Certified Nurse Midwife

Midwifery Responsibilities

Midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) encompasses a full range of primary health care services for women from adolescence beyond menopause.

Responsibilities include:

• Assess, diagnose, monitor, promote health and protection from disease, and manage care to adolescent and adult females focusing on family planning services, preconception care, pregnancy, childbirth, the post-partum period, gynecological needs and the care of the well newborn (during the first two days of life).
• CNMs may not admit patients to the hospital but may write admission orders after consultation with the physician.
• Midwives provide initial and ongoing comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and treatment.
• They conduct physical examination, prescribe medications including controlled substances and contraceptive methods, order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic test and order the use of medical devices.
• Midwifery care also includes health promotion, disease prevention, and individualized wellness education and counseling.
• Completes patient appropriate history and physical exam and documents according to regulatory requirements and NHC/NKDH Policy.
• Makes rounds on hospitalized patients and sees patients in the office setting.
• Evaluation of complaint of labor at term with an uncomplicated pregnancy.
• Completes ongoing physical assessments/appropriate to patient status.
• Completes reassessments appropriate to patient status.
• Identifies patient care needs based on assessment data.
• Develops differential diagnoses based on assessment data and identified needs.
• Reformulates diagnoses based on new or additional assessment data and the dynamic nature of complex acute, critical and chronic illness.
• Orders medications according to law and regulations (controlled substances require DEA & CAPA-CS).
• Evaluates and documents patient responses to medications and treatments as appropriate.
• Synthesizes data from a variety of sources to make clinical decision regarding appropriate management, consultation of referral.
• Provides for patient and family education.
• Provides consultation based on knowledge and expertise and within scope of practice.
• Requests consults and makes referrals as appropriate.
• Provides thorough and timely documentation of care and treatment in the patient record.
• Facilitates a cooperative team atmosphere through professional communication.
• Provides individualized patient and family education by applying principles of learning, actively involving the learner, and providing an environment conducive to teaching/learning.
• Recognizes teaching opportunities and provides age-specific and culturally sensitive teaching in a manner that promotes safe patient care regarding the role of the CNM.
• In collaboration with the patient, evaluates patient outcomes identified in the CNM plan of care, by comparing patient responses to nursing interventions, current practice standards, and anticipated outcomes.

Qualifications

Required:

• Current Indiana RN license
• Current Indiana CNM License/Certification
• Completion of formal graduate-level education program
• Current ACLS and NRP or NALS Certification
• DEA & CSR Certification
• Collaborative practice agreement - controlled substances (CAPA-CS)