Career Profile: Nurse Midwives

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 8,100 people employed as nurse midwives in the United States. The median annual salary is $112,830. Entry level employees earn approximately $61,500 per year and senior employees earn approximately $166,170 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Develop and implement individualized plans for health care management.
• Explain procedures to patients, family members, staff members or others.
• Order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests.
• Initiate emergency interventions to stabilize patients.
• Document findings of physical examinations.
• Educate patients and family members regarding prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, or interconception care.
• Perform physical examinations by taking vital signs, checking neurological reflexes, examining breasts, or performing pelvic examinations.
• Write information in medical records or provide narrative summaries to communicate patient information to other health care providers.
• Provide primary health care, including pregnancy and childbirth, to women.
• Consult with or refer patients to appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.
• Conduct clinical research on topics such as maternal or infant health care, contraceptive methods, breastfeeding, and gynecological care.
• Manage newborn care during the first weeks of life.
• Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in midwifery.
• Instruct student nurse midwives, medical students, or residents on the birthing process.
• Establish practice guidelines for specialty areas such as primary health care of women, care of the childbearing family, and newborn care.
• Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, health care teams, or the community.
• Provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients.
• Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.
• Document patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.
• Provide patients with direct family planning services, such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers, including cervical caps or diaphragms.
• Prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations.

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