Certified Nurse Midwives

Today’s certified nurse-midwife (CNM), a professional health care provider, is a registered nurse (RN) who has graduated from one of the advanced programs accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). In addition, nurse-midwives must pass a national certification examination and meet strict requirements set by state health agencies in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories.

Nurse-midwives can work in clinics, hospitals, or birthing centers. Many—like those at Women’s Health at Memorial Hospital—work in private practices with physicians, while others are employed by the Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) or other types of health care plans.

The majority of deliveries by nurse-midwives occur in hospitals and birth centers. Nurse-midwives provide prenatal, postpartum, normal newborn care and routine gynecological care. While they are probably best known for how they help women during labor and delivery, they apply their philosophy of care in all settings and with women across their lifespan.