P., Balaam, M. C., Dahlen, H., Declercq, E., de Jonge, A., Downe, S., ... & Wolfe,
I. (2020). The role of midwifery and other international insights for maternity care in the
United States: An analysis of four countries. Birth, 47(4), 332-345.
Schuiling, K. D., & Likis, F. E. (2017). Women’s gynecologic health (3rd ed.). Jones and Bartlett
Publishers.