Nurse Midwives
Human Advantage 81%
Strongly human-essential role
AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.3 / 10
This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
Diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. May provide well-woman gynecological care. Must have specialized, graduate nursing education.
Also Known As: Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Direct-Entry Midwife, Nurse Midwife, Postpartum Nurse, Postpartum RN (Postpartum Registered Nurse), Registered Nurse Midwife, Staff Certified Nurse Midwife +1 more
Core Tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Conduct clinical research on topics such as maternal or infant health care, contraceptive methods, breastfeeding, and gynecological care.
Supplemental Tasks (1)
- Manage newborn care during the first weeks of life.
Emerging Tasks
New and evolving responsibilities for this role:
- Evaluate mental health of patients.
- Screen patients for gynecologic conditions such as infections.
Education & Training
Job Zone 5 Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (23)
Tools & Equipment (51)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Physical Health Advanced Manufacturing
Zone 2
Orderlies 79% match
Zone 5
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