How to Become an RN Midwife
RN midwives are more formally known as certified nurse-midwives, or CNMs. According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives, CNMs provide primary and comprehensive health care to women of all ages. They address gynecological disorders related to a woman's reproductive system, as well as pregnancy-related care. A CNM may care for adolescent girls or focus her practice on older women going through menopause. Some specialize in preventive health care such as PAP smears and screening for sexually-transmitted diseases, while others center their practice on pregnancy and childbirth.
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Instructions
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Go to college. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), many advanced-degree programs for certified nurse-midwives are open only to nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing (B.S.N.) but others accept a bachelor's degree in another field. If you're starting from the beginning, it makes sense to earn a B.S.N. so you have a solid nursing knowledge base before graduate school. Choose an accredited school of nursing and expect to spend four years earning your B.S.N.
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Earn your RN license. The BLS says you'll need to be an RN before studying to become a CNM. Contact your state board of registered nursing to determine its process for taking the standardized national test known as the NCLEX-RN.
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Get some clinical experience under your belt. It's a good idea to find an entry-level position as a staff nurse in the field of nurse midwifery that interests you the most. If you want to take care of pregnant women and their babies, for example, search for a job in a labor, delivery, post-partum (LDRP) unit that will give you well-rounded clinical expertise.
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Go to graduate school. Choose a certified nurse-midwifery program accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. You'll earn a master's degree in nursing (M.S.N.) while learning more about nursing and midwifery.
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Obtain your license. Requirements for CNM licensure vary from one state to the next, so consult your state's board of registered nursing for specific information. While some states extend CNM licensure to B.S.N.-prepared nurses, more and more require an M.S.N. All states require CNMs to pass a standardized national board examination that's given four times a year.
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Pursue national certification. In some states, national certification as a CNM is a prerequisite for CNM licensure. Even if it's not required in your state, certification validates your knowledge and experience, and gives you a leg up in the job market.
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Tips & Warnings
While each CNM graduate program has its own curriculum, all include courses on topics such as family planning, neonatology, obstetrical complications and breastfeeding. While you're pondering a career as a CNM, take advantage of any available continuing education programs on these topics to give you a taste for the specialty. If you do decide to become a CNM, you'll be ahead of the learning curve.
