Careers · Explore one path
Nurse Midwives
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.
Other titles employers use
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) · Nurse Midwife · Staff Certified Nurse Midwife · Staff Nurse Midwife · Certified Nurse Midwife · Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
Useful strengths
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.9 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.2 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.6 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a master's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A master's degree 84%
- A doctorate or professional degree 16%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 670
- Job openings each year
- 10
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 26.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 670 | 10 | 26.4% |
| Florida | 600 | 30 | 17.6% |
| Texas | 590 | 30 | 18.0% |
| Illinois | 490 | 20 | 4.3% |
| Georgia | 370 | 20 | 12.1% |
| North Carolina | 330 | 20 | 13.8% |
| Michigan | 300 | 20 | 3.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 290 | 10 | 7.4% |
| Minnesota | 260 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Connecticut | 250 | 10 | 4.2% |
| Maryland | 240 | 10 | 9.1% |
| New Jersey | 240 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Wisconsin | 220 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Tennessee | 190 | 10 | 11.8% |
| Arizona | 180 | 10 | 28.6% |
| Utah | 170 | 10 | 30.8% |
| Colorado | 160 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Oregon | 150 | 10 | 15.4% |
| Washington | 150 | 10 | 15.4% |
| Indiana | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Ohio | 130 | 10 | — |
| Kansas | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| South Carolina | 100 | 10 | 25.0% |
| District of Columbia | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Missouri | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Rhode Island | 90 | 0 | — |
| Delaware | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| New Mexico | 80 | 10 | 33.3% |
| Massachusetts | 70 | 0 | 16.7% |
| Alaska | 60 | 0 | — |
| Idaho | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Maine | 60 | 0 | — |
| West Virginia | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| New Hampshire | 50 | 0 | — |
| Vermont | 50 | 0 | — |
| Louisiana | 40 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 7,786
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryFirst-year program admission
Open college TXThe University of Texas at Arlington
- Degrees each year
- 2,652
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college OHOhio University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,396
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $19,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college NCUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington
- Degrees each year
- 789
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college FLUniversity of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 734
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college INIndiana University-Indianapolis
- Degrees each year
- 626
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college TNEast Tennessee State University
- Degrees each year
- 588
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college TXThe University of Texas at Tyler
- Degrees each year
- 582
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college