Associate Degree in Nursing to Become Certified Nurse Midwife
If you are interested in becoming a nurse midwife, you should choose which educational route you want to go. While you may decide to apply for an Associate of Science in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, it may be helpful to strive for the highest education, which in this case may be a Master of Science in Nursing at a certified midwife school.
An Associate Degree in Nursing program may include courses in anatomy, chemistry, microbiology, nursing, and several others that may give you the experience you may need in the medical field. If you want to continue your education thereafter and earn your BSN, there may be a “bridge” program available for you to apply to.
Education for Associate Degree in Nursing and Certified Midwife
To become a midwife, you may want to consider expanding your education. After passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), you might be able to work in an entry-level career that is midwife related, but in order to become a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), you may need further education.
In fact, the American College of Nurse-Midwives released a statement that announced that as of 2010, a Master’s degree must be the educational requirement for entry level positions as a Certified Nurse Midwife. At one point, an ASN degree holder may have been able to find work easier, but now, the baseline may be an MSN from an accredited program and certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board before work eligibility.
A certified nurse midwife can typically be a highly trained advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who specializes in primary and reproductive care for women. Responsibilities may include assisting with births, promoting education on reproduction and primary care, counseling, and making sure women and their babies are healthy.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there may be more than 6,000 certified nurse midwives in the United States, and the career could be on the rise. Between 2012 and 2022, midwifery may increase 29%.
