Career Tips: How Much Does A Nurse Midwife Make

Nurse-midwives serve an important position in the medical community, caring for and supporting pregnant women and new mothers. A job as a nurse-midwife can be fulfilling, secure, and financially rewarding for anyone interested in nursing and labor and delivery services. Before you determine whether or not a career as a nurse-midwife is a suitable fit for you, you should know how much the typical nurse midwife earns in the United States.

What is a nurse-midwife?

A nurse-midwife is a nursing professional who cares for low-risk pregnant women before to, during, and after childbirth. They offer counseling and information on the labor and delivery process, including what the woman might expect and her treatment options. They also assist the mother and her family by providing information on caring for and feeding the newborn. Nurse-midwives can work alone or with a group of additional medical professionals. They typically work in private clinics, obstetricians’ offices, hospitals, and other medical settings.

How to become a nurse-midwife

To pursue this career path, aspiring nurse-midwives must undertake a series of particular steps. This includes:

• Pursue education.
• Pass the NCLEX.
• Become state-licensed.
• Gain experience.
• Continue education.
• Become certified.

Pursue education

The first step in becoming a nurse-midwife is to obtain the education required to become a registered nurse. This includes obtaining an ADN, an associate’s degree in nursing, or an ADN. Many employers require all nurses to get a BSN, or bachelor of science degree in nursing. After gaining several years of practical experience, a registered nurse must pursue a master’s degree with a concentration on midwifery before becoming a certified nurse-midwife.

• Pass the NCLEX

After graduating from nursing school, students must take and pass the National Council License Exam. This test is intended to assess whether or not test takers have a solid understanding of nursing practices and principles required for entry-level nursing. The NCLEX consists of 75 to 265 questions, depending on the test taker’s performance in the first round.

The test questions will include themes such as fundamental patient care and comfort, disease prevention and treatment, dealing with unanticipated problems, and handling medications. Practice tests and study guides for the NCLEX are accessible online and at many college campuses.

• Become state-licensed

After passing the exam, nurses must apply for registered nurse licensure in the state where they plan to work. Every state has its own set of regulations for prerequisites and fees, as well as distinct time frames for obtaining a license. Before applying, aspiring registered nurses should investigate their respective state to ensure that they fit the requirements.

Nurses may also choose to pursue the Nurse Licensure Compact, or NLC. This sort of license enables nurses to earn a multi-state license, which allows them to practice in various states that are part of the national alliance.

• Gain experience

After becoming a registered nurse, aspiring nurse midwives must work for at least two years in a midwifery-related post. In some circumstances, registered nurses may be required to work in another profession for several years before applying for employment in labor and delivery services. Registered nurses can receive midwifery experience through internships or working under the supervision of a more experienced nurse at a hospital or clinic.

They can also work alongside family doctors, obstetricians, and pediatricians. A nurse midwife’s years of experience as a registered nurse will be used to complete the requirements for master’s programs and advanced certification.

• Continue education

To become a certified nurse-midwife, registered nurses must complete a master of science in nursing degree with a specialization on midwifery. Nursing education programs that offer this type of degree are accessible both online and on college campuses. The bulk of master’s programs last roughly two years and teach students general nursing methods as well as midwifery-specific procedures.

Because there is a large overlap between a master’s degree with a midwife specialization and a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner certification, many programs offer both concurrently.

• Become certified

The final step in becoming a nurse-midwife is seeking for certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of their RN or NP license, a transcript and diploma from their graduate program, verification from the program’s head confirming that the applicant met all graduation requirements, and confirmation that the applicant is a competent nursing professional.

After completing these stages, the applicant must take and pass an examination. A satisfactory score will result in a five-year certificate from the AMCB. Certified nurse-midwives must additionally register with their state’s Board of Nursing, which involves a unique process for each state.

Nurse midwife salaries

Nurse midwife salaries differ greatly depending on a variety of circumstances. These include the nurse midwife’s place of employment, educational background, and amount of experience. Those pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees will be eligible to compete for the most prominent job positions and will be compensated based on their level of advanced education. Nurse-midwives can also earn certificates and credentials, which may allow them to negotiate greater pay.

The most important factor in deciding a nurse midwife’s compensation is their geographic location. The average wage for a nurse midwife in the United States is $101,287 per year, with salary updates available on Indeed. Here are the top 10 average earnings for nurse midwives by state. For updated salary information, visit the Indeed links:

• North Dakota: $235,000 per year
• Minnesota: $217,457 per year
• Ohio: $117,845 per year
• Arkansas: $114,469 per year
• Oklahoma: $107,848 per year
• Arizona: $103,184 per year
• New York: $101,821 per year
• South Dakota: $100,343 per year
• Florida: $99,187 per year
• Vermont: $98,058 per year

Source: indeed