Certified Nursing Midwife

Develop and implement individualized plans for health care management.

Document findings of physical examinations.

Perform physical examinations by taking vital signs, checking neurological reflexes, examining breasts, or performing pelvic examinations.

Provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients.

Provide patients with direct family planning services such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers including cervical caps or diaphragms.

Order and interpret diagnostic or laboratory tests.

Manage newborn care during the first weeks of life.

Prescribe medications as permitted by state regulations.

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in midwifery.

Initiate emergency interventions to stabilize patients.

Establish practice guidelines for specialty areas such as primary health care of women, care of the childbearing family, and newborn care.

Explain procedures to patients, family members, staff members or others.

Monitor fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.

Consult with or refer patients to appropriate specialists when conditions exceed the scope of practice or expertise.

Educate patients and family members regarding prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, or interconceptional care.

Write information in medical records or provide narrative summaries to communicate patient information to other health care providers.

Conduct clinical research on topics such as maternal or infant health care, contraceptive methods, breastfeeding, and gynecological care.

Provide primary health care, including pregnancy and childbirth, to women.

Document patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.

Plan, provide, or evaluate educational programs for nursing staff, health care teams, or the community.